Week 10 Story: Rattlesnake's Vengence
A long time ago, mankind and animals were able to communicate to one another. It was understood that hunters would perform rituals after a hunt to honor the animals sacrifice and that no life shall be taken without the intent to eat. Man needlessly killing an animal was a very serious offense to both men and animals. One day in a Cherokee village, a hunters wife was gathering plants from nearby the nearby forest. Suddenly, she began to hear a hissing sound as well as a slight rattle. Scared the sudden noise she reached for a sharp stick. As the rattling intensified she moved some brushes aside and saw a yellow rattlesnake coiled as if ready to attack. Frightened, the wife stabbed the snake with her stick killing it.
Later that day, the hunter himself was tracking a deer deep in the forest. Suddenly he began to hear wailing cry's of sorrow and anger. He heard rattling all around him he was surrounded by numerous rattle snakes as they came out of the bushes. They had informed the hunter, that his wife killed their village chief. If the hunter wanted to avoid a war with the rattle snakes, he needed to sacrifice his wife to them. Thinking not of his wife, but of his children and the children of the village, the hunter agreed. They told him all he had to do, was escort the black rattlesnake to his home and tell his wife that he wanted some fresh water from the stream. The rattlesnake would take care of the rest. And so the hunter and the black rattlesnake went back to his home together.
Once at his home, the hunter went inside for dinner while the snake sat outside the door in the dark. The husband sat down for dinner and asked for some water fresh from the spring. So the wife grabbed a bucket for water and went outside. The hunter heard a scream and when he came outside he saw that his wife had been bitten. The venom acted fast and he stayed with her until the end. When it was done and his wife had past away, the black rattlesnake came up to the hunter and taught him a song. He told the hunter if any more of his people should come across a rattlesnake to sing that song and they shall leave the singer alone. If someone should be bit, sing the song and the venom shall dissipate.
Author's Note: I chose to write about this story because on my father's side I am part Cherokee, if even just a little. As such I wanted to read the stories of the Cherokee to learn more and I liked this one the most. This story is very close to the original in it's overall plot and ending and I wanted to keep it that way so that I can even tell my own friends and family of the original story. I was a little surprised that the Hunter so willingly agreed to sacrifice his wife in order to preserve peace, but I kept that ending to show during this time man and animal respected each other and wished for peace together.
Bibliography: Story source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Online Source
Later that day, the hunter himself was tracking a deer deep in the forest. Suddenly he began to hear wailing cry's of sorrow and anger. He heard rattling all around him he was surrounded by numerous rattle snakes as they came out of the bushes. They had informed the hunter, that his wife killed their village chief. If the hunter wanted to avoid a war with the rattle snakes, he needed to sacrifice his wife to them. Thinking not of his wife, but of his children and the children of the village, the hunter agreed. They told him all he had to do, was escort the black rattlesnake to his home and tell his wife that he wanted some fresh water from the stream. The rattlesnake would take care of the rest. And so the hunter and the black rattlesnake went back to his home together.
Once at his home, the hunter went inside for dinner while the snake sat outside the door in the dark. The husband sat down for dinner and asked for some water fresh from the spring. So the wife grabbed a bucket for water and went outside. The hunter heard a scream and when he came outside he saw that his wife had been bitten. The venom acted fast and he stayed with her until the end. When it was done and his wife had past away, the black rattlesnake came up to the hunter and taught him a song. He told the hunter if any more of his people should come across a rattlesnake to sing that song and they shall leave the singer alone. If someone should be bit, sing the song and the venom shall dissipate.
Rattlesnake coiled to attack
Image Source
Author's Note: I chose to write about this story because on my father's side I am part Cherokee, if even just a little. As such I wanted to read the stories of the Cherokee to learn more and I liked this one the most. This story is very close to the original in it's overall plot and ending and I wanted to keep it that way so that I can even tell my own friends and family of the original story. I was a little surprised that the Hunter so willingly agreed to sacrifice his wife in order to preserve peace, but I kept that ending to show during this time man and animal respected each other and wished for peace together.
Bibliography: Story source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Online Source
I really enjoyed this story as I still try to live by that. I always feel guilty when I kill an animal that wasn't getting in my way. But, like the wife in your story, I have my moments where I almost reflexively kill an animal. Also, that's awesome that you chose a story involving a topic that interests you. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Jake! I liked a lot about this story. You set the scene with the culture and traditions of this time to help your readers understand. What would have happened if the wife had used the dead rattlesnake for food? I like that you included the bit about the hunter thinking for his children. It made it more reasonable for him to agree to his wife’s death. Him staying with her while she passed was also sweet. The song at the end was very nice as well. The snake wanted to make sure these sad events didn’t happen again. Great job! Thanks for sharing.
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