Critical Analysis of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling

Sundus Al Ghafri

Rudyard Kipling as a part of the Jungle Book Collection wrote the short story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. The story holds many meanings that we as readers could relate to and feel a certain emotion towards. Growing up and Bravery are the most important meanings. Growing up requires a certain level of bravery to be able to survive through. The point the author tried to make was that with bravery comes victory, good will always overcome evil. The mongoose and main character of the story, Rikki-tikki, is a fascinating creature.

The story begins with a song sung by Darzee the conflict between Red-Eye and Nag. Later Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Mongoose) is introduced and described how he ended up with a human family. While the Mongoose is introduced to Darzee and his wife, he meets Nag and Nagina (Antagonist) and almost gets into a fight but Rikki-Tikki-Tavi manages to escape. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi over hears Nag and Nagina are planning to kill The Big Man, Alice and Teddy. He doesn’t accept that, so he comes up with a plan to stop them. The Mongoose defeats Nag and Nagina as well as removing any danger, like the snake eggs. The story ends with an announcement made by the coppersmith that the snakes are dead. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is proud of him self and sleeps next to teddy in his bed, while the parents watch over them now.

Rikki-tikki-tavi knew he had to stop the evil cobra.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd.

The short story has many literary elements from the themes and conflicts, to the characters and settings. When we look at the characters we notice the personification of how the animal characters have human like traits. Example, the animals in the story are given human names, such as Nag, Nagina, Darzee and so on. Also, just like humans receive news through a source like TV and newspapers the animals of that garden receive their news through CopperSmith. The conflicts can be a physical one, man vs. man and in this case animal vs. animal, where Rikki-Tikki-Tavi has to fight with his natural enemies, the snakes. As well as, man vs. circumstances, the mongoose struggles with his fate, as a snake killer, and realizes what he is meant to do.

Although he is brave, he is also immensely clever. Rikki won the fight with it and he maintained his self-dignity using it. “Rikki-tikki had a right to be proud of himself; but he did not grow too proud, and he kept that garden as a mongoose should keep it, with tooth and jump and spring and bite, till never a cobra dared show its head inside the walls.” Rikki-Tikki does not let this victory change him into a smug mongoose that see’s himself worthy and more deserving for killing the snake. He manages to stay humble and prove his maturity with his modesty.

Rikki’s curiosity helps him in achieving more than what is expected of a young mongoose. “[…], and as [Nagaina] plunged into the rat-hole where she and Nag used to live, [Rikki-tikki's] little white teeth were clenched on her tail, and he went down with her—and very few mongooses, however wise and old they may be, care to follow a cobra into its hole.” Rikki’s bravery allows him to see past the fear and terror of a cobra’s den.  

The short story promotes bravery and maturity, a lesson in which we as humans need to observe and understand. Kipling gives out small life lessons through characters that are natural enemies and applies human traits to connect and remind us of how to handle tough situations. No matter how small and weak you think you are, victory is not based on physical strength but relay’s also on mental and emotional strength. There is always another element that helps in defeating the enemy; the weak that fights for his family will always win the strong who fights for him self, that extra incentive works a long way.

To conclude, whether it is fighting a war or fighting your inner demons we can always apply the same principle to the both situations. We need not seek for the complicated solutions but for the courage and clear purpose of what we might gain out of it. Good will always overcome evil, it might not win the battle but it certainty will win over the war.

Sources
http://www.shmoop.com/rikki-tikki-tavi/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/rikki-tikki-tavi-story1.htm