Sympathy In 'The Rattler'

There has been a time at one point in a person’s life where they were given a task they did not want to do. Sometimes it has to be done. The the short story The Rattler, a mane is talking a walk through a desert setting. His walked was suddenly stopped when he saw a dangerous looking snake, at first glance anyway. He was faced with the task of killing the snake. When the task was complete, he was not thrilled. In The Rattler, the author creates the effect of empathy for the man and sympathy for the snake. The techniques used to achieve that are the description of the man, description of the snake, the setting.

“..inserted a medicine into my skin that protected me from snakebite and enabled me to control snakes..” (pg 54). That quote explains how he supposedly can control snakes and protect him from a snakebite. Well, on the same page, there was another quote. “I accidentally stepped on the tail of a snake. I ran as fast as I could for a long time.” (pg 54). If the reader pays attention, then they will realize that the two quotes contradict themself. If he could supposedly control and protect himself from snakes, then why would he run away from it? Well, the theme of the novel is to inform readers about how children are affected by war, and having those two quotes contradicting themself, didn’t effect the theme at all. The author may seem dishonest at times, but the reader also has to ask themself if the “lie” affected the mood or theme at

Beeler uses symbolism, labeling and exaggeration. The snake symbolizes evil because he is trying to eat the man. Labeling is used on the snake, there is a bold and clear white label that says “debt”. The size of the man’s cellphone, his face, and the snake are exaggerated. The snake is much bigger than the man. These elements bring depth to the cartoon and give you more to look at than just a snake eating a man. The use of exaggeration on the snake shows that debt is bigger than you and it can be suffocating.

As the snake “drew back his head and [the man] raised [his] weapon” they both were ready for their last fight. Both felt threatened by each other; thus, both felt the necessity to become defensive. However, neither one saw the situation as an immediate threat, so they did not immediately strike. When the narrator “made an unprovoked attack,” the snake performed “a little song of death.” The reader’s sympathy for the snake once again returns because the snake did nothing wrong. The “little song of death” depicts an image of the snake’s last effort to live. However, there is nothing “little” in death, but rather displays the snake’s submissiveness to the man. The “ominous” situation with “poison dripping from [the snake’s] fangs” is reminiscent of the tragedy that just occurred. The author reminds the reader of the necessity to rid the world of the danger from a snake. It lessens the reader’s grief towards the snake, bringing a more neutral tone to the

Life and death situations do not occur often and can easily involve the most difficult decisions a person can ever make. The story “The Rattler” presents one of these scenarios, in which a fierce battle between a man and a rattle snake takes place. Throughout the passage, language, and detail about the man, the rattler, and the setting invite the reader to feel either sympathy or empathy toward the man and the rattler.

It is apparent from the first line of the poem that author is in a state of overriding fear travelling through the unknown: likening the road to an “old snake shedding its skin.” A snake is a clear representation of childhood fear and youthful paranoia, due to its intimidating nature. Walcott compares the path to a snake because he fears it just like a snake, to him the path is daunting and potentially deadly at first. The author not only compares the road to a snake but a snake shedding its skin. This paints a grotesque image for readers and illustrates how he views his initial journey with anything but enthusiasm. The author is in the unfamiliar wilderness searching for not only the storyteller’s house but himself. His state of childhood terror is only counterbalanced by his encounter with the storyteller.

Along in with the author’s use of metaphors is the frequent use of imagery. In this reading, it is simple to envision the scenes as the different scenarios are explained and the audience can easily picture Staples in the places he is describing and also the people he comes across. Perhaps the most powerful and memorable imagery is provided in the author’s description of people’s different reactions and faces when they come into contact with him. Actions speak volumes and an immediate change of facial expression is possibly one of the

However, the image of the snake actually waiting for the man to act first indicates an ability to reason and avoid conflict and gives it a sense of humanity and complexity animals do not usually possess. Humans have an inclination to feel more sympathy toward characters they can relate to, and giving the snake this uniquely human characterization certainly exploits the reader’s human nature. Moreover, the author repeatedly romanticizes the snake, describing it less as a danger and more as an alluring, mystical creature. When the snake first detects the man’s intentions to harm it, “he lay there like a live wire,” rattling his tail in a “little song of death.” Rather than describing the snake as a menace to the man’s safety, the author chooses instead to describe it as a “live-wire”—unpredictable and risky, like an open wire.

The short story The Rattler is a story based on the theme of man vs. nature. A man becomes conflicted when he encounters a rattle snake while walking in the desert. This very man is put into a position where he needs to determine whether or not he should kill this reptile. The man’s final decision is what helps the reader connect with the characters of the passage. In the short story The Rattler the author uses language and details as tools to help convey the point of view of the man, the actions of the snake and the setting in order to persuade the reader to feel empathy for the man and sympathy for the snake.

In the short story “Sweat” by Zora Neal Hurson, the setting takes place in the nineteen twenties in Florida and has many themes, such as marriage, society, religion, gender roles and ect. Hurson writes about the troubles of a woman who has to deal with her cheating and abusive husband, Sykes. He leaves a snake in their house to torment his wife, Delia, and when the snake bites him, Delia does nothing to help him and she is not wrong for that.

The third stanza describes the snake as “cool and gleaming as a braided whip” (9-10). Describing the snake as a braided whip demonstrates the intricate woven pattern of the snake’s scales and the poet’s appreciation for nature and its’ beauty. The snake is not a useless piece of rubber, but a beautiful and vibrant part of nature. “He is as beautiful and quiet as a bead brother” (10-11). The snake is quiet, makes no sound, and snuggles into

Next, the sense of evil symbolized by the snake is demonstrated by the beastly way Delia is treated by Sykes and the fear and terror both Sykes and the snake inflict upon her. A group of men sitting outside of a general store share an interesting point of view concerning the relationship between Delia and Sykes. This group of men, which happen to see Delia drive by

In the short story “Poison” by Roald Dahl, Harry Pope is laying in his bed while a Krait, which is a poisonous snake, crawls onto his stomach. When Harry’s buddy, Timber, gets home, Harry expresses concern for the snake, explaining how he hasn’t moved for hours in fear of being bit. Timber couldn’t see the snake because it was under the covers, but he trusted Harry’s word. So, the two of them began to think of different ways

Firstly he creates a calm but harsh setting as he describes the scenery of the lakeside. He starts the chapter with a beautiful description of a heron and a snake in a captivating scene. However, at the end of the description, the heron plucks the snake with its ‘periscope head’ out of the water and swallows it. This hints at what is to come and helps to create an atmosphere.

Still, when the hunter goes to jail because of the man he helped from the pit, the mouse and the snake aid him through getting out. As the hunter is suffering in the king’s prison, the mouse appears and says, “Keep up your courage. I will go now to find help.” Moments later, the snake enters and to repay the hunter for assisting them in the past, says, “I am glad [...] to show my gratitude. [...] I will sting [the king] on the heel. The cream in that little box alone can save his life.” The snake’s plan will allow the hunter to save the king’s life, giving him the opportunity to release the hunter. Even after experiencing all stated, one might argue that unexpected good fortune won’t come to those who help someone in need because of the man’s harsh actions. While the man truly did not show good fortune to the hunter, the lion warned him of the man’s dishonor, because not all people show the characteristic of repayment that the animals have. To conclude, one’s act of aid to a stranger in need may often be repaid with good fortune, as demonstrated in “From the Elephant Pit”, where several animals return a hunter’s