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'Tis the Season of the Snake

Jan 28

2 min read

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In Chinese New Year and broader Chinese culture, the snake carries a mix of symbolic meanings rooted in mythology, tradition, and the Chinese zodiac.  While Western culture often casts snakes in a sinister light (looking at you, Bible), the Chinese interpretation is far more nuanced, even leaning into admiration.  But in many of your child’s literature studies snakes have slithered into the collective imagination as the poster children for betrayal, temptation, and all-round sneakiness. But, as with all good villains, their literary track record is as complex as it is compelling.



The OG Backstabber: Genesis

Let’s start at the beginning - literally.  The serpent in Genesis doesn’t just tempt Eve with the forbidden fruit; it practically invents the genre of duplicitous sidekick.  One cunning conversation later, and humanity’s enjoying shame, toil, and mortality.  Nice one, snake.  The symbolism here is rich: the snake as a whispering tempter, a sleek, untrustworthy agent of chaos. It’s the literary equivalent of that toxic friend who insists, “It’ll be fun,” just before everything goes sideways.


Snakes as Sinister Symbols: Shakespeare and Beyond

Fast-forward a few millennia, and you’ll find Shakespeare milking the snake metaphor for all its venomous potential.  Think of Macbeth, which all my GCSE students should be doing… where Lady Macbeth calls her husband to ‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't’.  Translation?  Be charming, then absolutely ruin their lives.  For Shakespeare, the snake isn’t just a creature - it’s an ethos.  Cunning.  Dangerous.  Never to be trusted.  It’s like the Elizabethan version of corporate espionage.

And don’t even get me started on Cleopatra...


Paradise Lost: Snakes as Political Propaganda

John Milton’s Paradise Lost features Satan as a snake, lounging around Eden like it’s Ibiza in peak season. Milton, bless him, isn’t just retelling Genesis - he’s creating a theological blockbuster, complete with betrayal, rebellion, and an evil snake who somehow has better lines than half the angels. The serpent here is peak propaganda: slippery, silver-tongued, and very much not to be trusted. Milton’s snake didn’t just tempt Eve; it practically invented gaslighting.


Modern Snakes: Thanks, J.K. Rowling

And, of course, we can’t talk about snakes in literature without mentioning Harry Potter and the Slytherins.  Yes, J.K. Rowling doubled down on the “snakes equal sneaky” trope, but she also gave us Nagini - Voldemort’s pet and occasional Horcrux.  It’s a nuanced take on serpentine symbolism: power, danger, and a touch of the tragic.  Plus, let’s be honest, if you were a Dark Lord, you’d probably want a giant snake sidekick too.


Why We’re Obsessed

So, why do snakes keep turning up in literature?  Because they’re endlessly fascinating.  They’re sleek, silent, and unpredictable - a perfect metaphor for everything from the sibilant-heavy sin and seduction to survival and strength.  Love them or loathe them, snakes in literature aren’t just characters; they’re statements.

And maybe that’s the real lesson here. Like all good literary symbols, the snake reminds us to look beneath the surface. Just, you know, maybe not too close. Some things are best appreciated from a safe distance.  Want your child to explore the slippery world of literary symbolism?  Get in touch with www.thelanglitstudio.com today.  


Just leave your snakes at the door.


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