6. Explanation to scene 1 (Part B)

Explanation:

 

Father Wolf wasn't happy to see Tabaqui at his place. After all, Tabaqui wanted to fill his tummy without working for his food. Nonetheless, the wolf didn't have anything to provide. He explained it in a less friendly tone. He said that the Jackal may enter and look for food but would find nothing.

 

Tabaqui wasn't discouraged, though. He found some dry bones at the cave.

 

 

The Jackal said how the dry bones are as good as a feast for a poor animal as himself. Being all great and mighty, the wolves may find the bones beneath their standard; but it is not the same for Tabaqui. Being a poor animal, he didn't have the right to be picky.

 

It is interesting to note that the Jackal keeps his sarcasm intact while begging for food.

Tabaqui licked his lips and thanked the wolf for the 'good meal'. He looked at the Father and Mother Wolf and realised that they are uncomfortable.

He picked on his mock-cordiality and commented on the wolf-cubs. Tabaqui knew how to annoy others, and he was very good at it too. Moreover, he sought pleasure in causing discomfort to others. He said, "How beautiful are the noble children! How large are their eyes! And so young too!".

On the other hand, the wolves knew that food was only half the reason why Tabaqui had come to meet them. They were waiting (uncomfortably) for the Jackal to reveal the purpose of his visit.

Tabaqui left his sarcasm behind. He now spoke in a tone filled with ill will and the desire to bring harm to the wolves.

 

 

Tabaqui revealed that Shere Khan has moved to the hills where the wolves were residing, and he will be hunting among those hills until the next moon. Here, the phrase 'for the next moon' may mean 'for a month'. Typically, a lunar phase lasts for a month, and hence, it takes a month for a new moon to appear.

 

As explained before, Shere Khan is the villain of the story. Tabaqui calls him the 'Big one', revealing that he is a tiger, the largest of the Big Cats. Though tigers do not attack wolves, they can easily defeat one; however, a tiger may not withstand the attack from a pack of wolves. Hence, they tend to keep away from each other.

 

Another critical aspect of the scene is that the line 'and so young too' spoken by Tabaqui may have some undertones. The line seemed more like a threat than mockery as Tabaqui might be hinting that the wolf-cubs are too young and might be in danger from Shere Khan.