Rikki-Tikki-Tavi from The Jungle Book Man & the Natural World Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)

Quote #7

The big man had been wakened by the noise, and had fired both barrels of a shot-gun into Nag just behind the hood. (61)

Man isn't exactly powerless. The father can maintain his control over nature thanks to the power of his big ole' gun.

Quote #8

It was dark in the hole; and Rikki-tikki never knew when it might open out and give Nagaina room to turn and strike him. He held on savagely, and struck out his feet to act as brakes on the dark slope of the hot, moist earth. (101)

Nagaina's home is deep within the natural world. Literally. It's also the most dangerous place a creature like Rikki-tikki can venture. (Also, "hot" and "moist"? What's up with that description?)

Quote #9

When Rikki got to the house, Teddy and Teddy's mother (she looked very white still, for she had been fainting) and Teddy's father came out and almost cried over him; and that night he ate all that was given him till he could eat no more, and went to bed on Teddy's shoulder, […]. (107)

Rikki-tikki the wild mongoose becomes Rikki-tikki the domesticated mongoose. Nature-wise, he's sided with man in this game.