Learn Chapter 5 - The Snake and The Mirror with Free Lessons & Tips

In the story "The Snake and the Mirror," the doctor hears the sound of the snake moving in the thatched roof of his hut. Initially, he mistakes it for the creaking of the roof under the weight of birds. The doctor hears the sound twice, but it stops when the snake falls onto his neck, causing him to panic and flee from his house.

While looking into the mirror, the doctor takes two important and earth-shaking decisions. First, he decides to stop wearing his hair in a topknot, which he considers old-fashioned and unattractive. Second, he resolves to get married, feeling that having a wife would bring a sense of companionship and joy into his life.

When the doctor first smiles into the mirror, he does so with satisfaction, believing he looks handsome and well-groomed. However, when he smiles again after forgetting about the snake, he does so feebly, realizing his danger and feeling vulnerable. His opinion about himself shifts from confidence to vulnerability as he becomes aware of the snake's presence.