Introduction“The Snake and the Mirror” by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a funny and suspenseful story about a young doctor’s encounter with a snake. It highlights human self-admiration and how unexpected events can turn life upside down. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was a famous Malayalam writer known for his simple stories filled with humor and life lessons. His works are loved for their relatable characters and unique style, making him one of India’s most respected authors.
Key Points of the Story
- The story is about a young, unmarried doctor who lived in a small, rented room shared with rats.
- One night, while admiring himself in the mirror, the doctor dreamed of improving his looks and marrying a rich, fat woman doctor.
- Suddenly, a snake fell on his shoulder and coiled around his arm, its hood just inches from his face.
- Frozen with fear, the doctor prayed silently, unable to move, fearing the snake would bite him.
- The snake turned its attention to the mirror, seeming fascinated by its reflection, and uncoiled from the doctor’s arm.
- The doctor used this opportunity to escape from the room and ran to safety.
- Later, he discovered that a thief had stolen most of his belongings that night, leaving behind only his dirty vest.
- The doctor humorously reflected on the incident, including the irony of the snake’s vanity and his unrealistic marriage dreams.
- This light-hearted story combines humor and suspense, showing how tense situations can later be laughed about.
Detailed Summary
The narrator of the story is a doctor. He is telling this story to some of his friends. He tells the story of his encounter with a deadly snake. He is a homeopath. He says that he had just started his practice in those days when he was living in a rented room.
It was a hot summer night. The time was about ten o’clock. He had just returned home after taking his meals at a restaurant. He lighted the kerosene lamp, as his house was not electrified. After some time, he opened the two windows in the room. Then he sat down on the chair and took out a book to read. Apart from the lamp, there was a large mirror on the table. In those days, the doctor bothered much about his looks, as he was a bachelor. He picked up a comb and parted his hair. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled at his own image. There were rats in the room which constantly made noises.
The doctor got up, and paced up and down the room. He decided that he would marry. He thought that he would marry a woman doctor who had plenty of money and good medical practice. He decided that he would marry a fat lady so that she would not be able to run after him if he wanted to run away. He resumed his seat in the chair in front of the table. There were no more sounds of rats. Suddenly something fell on the back of his chair with a thud. He was horrified to see that there was a large snake on the back of the chair. Just then the snake came on his shoulder. Before the doctor could think and act, the snake coiled itself around his left arm. Its hood was spread and its head was hardly three or four inches from his face.
The doctor was turned to stone with fear. But his mind was active. He prayed to God to save him. It appeared as if God had heard his prayer. The snake turned its head and looked into the mirror. It appeared to like its own image. Then the snake unwound itself from the doctor’s arm and fell into his lap. From there the snake crept onto the table. It moved towards the mirror. Perhaps it wanted to see its image closely. Now the doctor acted quickly. Still holding his breath, he got up slowly from the chair. Then he ran out of the house. He went to the house of one of his friends and spent the night there.
Next morning, he took his friend and one or two others to his room. He had decided to shift to some other house. He was shocked to find that there was nothing left in his room. Some thief had taken away most of his things. There was no sign of the snake either.
Try yourself:
What did the doctor dream of while admiring himself in the mirror before the snake incident?
- A.Getting a new job
- B.Improving his looks and marrying a rich, fat woman doctor
- C.Traveling the world
- D.Buying a new house
View Solution
Theme/MessageThemes:
The story explores themes of vanity, fear, and humor in unexpected situations. It highlights human tendencies to admire oneself, the sudden unpredictability of life, and how humor can lighten even scary moments.
Message:
The story teaches us to stay calm in difficult situations and find humor in life’s challenges. It also reminds us not to be overly proud of our looks or dreams, as life is unpredictable and full of surprises.
Difficult Words1. Coiled: Twisted or wound together in a spiral.
2. Meagre: Insufficient in amount or quantity.
3. Gables: Triangular portions of a wall at the end of a pitched roof.
4. Admiring: Regard with respect or warm approval.
5. Wriggled: Twist and turn with quick writhing movements.
6. Simultaneous: Occurring, operating, or done at the same time.
7. Lurked: Be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone.
8. Contemplative: Expressing or involving prolonged thought.
9. Unwound: Reverse the winding or twisting of.
10. Composure: The state or feeling of being calm and in control.
11. Ordeal: A painful or horrific experience.
12. Divine: Relating to or proceeding directly from God.
13. Introspection: The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.
14. Navigating: Plan and direct the course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation.
15. Circumstances: A fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action.