13. Explanation to scene 3 (Part E)

Explanation:

 

The tiger roared in anger, and it sounded as if there was a huge thunder.

 

 

For the first time since the appearance of the tiger, Mother Wolf jumped into action. She left her cubs aside and sprang forward. Her eyes were like two green moons in the darkness, and she glared at the burning eyes of Shere Khan.

 

We had seen previously how the tiger spoke in arrogance when he said, 'it is I, Shere Khan!', as if he was the supreme of all beings. Mother Wolf answered back in a tone that was equally mighty. She said, "and it is I, Raksha, ‘The Demon’, who answers."

Raksha is the name of Mother Wolf. In the Indian context, the word 'raksha' can have two different meanings. As mentioned by Mother Wolf, Raksha can mean 'the demon' as in the word 'raakshasee'. However, it can also mean 'protection'. Hence, the name identifies the two elements in her. She can be a demon to her enemies and a defence to her loved ones.

Mother Wolf continued her speech. She declared that the Man's cub belonged to her. Like her own little ones, the Man's cub would grow, live, and hunt with the Pack of wolves. She was so furious that she announced to the tiger that the child would hunt down and kill Shere Khan in the end.

 

One could see how protective she has grown towards the Man's cub, and she was ready to fight the ferocious tiger.

Father Wolf, on the other hand, stood amazed, witnessing the might of Raksha. She used to be a strong wolf and would run and hunt with a Pack. The narrator says that the father had almost forgotten how wild the mother used to be in the past. Moreover, he had won her in a fair fight from five other wolves. She also had the nickname "The Demon" to symbolise the savage nature of her hunting. The name was not merely a compliment; she was almost like a demon.

Shere Khan didn't expect Mother Wolf to stand up against him. He backed off a little. Though the tiger had faced Father Wolf, he knew the fight with Mother Wolf would be different. Nobody can mess with an angry mother, for a mother may put everything aside for the safety of her children, and he could see that Raksha was ready to fight to the death. Also, given that he was too big to enter the cave, he knew he had a disadvantage and was at risk.

Hence, Shere Khan pulled himself out of the cave growling. When he knew he was clear and was no longer inside the cave, he shouted. He said how dogs might show their courage when they are inside their territory, meaning that they would become fearful elsewhere.

 

As Father Wolf had said before, the wolves take order from the Chief of the Pack. Hence, Shere Khan reminded the wolves that they have a Pack and retorted how the Pack and their Chief might react to the rearing of a Man's cub. He left the cave by warning the wolves that he would get his hands on the Man's cub as the latter belonged only to him.