The Snake and The Mirror Summary

Introduction

The story of "The snake and the mirror," written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, centers on a terrible occurrence involving a doctor who was single and admiring himself in the mirror when he came across a snake. The doctor tells the narrative, and despite the risk, he seems to be finding the situation amusing.

Around ten o'clock on a steamy summer night, the doctor finished his supper at the restaurant and went back to his hotel. His revenues were insufficient because he had recently started a medical practice. He had roughly sixty rupees in his bag and a few other shirts, dhotis, and one single black coat.

Then, he gives a description of his chamber, which had two windows. It featured a tiled roof with tall supporting gables that rested on the beam over the wall and was an outside chamber with one wall facing the spacious yard. Rats often crossed the room's open floor plan, which lacked a ceiling.

To obtain some fresh air, the doctor got up and went out onto the veranda. However, there was no breeze, so he went back inside and sat on the chair in his room to read "The Materia Medica." As he opened the table, a lamp, a mirror, and a little comb were on it.

A Little Bit About the Author: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

Indian independence campaigner and Malayalam author Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1859-1927) was born in India. Legendary author Vaikom Muhammad Basheer holds an important place in the Malayalam literary world. Using his simple yet insightful writing style, a dash of satire, sarcasm, and dark humor. One of India's most well-known writers who has ever lived, he is highly acclaimed. In Kerala, he was renowned.

Summary

The story's narrator is a doctor. He is sharing this tale with several of his pals. He describes his run-in with a dangerous serpent. He practices homeopathy. He claims that at the time, while he was living in a leased room, he had only recently begun his practice.

The summer night was warm. It was about 10 am. He had just come home from a restaurant. As his house wasn't electrified, he lit a kerosene lamp. He opened both windows in the room and took out a book. He sat down in a chair. His table had a large mirror as well as the lamp, which he examined anxiously being a bachelor. He took a comb and separated his hair. A grin grew on his lips as he saw his image in the reflection. The area was clamorous due to the presence of rodents.

The doctor got up, lit a beedi, and began to walk around the room. He made the decision to get hitched. He had the idea that he would wed a wealthy, successful female doctor. He decided to marry a fat lady so that if he attempted to run away she couldn't catch up with him.

On the chair in front of the table, he took another seat. There were no more rat sounds. Something dropped out of nowhere and thumped into the back of his chair. The large snake he found on the chair's back horrified him. The Snake suddenly climbed onto his shoulder. The Snake wrapped itself around the doctor's left arm before he had time to react or consider. Its head was just three or four inches away from his face, and its hood was open.

The anxiety had the doctor frozen in place. But his thoughts were racing. He asked God to intervene and save him. It seemed as though God had answered his plea. The Snake twisted its head and peered into the mirror. It gave off the impression that it liked itself. The Snake eventually untied around the doctor's arm and slid onto his lap. The Snake then slithered up onto the table from there.

It moved toward the direction of the mirror. It could have wished to have a closer look at its own picture. Now the doctor took immediate action. He carefully stood up from the chair while still holding his breath. Then he bolted from the home. He slept the night at one of his pals' houses. The following morning, he invited his friend and a few others to his room. He had chosen to relocate to a different house. He was shocked to see his room vacant. A thief had taken the most of his belongings. It was likewise unable to see the Snake.

Moral

The author of this story wants the readers to realize that bragging about oneself and becoming arrogant about transient successes are futile in nature. One realizes their worth and the folly of material pleasures when terrified. The doctor in the story was boasting about his brilliance and good looks, but as soon as he got in contact with the dangerous Snake, he understood that his life might be gone in a matter of minutes.