Alice

See Teddy’s Mother

The Big Man

The big man is an Englishman who has recently relocated with his wife, Alice, and their son, Teddy, to the Indian bungalow where the main events of the story unfold. He owns a shotgun, referred to as a "bang-stick," and uses it to kill Nag during Rikki’s confrontation with him in the bathroom. Nagaina mistakenly blames him for Nag's death. As an Englishman in India during the late nineteenth century, the big man symbolizes imperial England's presence in India, providing a historical and cultural backdrop to the narrative. He and his family welcome Rikki-tikki-tavi into their home, gaining his loyalty and protection. Their gratitude towards Rikki for saving their lives ensures he has a permanent place in their home.

Chuchundra

Chuchundra, a muskrat living in the bungalow, is depicted as a timid creature who cries and complains when he speaks. He alerts Rikki to Nag and Nagaina’s plot to attack the big man and his family. Chuchundra's cowardice contrasts with Rikki-tikki-tavi’s bravery.

The Coppersmith

After Rikki-tikki-tavi successfully kills Nagaina and emerges unharmed from her lair, the Coppersmith, a bird who acts as the garden's announcer, proclaims Rikki’s victory and the deaths of Nag and Nagaina to the garden's inhabitants.

Darzee

Darzee, a tailor-bird who, along with his wife, nests in the bungalow’s garden, is described as "a feather-brained fellow" because he repeatedly fails to effectively help Rikki-tikki-tavi against their mutual enemies, Nag and Nagaina. Unlike Rikki, Darzee lacks foresight. He prematurely sings a song of victory after Nag's death, before Nagaina and her eggs are destroyed, prompting Rikki to scold him. Darzee's lack of foresight contrasts with Rikki's proactive nature. Additionally, Darzee acts as a bard, composing songs about Rikki-tikki-tavi’s battles with Nag and Nagaina, which emphasize Rikki’s heroic traits.

Darzee’s wife

Darzee’s wife plays a crucial role in aiding Rikki against the snakes and is therefore deemed "sensible." She serves as a decoy to distract Nagaina, giving Rikki the opportunity to destroy the cobras’ unhatched eggs.

Karait

Karait is a small, quick, venomous snake living in the dust. He is confronted by Rikki-tikki-tavi when he threatens to bite Teddy. Karait is the first snake Rikki kills, and this victory boosts Rikki’s confidence to take on the more dangerous cobras.

Nag

Nag is one of the two king cobras residing in the bungalow's garden. Alongside his wife, Nagaina, he serves as Rikki-tikki-tavi’s primary adversary. Both Nag and Nagaina are portrayed as malevolent. Nag's immense size—"five feet long from tongue to tail"—and his strength make him a daunting and deserving challenger for Rikki, the story’s hero. Before Rikki's arrival, Nag and Nagaina had complete control over the garden. Nag meets his end at the hands of Rikki-tikki-tavi inside the bungalow when he, under Nagaina’s directive, attempts to kill the human family. The name Nag is derived from the Hindi word for snake.

Nagaina

Nagaina, like her husband Nag, is depicted as evil. While Nag is intimidating due to his size and strength, Nagaina is described as cunning. She devises the plan to eliminate the human family to remove the mongoose, their natural foe, but Rikki foils her scheme. She is ultimately killed by Rikki in her lair, where she retreats to safeguard the last of her eggs.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Rikki-tikki-tavi, named after his distinctive chattering sound, is a young mongoose who starts the story with little experience but grows into a mongoose of legendary prowess by the end. After being washed away from his parents’ nest during a flood, he is rescued by a human family and brought into their home. As a mongoose, Rikki is naturally antagonistic towards snakes, posing a significant threat to the resident king cobras, Nag and Nagaina, who become his chief enemies. Rikki embodies the archetypal hero, displaying courage, strength, and loyalty. He uses these qualities to combat evil. Before coming to the garden, Rikki had never battled a snake, and his ultimate victory over the cobras not only protects the birds and humans he befriends but also marks his coming of age.

Teddy

Teddy is the young boy living in the bungalow with his parents. Of all the human characters, he is the most fond of Rikki-tikki-tavi. His innocence and vulnerability as a small child make him an easy target for the garden's venomous snakes, rendering him the most in need of Rikki-tikki-tavi’s protection.

Teddy’s Mother

Alice, Teddy’s mother, resides in the bungalow with her son and husband, the big man. Initially hesitant about keeping a wild animal as a pet, she eventually grows to trust and care for Rikki after he protects her family from the cobras.