Question

Write a note on a civilized education as reflected in the poem snake

Answer 1

In the poem, ‘Snake’ by D.H. Lawrence, the poet despises himself because he feels himself responsible for chasing away the snake with a stick. In the poem, the poet first treats him like a guest and calls him “like a god”. However, later, he is the same person who chases the snake away with a stick. This exemplifies the indecisiveness a human faces at times of clash among intellect and humanity. The poet feels very sorry for his disgraceful, unacceptable and uncouth behavior and action and rebuked the voices of education and civilization that had shaped his thoughts and urged him to have chased away the creature. Thus, it can be understood that the basis of the poem revolves around the concept of dilemma that a human faces because of society, its clichés and education. We lose our power to judge the right and the wrong because of set principles of the “accepted right and wrong”. It is a satirical presentation of the acquired human education that shamefully failed to show respect to a majestic, godly guest; a snake, a king in exile, and the real owner of the earth who withdrew to its hole in the earth for fear of man.