THE SNAKE AND THE MIRROR (Beehive)

 By Muhammad Basheer 

About the Author

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908-1994) was a Malayalam fiction writer. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. He is known for his path-breaking, disarmingly down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well as the common man. He is regarded as one of the most successful and outstanding writers of India. Translation of his works into other languages has won him world – wide acclaim. Basheer is fondly known as the ‘Beypore Sultan’. Basheer is known for his unconventional style of language. He did not differentiate between literary language and the language spoken by the commons and did not care about the grammatical correctness of his sentences. He was awarded with Padma Shri in 1982 for his overall contributions to the nation as a freedom fighter, writer, and as a political activist.

 

 

Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words). 

 

1.     “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop? 

The doctor heard the sound of rats. The sound was a familiar one. He heard this sound four times. The phrases are 'Again I heard that sound from above, 'Again came that noise from above, 'Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube has fallen'. The sounds stopped after the appearance of the snake. 

 

2.     What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror? 

The doctor took two "important" and "earth-shaking" decisions while he was looking into the mirror. These were: First, he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. Second, he would always keep an attractive smile on his face.

 

3.     “I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.” What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when: (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why? 

The doctor was appreciating his attractive smile when he first smiled in front of the mirror. Then to look more handsome he decided to keep that smile on his face. In that instance his opinion about himself as he was a bachelor and a doctor too. When he smiled feebly at himself, he had forgotten his danger. He was sure that the snake would strike him and that he had no medicines in his room. He was so scared because of the lurking danger and he had an opinion about himself was that a poor, foolish, and stupid doctor. Initially, he assumed that the noise was by rats. Later when the snake was on his shoulders he realised the gravity of the situation.

 

4.     This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)

(i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions) 

 

A contrast between dreams and reality is narrated in the story with the added flavour of humour. The doctor’s earnings were meagre as he had just begun his practice. The doctor rented a small room to stay, which did not have electricity. In his suitcase, he had only sixty rupees and apart from a few shirts and dhotis, he had one solitary black coat. The rented

house was full of rats. 

 

(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition) 

However, his dreams and ambitions were in contrast to his situation.

As he was a great admirer of beauty, he believed in making himself handsome. He laid great emphasis on the fact that he was unmarried and a doctor by profession. He was too pleased with his appearance and to look more handsome he decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. The manner in which he decided that this decision is an ‘important’ one is quite funny. Then he also made an ‘earth-shaking decision’ which is to always keep smiling to look more handsome. Here, in this story, the contrast between the kind of person he was and the kind of person he wanted to make the story humorous.

 

(iii) The person he wants to marry 

(The doctor wants to marry a woman doctor with good medical practice and a lot of money. She would be fat as not to run after him and catch him.

 

(iv)The person he actually marries

 He marries a thin reedy woman who has a gift of sprinter.

 

(v)His thoughts when he looks into the mirror.

His thoughts are full of joy and satisfaction. He decides to grow thin moustache and keep smiling always. He finds his smile attractive

 

(vi)His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm 

He turned to stone. He sat like stone image in the flesh. However, his mind was very active. He felt the great presence of creator. He decides to write the words ‘O God’ outside his little hear.