The Rattler Essay

Commentary on ÐŽoRattlerÐŽ±

The authorЎЇs techniques in Rattler convey not only a feeling of sadness and remorse but also a sense of the manЎЇs acceptance of the snakeЎЇs impending death. The reader can sense the purpose of the authorЎЇs effective message through the usage of diction, imagery, and organization.

The author uses diction in the passages to signify the effect of the authorЎЇs meaning in story and often sway readers to interpret ideas in one way or another. The man in the story arrives to a ÐŽo[dry] desertÐŽ± where he accosts an animal with ÐŽolong-range attackÐŽ± and ÐŽopowerful fangs.ÐŽ± The author creates a perilous scene between the human and animal in order to show that satisfaction does not come from taking lives. With instincts of silence and distrust, both of them freeze in stillness like ÐŽolive wire.ÐŽ± In addition, the man is brought to the point where animalЎЇs ÐŽotail twitched,ÐŽ± and ÐŽothe little tocsin soundedÐŽ± and also he hears the ÐŽolittle song of death.ÐŽ± With violence ready to occur, the man tries to protect himself and others with a hoe, for his and their safety from the Rattler. The author criticizes how humans should be ÐŽoobliged not to killÐŽ±, at least himself, as a human. The author portrays the story with diction and other important techniques, such as imagery, in order to influence the readers with his significant lesson.

The effect the reader perceives in the passage of Rattler is attained from the usage of the authorЎЇs imagery. The author describes the pre-action of the battle between the man and the snake as a ÐŽofurious signal, quite sportingly warning [the man] that [he] had made an unprovoked attack, attempted to take [the snakeЎЇs] life... ÐŽ± The warning signal is portrayed in order to reveal the significance of both the manЎЇs and the snakeЎЇs value of life. The author sets an image of how one of their lives must end in order to keep the world in peace. In addition, the author describes how ÐŽothere was blood in [snakeЎЇs] mouth and poison dripping from his fangs; it was all a nasty sight, pitiful now that it was done.ÐŽ± This bloody image of snakeЎЇs impending death shows the significance of the manЎЇs acceptance toward the snake. In a sense, the reader can interpret the manЎЇs sympathy toward the snake because of the possibility that he should have let him go instead