The representation of the snake in D. H. Lawrence's ''snake'' and Abou Al Kasim Al Shabby's ''the philosophy of the sacred snake''

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In spite of the evil and the fear that the image of the snake summons, it is symbolic of other various elements.

Throughout different ages in different cultures, the snake represents a number of contradictory concepts such as life and death, poison and cure, good and evil.

In their poems ''Snake'' and ''The Philosophy of the Sacred Snake'', both Lawrence and Al-Shabby present the snake from different perspectives.

 Contrary to the common beliefs and views, Lawrence selects to present the snake as a good and peaceful creature.

It is made superior to man; it is deified.

With such depiction, Lawrence criticizes man's flaws: violence, deceit, stupidity, and vanity.

That evil disguises itself in a good outer appearance is also implied.

The snake also represents wild nature and the evil side of man's nature that man should reconcile with in order to achieve the balance of life.

Al-Shabby's snake corresponds with the common beliefs about reptiles.

The snake attacks, envenoms, and devours.

It represents the tyrant who not only practices evil but justifies it.

The scene of the snake attacking the sparrow and the dialogue between them, as an assailant and a prey, sums up the everlasting conflict between the mighty and the weak.

Both Lawrence and Al-Shabby, in spite of their different cultural and religious backgrounds, refer obliquely to divine manners, scorning man's violence as a means of proving himself.