THE SNAKE
Theme:
In this poem “Snake”, the poet D.H Lawrence examine the difference
between feelings & education. He expresses his theme through three ways: the
speaker knows that he should kill the snake, he questions his own manliness, and
he tries to hit with a log.
The speaker in this poem learns that if you listen your feelings then you will
be a lot better off in life. Then the snake leaves & the speaker know that he will
never see the snake again. If the man listen his education instead of feelings, he
would not have missed out on a chance to meet one of the lords.
Poetic analysis:
This poem is more or less an ode, celebrating the encounter of a snake by
poet. That came as an interposition into his area for water.
The poet starts by revealing the event, the time and the atmosphere. The
snake in satisfying its affection for water went to the poet trough on hot day. Also
the poet, who is the owner of that water trough, came for the same purpose near
the water trough. On getting to his water trough, he meet with snake, he sees it as
an obligation to stand and wait for the snake because it was there before it. The
poet referred to himself as a second comer waiting for the snake to finish drinking.
The poet while watching observed its mode of drinking and describes it as
that of cattle. The poet said in line 15-19 that the snake “lifted is throat from his
drinking, as cattle do. And looked at him vaguely, as drinking cattle do” all these
the snake did without giving notice or concentration to whom might be watching.
The poet recollected the voice of his education and said to him that he must
kill the snake “for in Sicily the black, black snakes are innocent, the gold are
venomous” this express that poet beliefs that black snakes are harmless and gold
snake are harmful. So the snake must be killed, but latter, he refused, believing
that the snake should seek hospitality in him. For sparing the snake, the poet felt
so honoured.
After getting satisfaction, the snake turned around slowly with its long
curved body. The snake moved in slowly to the hole, without any fear. Suddenly,
the poet turned around and picked up a log and threw the log to water trough.
This was done for kill the snake but it did not. The snake moved fastly into the
black hole.
After the disappearance of snake, the poet ashamed on his action
immediately and blamed himself for acting the way, he did. He placed the blame
on voice of education and wishes the snake could come back for him to it like a
king. But believed that would never do so. And sees it “like a king in exile” the poet
conclude that he has to make an amendment.
Short Summary:
The poem "Snake" by D.H. Lawrence has many different layers of meaning. It
is narration of a person unexpected meeting with a snake. Fear and fascination
take control as he is left with the internal struggle of being educational vs. natural
feelings. It highlights the difference between our natural feelings and what is
socially acceptable or learned. The speaker "knows" that the snake is dangerous
and must be killed: and yet he doesn't want to harm him. In the end, his education
prevails and he throws a log into the water. However, he immediately shameful on
this action. This poem reveals the human weakness of liking the evil and the
corruption. It shows that humans are naturally attracted to the things they are
afraid of the most
Central Idea:
The poem "Snake" by D.H. Lawrence has many different layers of meaning. It
is narration of a person unexpected meeting with a snake. It highlights the
difference between our natural feelings and what is socially acceptable or learned.
It shows that humans are naturally attracted to the things they are afraid of the
most.