# Mowgli — The Jungle Book character guide

> Mowgli in The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Frog, wise little Frog

**First appearance:** 0002-mowgli-s-brothers

## Snapshot

A woodcutter's child raised by Seeonee wolves, he learns the Law of the Jungle from Baloo and Bagheera while Shere Khan hungers for his blood.

## Who they are

Mowgli belongs to the Seeonee wolf pack by Mother Wolf's defiance and Baloo's teaching, yet he is always the man-cub, marked as different by his hairless skin and clever hands. He loves the jungle with a fierce, impatient heart, but his restlessness and pride — the very traits that let him weave huts and outwit the Bandar-log — also make him a target for the tiger who claims him as his own. His struggle to belong in a world that keeps reminding him he is an outsider drives the opening arc, from the Council Rock to his first flight into the villages of men.

## Relationships

### [Bagheera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/bagheera)

_friendship_

Bagheera is Mowgli's mentor and protector, guiding him through the dangers of the jungle with wisdom and affection.

### [Baloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/baloo)

_friendship_

Baloo is Mowgli's jovial and patient teacher, instructing him in the Law of the Jungle with fatherly care.

### [Shere Khan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/shere_khan)

_rivalry_

Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub and Mowgli ultimately seeking to destroy him.

### [Akela](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/akela)

_friendship_

Akela, the leader of the wolf pack, is a father figure and protector to Mowgli, defending his place in the pack.

### [Mother Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/mother_wolf)

_family_

Mother Wolf adopts Mowgli as her own cub, nursing him and defending him with fierce maternal love.

### [Buldeo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/buldeo)

_rivalry_

Buldeo, a superstitious and greedy village hunter, is hostile toward Mowgli and tries to exploit or harm him.

### [Kaa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/kaa)

_friendship_

Kaa is a powerful ally to Mowgli, using his hypnotic abilities to help rescue him and later offering wisdom.

### [Shere Khan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/shere_khan)

_rivalry_

Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub and Mowgli ultimately seeking to destroy him.

### [Baloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/baloo)

_friendship_

Baloo is Mowgli's jovial and patient teacher, instructing him in the Law of the Jungle with fatherly care.

### [Bagheera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/bagheera)

_friendship_

Bagheera is Mowgli's mentor and protector, guiding him through the dangers of the jungle with wisdom and affection.

### [Bagheera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/bagheera)

_friendship_

Bagheera is Mowgli's mentor and protector, guiding him through the dangers of the jungle with wisdom and affection.

### [Baloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/baloo)

_friendship_

Baloo is Mowgli's jovial and patient teacher, instructing him in the Law of the Jungle with fatherly care.

## In the story

### [The Jungle Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/chapters/the-jungle-book)

Central human character raised by wolves, learns the Law of the Jungle, and confronts Shere Khan.

### [Mowgli's Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/chapters/mowgli-s-brothers)

The man-cub adopted by the wolf pack; grows up learning the Law of the Jungle, but remains unaware of Shere Khan's threat.

### [Kaa's Hunting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/chapters/kaa-s-hunting)

The man-cub who is kidnapped by the Bandar-log and later rescued by Kaa.

### [Tiger! Tiger!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/chapters/tiger-tiger)

Leaves the wolf pack, enters a human village, is adopted by Messua, becomes a buffalo herder, and plans to kill Shere Khan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters/mowgli
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jungle_book_se/characters