Hero or Villain?
Rikki Tikki Tavi tells the story of the brave mongoose. Rikki-tikki is introduced as a hero who fought in the “great war” (22). He was thrown into the flames while fighting King Cobras. “I am Nag…. Look and be scared”(24). Why wouldn’t this man be happy if, at last, he had accomplished his goal? He had saved the life of a person who was living in a house that he called home.
Rikki-tikki showed himself to be a valiant, patient and tactical mongoose. “Rikki stayed dead still.” until it was time for Nag. He tried to bite the thick neck beneath the hood but it was too much. A bite at the tail would make Nag even more savage. The head was it, he decided. “The head above the neck; I mustn’t let up once I get there.” So he chose the most effective spot to bite before he jumped. He didn’t care about cobras or Karait. Nor did he fear the prospect of fighting Nagaina. “His teeth were clenched and he threw himself down with the tail.” The animals of the garden loved Rikki, both for his character as well as the freedom he offered them.
Rikki tikki, too, was peaceful and selfless but also always prepared to fight. Rikki is willing to give up his life to maintain peace in a particular garden. This story shows that Rikki-tikki is willing to sacrifice himself to bring peace to a garden.
Rikki-tikki, the protagonist of all stories written by the author, is portrayed as a hero. The story ends with a sense of him being a hero. It is what I feel that matters, at least to me. Rikki-tikkitavi is right to feel proud in this situation. In the story he’s portrayed like a classical hero, someone who will do anything to defend what they care about. It’s obvious that he will win. As with all creatures, he’s not perfect.
