Truth and the Serpent: Different Perspective

Christians grow up hearing stories of the beginning of time. A lot of them are told according to the Bible. Three parties went against the will of the Creator. All three were punished, each with their own personalized form of punishment. Man and woman were cast out of the blissful Garden of Eden. The serpent however, was not. Very little is known about the serpent after the event that forever changed the course of humankind. What became of the tempting Serpent?

In this story, the serpent tells his side of the story. He regales ‘man of the present’ with tales of what life was like before he was confronted by the need to exercise his superior intellect over man and his subsequent escapades. He expresses remorse for having tempted the woman. The Serpent is regretful of his failure to consider the repercussions of his actions. The serpent is also on a journey to find out about himself. He discovers what/who he truly is. Man of the present has mixed feelings as to whether to believe him or not. The serpent is, after all, gifted with the ability to deceive convincingly. In the end, is the serpent the truth or is he death? Could he be both?

J. Rutledge tells the story with impeccable detail. The events and surroundings are defined with precision. The reader is automatically transported to the Garden. Here the reader enjoys the poetry of the trees just like the Serpent used to. The author has done a good job of taking the story of creation and telling it in a way that is relatable and easy to understand. The addition of a few abstract events makes the story more memorable in the sense that it is not boring due to its familiarity.

The Serpent often jokes and breaks into laughter, which makes the reader, rather sympathize for what he deems was unfair punishment for telling the truth. Man is ever curious for more knowledge. The reader may unintentionally take on the man’s character, urging the Serpent further. Eager to hear more of the story. This will keep the reader glued to the pages. The characters are all easy to relate to and it is therefore relatively easy to understand the lessons intended.

Borrowed from the Bible, the lessons in this book are integral to the lives of all human beings. It is important to be resilient and to persevere. The serpent so wisely says that one will always have options. That one can only be trapped when they choose not to fight anymore. The Serpent, later symbolizing death, insists on the importance of not living in fear of him. To live everyday as if it were the last, this is the only way to truly live.

The Serpent keeps referring to God as a mythical being, a product of humans’ imaginations. This may feel blasphemous to the reader. However, if one can get past that this is a good book loaded with lessons and the secrets to a happy full life. It is best to read this book with an open mind and a sense of humor. There is a lot to gain from the occurrences and the Serpent’s tales.