The Rattler Analysis

In ‘The Rattler”, the tension and duty reflect the sorrow the man felt after killing the snake, but revealed his role when protecting others. The man was not at ease when he consciously decided to take the life of one of nature's creatures, but was enlightened knowing that he saved human lives that were potentially in danger. In other word, the man was conflicted between choosing to kill an innocent, but harmful snake or to fulfill his job of protecting the weak. The author's diction heightens the vehement and conscientious thoughts of the man when contemplating taking the life of the snake. As the man discerned the snake in the desert, he “lay rigid” ready for a “long-range attack,” but the man wanted to “let him go his way.” From this, we …show more content…
After the man returns with his hoe, the snake “[layed] there like a live wire.” Even though the snake can’t give an electric shock like a live wire, the use of the simile gives the inference that the snake is as dangerous as live wire. At the end of the story, the author wrote about the man’s reflection of picturing the reptile going over the ‘desert sand” “[sinuously] and self-respecting.” This exemplifies the idea that the protagonist feels remorse for killing the reptile. He pictured a felicitous event of the snake as if he weren’t dead. The writer great use of imagery through first person point of view creates a surreal …show more content…
The man “reflected” by remembering that there are “children, dogs, [and] horses at the ranch.” The man was not obliged to kill the reptile because he has a huge respect for nature. He thought of the lives back home that needs protection from danger. The man didn’t “cut off the rattles,” and instead put them in “guardianship of the bush.” This exemplifies the protagonists remorse. He feels sorry for killing the snake, so he made sure that all of the snake's remains are guarded by the desert bush. The writer's use of first person point of view generates the thoughts the ranchers has by his