Snake

Analysis of Theme in Snake A radix found in the poem Snake is that the respect man has for nature hinges on the difference mingled with instinct and learned behavior. D. H. Lawrence expresses this theme through the use of similes and conflict. The literary elements used in the poem support intelligibly point out this meaningful message. As the poem begins, the narrator flows across a golden-brown snake as he approached his water trough. At first, the narrator shows respect and admiration for the creature.As stated in tune (27), But must I confess how I liked him, How glad I was he had come like a guest, shows He felt honored by the snakes presence. It is the narrators natural instinct to feel this way. The narrator then goes on to compargon the snake to cattle by saying in line (16) He lifted his head from his drinking, as cattle do, and looked at me vaguely, as drinking cattle do. The use of this simile represents the respect the narrator has for the snake and reflects on th e snakes harmless behavior. Soon after, the narrators natural admiration and respect for the snake is interrupted by the joint of his education.Here begins the main internal conflict the narrator faces. The narrator listens to the voice in his conscience say, The voice of my education said to me, he must be killed, for in Sicily the black, black snakes are innocent, the gold are venomous. and voices in me said, if you were a man, you would take a stick and break him now, and finish him off. (Line 22) The narrators last to listen to the voice of his education instead of his true feelings is what ultimately brings about the main consequence, which is the sense of crime resulting from such a petty action.The consequence the narrator faced for killing the snake he had at a time admired was the feeling of regret and guilt. Although he showed respect and felt honored by the snakes presence, both were overshadowed by the action of the narrator. The peaceful atmosphere instantly shifte d when the narrator thought in his mind, And immediately I regretted it. I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act I despised myself and the voices of my accursed military personnel education. (Line 63) The negative feelings felt by the narrator were brought forth by something that man usually views as insignificant, the elationship betwixt nature and man-kind. All that was left for the narrator to do was to extinguish his self-inflicted sense of sin against nature. The poem concludes on line 72 when the narrator utters, And I have something to expiate a pettiness. The poem Snake clearly sends the message that the respect man has for nature depends on the difference between the inner conscience and the heartbeat of learned human behavior. The theme shines light on the importance of the relationship between nature and public because at the end of the day, they are both more similar than we assume.