The Snake and the Mirror
The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a humorous story in which a vain young doctor's pride is humbled when a snake settles near him. The page gives a clear summary, the theme and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of the story.
- Understand the theme of vanity and humility.
- Describe the doctor's character.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
A homeopathic doctor narrates an incident from his early days. One hot night, sitting in his small rented room, he admires himself in a mirror, feeling proud of his looks and making grand plans — to grow a fine moustache and to marry a rich lady doctor. Suddenly a snake drops down and coils itself near his head, and he sits absolutely still, frozen with fear. In his terror he silently makes humble resolutions, realising how foolish his vanity was. After some time the snake, perhaps attracted by its own reflection, slides onto the mirror and then leaves, and the doctor escapes. Later, he discovers that thieves have stolen all his belongings, and he jokes that the snake must have 'enjoyed the reflection'.
Theme
The central theme is the humbling of human vanity. The doctor's pride in his appearance and his ambitious plans are suddenly reduced to nothing by fear of the snake, teaching him humility. The story uses humour and irony to show how small and helpless a vain person can feel before real danger.
The doctor's character
The doctor is at first vain and self-admiring, proud of his looks and full of ambitious dreams. Faced with the snake, however, he is shown to be just as fearful and helpless as anyone, and his pride collapses. His ability to laugh at himself afterwards also shows a sense of humour.
About the author
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was a celebrated Malayalam writer known for humour and wit. In this light, entertaining story he gently mocks human vanity, showing through a comic situation how quickly pride can be deflated when one is confronted by fear.
Key definitions
- Vanity
- Excessive pride in one's appearance or abilities, the doctor's chief trait.
- Homeopath
- A doctor who practises homeopathy; the narrator's profession.
- Resolution
- A firm decision, like the humble vows the doctor makes in fear.
- Irony
- A contrast between expectation and reality, used for humour here.
Solved examples
Q1. What was the doctor doing when the snake appeared?
Solution: Admiring himself in a mirror and making grand plans.
Q2. How did the doctor react to the snake?
Solution: He sat completely still, frozen with fear, and made humble resolutions.
Q3. What happened to the doctor's belongings?
Solution: Thieves stole them while he was away.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the doctor fought the snake (he sat frozen with fear).
- Forgetting his vanity and ambitious plans before the snake came.
- Missing the humour and irony of the story.
- Confusing how the snake left (it slid onto the mirror and away).
The Snake and the Mirror — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
The Snake and the Mirror was written by:
Practice questions
Short answer
What was the doctor proud of?
His looks; he was vain and making grand plans.
How did the doctor behave when the snake came near?
He sat completely still, frozen with fear, and made humble vows.
What is the theme of the story?
The humbling of human vanity by fear.
Long answer
How is the doctor's vanity humbled in 'The Snake and the Mirror'?
At the beginning of the story, the young homeopathic doctor is full of vanity. Sitting in his small room on a hot night, he gazes at himself in a mirror, admiring his appearance and dreaming proud, ambitious dreams — he plans to grow a handsome moustache and to marry a wealthy lady doctor. His pride in himself is at its height. At that very moment, a snake drops down and coils itself near his head, and the doctor is instantly paralysed with fear. Unable to move a muscle, he sits frozen, and in his terror all his vanity vanishes; he silently makes humble resolutions, realising how foolish his self-admiration was. Thus, in a single dramatic moment, the man who had been so proud of himself is reduced to a helpless, frightened creature. The episode humbles his vanity completely, showing how worthless pride is in the face of real danger.
How does the author use humour and irony in the story?
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer fills the story with gentle humour and irony. The humour begins with the doctor's exaggerated vanity and grand plans, which the reader can already sense are a little foolish. The situation then becomes comically ironic: the very moment he is admiring his looks and dreaming of greatness, a snake settles near his head and turns him into a trembling, motionless figure who can do nothing but make desperate, humble promises. There is further irony in the snake's behaviour — it is apparently drawn to its own reflection in the mirror, the same mirror before which the doctor had been so vain, and it slides onto it before leaving. The final touch of irony comes when the doctor discovers that thieves have carried off all his belongings, and he laughs that the snake must have 'enjoyed the reflection'. Through these comic twists, the author entertains the reader while quietly mocking human pride.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why does fear make the doctor abandon his vanity so quickly?
Because real danger reminds him how helpless and small he is, making his pride in his looks and plans seem meaningless before the threat to his life.
What is amusing about the snake being attracted to the mirror?
It is ironic that the snake is drawn to the same mirror before which the doctor had been admiring himself, as if the snake too were 'vain', adding to the story's humour.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Author: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer; narrator is a vain homeopathic doctor.
- He admires himself in a mirror and makes grand plans; a snake coils near his head.
- Frozen with fear, he makes humble resolutions; the snake slides onto the mirror and leaves.
- Thieves had stolen his things; theme = vanity humbled by fear; humour and irony.
Key takeaways
- Fear humbles the doctor's vanity.
- Pride is worthless before real danger.
- The story is rich in humour and irony.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Snake and the Mirror?
The Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
What was the doctor doing when the snake appeared?
Admiring himself in a mirror and dreaming proud dreams.
What is the theme?
The humbling of human vanity by fear.