Soft Voice of the Serpent, a short story by Nadine Gordimer tells of the most bizarre relationship which a man, who has lost his leg, has with a wounded locust. When the man who is still trying to accept his own injury, notices that the locust has also been handicapped by the loss of a limb, he feels an instant connection towards the locust.

Now that the man has found something else which has to deal with the same thing he does his outlook on his situation is brighter. At this point the man’s confidence and esteem for himself are soaring, the locust has empowered him as a new person. But then the locust, when scared by the woman flies away.

The locust flying off crushes the man’s already dilapidated sense of self worth. Throughout the story the author conveys the message that mans feelings of capability and adequacy are often shattered by the same things which build us up.

Early on the man ignores his injury; he tries to keep busy by reading and just trying not to think about it. “He never let the realization get to him; he let himself realize it physically, but he never quite let it get to him”(Gordimer 396). Though he tries to forget his loss he is constantly reminded of it. “his attention was arrested sometimes, quite suddenly and compellingly by the sunken place under the rug where his leg used to be”( 396). The encounter of the man and locust spawns an instant relationship.

The common handicap that both the man and locust share allows the man to bond with something that has gone through the same pain and frustration that he has. “Of course he knew that feeling! The absolute certainty that the leg was there: one had only to lift it”(400). Now that the man had found someone with whom he could relate, his feelings of helplessness were diminished.

He for once had found some joy in his handicap. When the woman approaches the locust she bumps it with a stick startling it and causing it to fly off. Right back where he started, alone, the man has lost the only thing, which to him could make sense of his injury. “Don’t be a fool, ‘he said irritably.

They had forgotten that locust can fly”(401). The author shows that it is human nature to find something that we can relate to, and at the same time a fault which we indulge in to make ourselves feel needed and worthy. This irrational thinking tends to result in the let down of the individual who places so much trust in something.

author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

31 Comments

  1. dear: admin
    can you please email me the summary of the story and themes coz i find it intresting plus im doing grade 12

  2. I’m currently doing grade 12 and I find this story a bit confusing… Can you please send for me the summary I need to study for my upcoming test.

  3. Hey 🙂 Please help me! We are writing exam on this story; I need some questions and answers on the story please…

  4. Sir/Madam

    Im currently doing grade 12 and I find this story a bit confusing. Can you please send me the summary and typical exam questions.

  5. Dear: Sir/ Madam
    Can u please post me the study guide of the short stories,
    On P O BOX 1295
    Thulamahashe
    1365
    I’ am currently doing Matric, and I hope that it will help me a lot.

    Hope my request will be taken into consideration

    Yoursfaithful
    Nkosinathi Mdluli

  6. May you please email me the summary please I need to study for my upcoming test @school I’m doing matric and I really need help understanding the story until my test.

  7. Can u please post me the study guide of the short stories,
    On P O BOX 36
    SELEKA
    0609
    I really enjoy short stories meanwhile you can e-mail me the the summary of the soft voice of the serpent. pls i beg u

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