D.H. Lawrence’s poem The Snake captures a moment of intense inner conflict and moral reflection, drawing on themes of nature, fear, and human impulses. The poem presents the speaker's encounter with a snake at a water trough, leading to a profound exploration of the natural world, human instincts, and cultural conditioning.
Setting and Description:
The poem begins with the speaker recalling an encounter with a snake, which is described as a “strange” and “beautiful” creature. The setting is a sunlit, rural environment, likely in the speaker's garden or an outdoor space where the snake comes to drink from a trough. The imagery of the snake's movements is both graceful and hypnotic. The speaker describes the snake as having "yellow and black stripes," evoking the snake's exotic beauty and primal presence. The tactile imagery, such as the snake's body “shining,” reflects its natural elegance and its connection to the earth, a symbol of the untamed and primitive forces in nature.
The Snake’s Arrival:
The snake’s arrival at the trough is presented as a ritualistic and almost sacred moment. The speaker's initial reaction to the snake is one of awe and respect. He waits for the snake to drink, reluctant to disturb it, and is fascinated by its simple yet dignified behavior. In this way, Lawrence presents the snake as a representative of the natural world, moving without haste or worry, in perfect harmony with its surroundings. The speaker admires the snake’s grace and perceives it as a creature of the earth, worthy of admiration.
The Inner Conflict:
However, the speaker soon begins to experience an internal moral conflict. The snake’s beauty and elegance are quickly overshadowed by the speaker’s cultural conditioning and fear of the snake’s potential danger. In the poem, there is a tension between the speaker’s instinct to respect the snake as part of the natural world and the ingrained societal fear of snakes, which are often considered symbols of danger or evil. The speaker recalls how, despite his admiration for the snake, he feels compelled to throw a log at it to drive it away. This act of aggression suggests the conflict between natural instincts and learned behaviors.
This inner turmoil is further reflected in the speaker’s self-reproach after he throws the log. He feels guilty and ashamed, acknowledging that his action was driven by fear, rather than reason. Lawrence uses this internal struggle to critique the way human beings, through cultural norms and social conditioning, distance themselves from the natural world. The act of violence against the snake represents the impulse to dominate and control nature, to reduce it to something that can be contained or subdued.
Moral Reflection:
The speaker’s regret intensifies as he contemplates the deeper meaning of his actions. The guilt stems not only from harming the snake but also from betraying his own natural instincts. He recognizes that his behavior reflects the hypocrisy of human civilization, which often seeks to separate itself from the natural world. The snake, in its purity and dignity, symbolizes an untouched connection to the earth, something that humans have lost in their quest for dominance and control.
The speaker admits that he “should have honored” the snake, that it was a “guest” in his domain. He regrets his impulsive response, which was governed by fear rather than an understanding of the snake’s rightful place in the world. In the final lines, the speaker’s reflection reveals a sense of moral awakening. He acknowledges that the snake was an innocent creature, undeserving of harm, and that his fear was misplaced. The poem concludes with the speaker’s longing for a return to innocence, a desire to reconcile his impulses with the wisdom of nature.
Conclusion:
In The Snake, Lawrence uses the metaphor of the snake to explore themes of human instinct, cultural conditioning, and the loss of connection with the natural world. The poem highlights the tension between respect for nature and the fear ingrained in human consciousness. Through vivid imagery, emotional conflict, and moral introspection, Lawrence critiques the way society imposes unnatural boundaries between humans and the world around them. Ultimately, the poem suggests that true wisdom comes from overcoming fear and embracing the natural world in all its forms, without judgment or aggression.
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