The Relationship between Man and Snake

The enmity between snakes and men (and women) since the Fall of Man from the Garden of Eden. After reading Mary Oliver's "Black Snake" I was asked to write on the the difference the speaker of the poem has from most people.

 

Preconceived views about snakes are false. First of all, snakes are not slimy. Second, your average corn snake is not going to bite your fingers off. From a personal experience, a corn snake as a pet has the same noticeable feelings towards a human as a cat or dog might. This goes to say that it is not in a black or green snake’s nature to be violent towards a human being. The enmity that most people have for snakes was instilled when the serpent tricked Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. Ever since then, most people are extremely uncomfortable around snakes, when humans really should not be bothered at all.

            With the idea that snakes are violent and harmful out of mind, it is fair to address the diction Mary Oliver uses to describe the reptile. The words of the poem objectify the snake, “Looped and useless like an old bicycle tire,” and “braided whip.” The speaker in the poem also calls the dead snake “brother.” The personification of the snake is shown at the second stanza when the human “carried him.” The image one gets from reading “carrying a dead brother” is one where a soldier carries a wounded soldier that is dying in his arms. The person in the poem has the same respect for the dead snake as the soldier does for his dying comrade.

This strong sense of care for the snake that the human exhibits really contradicts that preconceived notion that snakes are dangerous. It also goes against the typical enmity between men and snakes. If the human believed those false thoughts of snakes, or gave into the hatred most people have for snakes, he probably would have kept driving by the dead snake, or if he had half a heart-fling the road kill into the bushes. But to the reader’s surprise, the man takes his time not to rush the procession, and while moving the snake, notices that “he is cool and gleaming.” He takes time to “leave him under the leaves,” as if it was short ceremonial burial.

            In the last couple of stanzas in the poem, the writing style changes from a story being told to generalizations being made. One can conclude that the “It” continuously referred to in the last several lines, is the acceptance of death as a part of life.

For example, if death was accepted as a part of life, then according to the poem, death would be “the light at the center of every cell.” Death is a part of lifecycle and the human says that the death of the snake is “how it happens,” as if it was normal for the snake to be road kill.

The speaker shakes his head in disbelief that someone “could not swerve” more likely, “would not swerve,” to save the snake’s life. The carelessness the driver has for the value of the snake’s life points back to enmity that man has gained from the Garden of Eden. The hatred, even though the driver might have not intentionally tried to kill the snake, simply caused the driver to keep going once he drove over the snake. Average black snakes don’t go unnoticed and are generally large, so the driver would have noticed rolling over it. The speaker in the poem depicts his difference, though, from how most people tend accept that enmity and cruelly mistreat snakes. In doing so he shows his care for the snake.

At the end of the poem, the line “reason burns a brighter fire,” represents the man saying to himself, “Starting with the end of the poem, the line “reason burns a brighter fire,” which can represent the man saying to himself, “What happened, happened, and there isn’t anything I can do to prevent a death that has already occurred.” All he can do throughout this poem is recognize the wrong in the death that could have easily been prevented. The reader comes away from this poem thinking of how different the human is from everyone else who would have driven over the snake without a care. But compromising with himself, the speaker decides to remove the snake from the road with a solemn attitude. He comes to realize that it is not a snake that is violent and harmful to humans, but humans disfigure the snake into “an old bicycle tire.”

Author's Note

Any criticism on anything would be great. I would love it especially if any grammar mistakes or typos could be picked up or if any part is really unclear would be notified to me asap! Thanks

Reviews

[Scott Free]

Very interesting! I liked it, and most importantly it makes me want to read this poem.
I never really thought about it, but it's interesting how, in literature and many other things, the snake is a symbol of evil--and simply because of our enmity of it. When we call someone a 'snake' that doesn't mean something good, as opposed to calling someone a lion or...you know, something like that.
Great outlook, here! Loved your insight. I didn't see anything to be criticized.

~S

[Frank F. Atanacio]

A very enjoyable read-- different but nevertheless enjoyable