Question

The poet has a dual attitude towards the snake. Why does the experience conflicting emotions on seeing the snake?​

Answer 1

Right from the beginning, it seems that the poet was all praises for the snake. He liked him and felt honoured as according to him ‘he had come like a guest’. Education and social conventions made him think that the sea snake which is golden-brown in colour is venomous and must be killed. But he was afraid of the snake so he dared not to kill it. His fear prevented him from doing so. In the end, when he saw him escaping into the wall, he hurled a log at him.

Answer 2

Yes the poet has a dual attitude towards the snake . He admired a and like him , He felt honoured seeing him drinking water but at the same time the voice of modern education and civilization shaped his thoughts of being a coward and feared man and urged him to kill the snake .