Shere Khan's decision to eat a pig and then hunt Mowgli speaks to his arrogance and gluttonous nature. As with other figures in
The Jungle Book who try to disrupt the social order by standing on their own, Shere Khan dies as punishment for his disrespecting the Law of the Jungle. Mowgli’s triumph over Shere Khan demonstrates his mastery over the animals of the jungle, making him both admired and feared. It is a significant step in his coming-of-age journey, as he fulfills the prophecy that Mother Wolf out forth in “Mowgli’s Brothers.”