Question

What does the snake symbolize in Rani’s life?

• A. An escape from harsh reality, offering love and affection
• B. A reminder of betrayal and loss in relationships
• C. A source of danger and fear in her life
• D. A symbol of her descent into madness and chaos

Answer 1

Answer:

A. An escape from harsh reality, offering love and affection

• In Nagamandala, the snake symbolizes an escape from Rani’s harsh reality, offering her the love and affection that she desperately seeks but does not receive from her husband, Appanna.

• At the start of the play, Rani is emotionally isolated and neglected in her marriage, and her life feels devoid of love and warmth.

• When the snake appears and transforms into a man resembling Appanna, it provides Rani with the affection and attention she has longed for, which was missing in her relationship with her husband.

• The snake’s transformation into the loving snake-man offers Rani a fantasy escape from her painful reality and becomes a source of emotional fulfillment.

• The affection she receives from the snake-man contrasts sharply with the indifference of her real husband, Appanna.

• While the snake may have dangerous or mystical connotations in folklore, in this context, it primarily represents a means of emotional solace, enabling Rani to experience the love and tenderness she had been deprived of.