By Mary A. Hylton
To those who have been following my journey down the path of “snakes in mythology and symbolism,” I’ll be taking a slight detour. Still focusing on cultural impact but this time, pop culture takes center stage. Where do snakes “star” (and sometimes steal-- the show) in our stories, movies, music, etc.? Let’s take a look! I discovered the blog article, “The Most Famous Snakes from the Bible to Harry Potter” in my first foray. In deference to space and time, I won’t list them all here but you can learn more in the website cited in the Source list at the end.
The first three snake celebrities that we encounter star in literary works by Rudyard Kipling. The Jungle Book, tells the story of Mowgli, a young boy who grew up in the jungle. One of Mowgli’s acquaintances is Kaa, a 100-foot-long python. While Hollywood commonly depicts Kaa as the villain-- in the original literary tale, it is Kaa who rescues Mowgli from the Bandar-log monkeys so, a hero in actuality!
Disney’s original 1967 animated classic features Kaa as a mesmerizing serpent voiced by Sterling Holloway. Kaa’s hypnotic eyes and smooth-talking voice provide a bit of comic relief as he attempts to devour Mowgli, the young protagonist. Despite his villainous nature, Kaa’s bumbling attempts to do so while “hiss-singing” the song, “Trust in Me,” illustrate the character’s versatility, moving beyond traditional antagonist roles. Perhaps this switch-up was done out of consideration for the film’s targeted audience of young viewers and their families.
The 2016 live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book directed by Jon Favreau, features Scarlett Johansson as the voice of Kaa, adding a captivating and eerie quality to the character. This version of Kaa maintains the hypnotic allure but takes on a more menacing tone, contributing to the film’s darker and more realistic atmosphere hence the PG rating rather than the G designation for the 1967 version.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is another Kipling story that features a couple of famous snakes. In the story, an English family and their pet mongoose move to India. The resident king cobras in the area do not want humans invading their territory. Two of the cobras, Nag and Nagiana, attack the family home. However, the family’s pet mongoose, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, defends the family and defeats the cobras.
Snakes in Harry Potter World—friendly and dangerous
There are several different snakes in the world of Harry Potter. Fans may recall when Harry unknowingly uses his magical powers and, consequently, releases a boa constrictor from its enclosure at the zoo-- much to the horror of nearby onlookers! Harry also discovers that he speaks Parseltongue and can understand when snakes speak to him. Harry, however, is not the only wizard that can talk to snakes. Many Parseltongue-speaking wizards once belonged to the house of Slytherin at the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Slytherin’s house emblem depicts a snake encircled by silver and green. Even the name of this house, “Slytherin,” calls to mind the “slithering” movements of a snake. Lord Voldemort, the looming antagonist of the Harry Potter series, belonged to Slytherin during his time at Hogwarts. He also speaks Parseltongue and appears to be quite fond of snakes.
While the boa constrictor that Harry released from the zoo was friendly, some of the other snakes in the world of Harry Potter are extremely dangerous. In Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Harry discovers the monstrous “Serpent of Slytherin”. The great beast is a giant Basilisk snake that terrorizes the students of Hogwarts. Like the Gorgon, Medusa, from Greek mythology it could kill with just a single look. After Harry defeats the Basilisk, he uses its poisonous venom to destroy one of Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes.
In the film adaptation, the Basilisk is brought to life with striking visual effects, showcasing its menacing presence and emphasizing the danger it poses to the characters. The design and execution of the Basilisk contribute to the overall cinematic experience, heightening the suspense and excitement of the narrative.
Voldemort had split his soul into these seven Horcrux pieces so that if his mortal body was destroyed, he could still live on. The most infamous snake in the world of Harry Potter, also happens to be one of those Horcruxes. When Voldemort was in Albania, he imbued a portion of his soul into his beloved giant python-viper hybrid pet, Nagini, transforming her into one of his final Horcrux pieces. The snake’s name, “Nagini,” actually refers to the Naga from Hindu tradition (Nagaini is a female Naga.) [a nod to Rikki-Tikki-Tavi of Kipling fame]
In the film adaptations of the “Harry Potter” series, Nagini is virtually brought to life, with actress Claudia Kim portraying her in her human form. This adaptation adds a visual dimension to Nagini’s character, emphasizing the intricate relationship between the serpent and the Dark Lord.
Nagini’s presence in the “Harry Potter” series contributes to the rich tapestry of characters, showcasing the series’ ability to craft nuanced and compelling figures even among those aligned with the forces of darkness. Sir Hiss from “Robin Hood” (1973)
In Disney’s animated classic, Robin Hood, Sir Hiss emerges as a memorable and comical character, ontributing a touch of humor to the retelling of the legendary tale. Sir Hiss, voiced by Terry Thomas, serves as the bumbling and somewhat hapless henchman to the film’s main antagonist, Prince John. His role provides comic relief in contrast to the more menacing actions of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Despite his allegiance to the villainous Prince. Sir Hiss’s endearing nature and humorous antics made him a beloved character in the animated adaptation.
The character’s slithery movements and expressive facial expressions enable Sir Hiss to embody both the cunning nature associated with snakes and the comedic elements essential to a family-friendly animated feature. As one of the more light-hearted and entertaining characters in “Robin Hood,” he remains a testament to Disney’s ability to create memorable and charming animal characters that resonate with audiences of all ages. Snakes of a Lesser Liking
The 1997 movie, Anaconda, stands out for its portrayal of giant snakes as terrifying adversaries. The film introduces the audience to gigantic anacondas lurking in the dense Amazon rainforest. One never knows where one might pop up next! Eek! The monstrous snakes, portrayed through a combination of practical effects and CGI, become the central focus of the horror narrative. Their enormous size, cunning nature, and relentless pursuit of the human characters enhance the film’s suspenseful atmosphere.
Clearly, “Anaconda” capitalizes on the primal fear of snakes, magnifying it by presenting these creatures as predators of all (including humans) at the highest level. The snakes’ relentless pursuit of the characters through the dense jungle waters and their ability to strike from un expected locations create thrilling and chilling moments, making the film a memorable entry in the creature feature genre.
Other memorable screen snake moments include:
The entire “Snakes on a Plane” movie
Whacking Day-- twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired in the United States on April 29, 1993.[1] The episode revolves around the fictional holiday "Whacking Day", celebrated annually, in which the citizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, then fatally club them. After Bart is expelled from school as punishment for injuring Superintendent Chalmers, he applies the knowledge he gains from Marge's homeschooling to help Lisa expose the fraudulent and cruel nature of the holiday.
The episode was pitched by George Meyer, who wanted to create an episode against the mistreatment of snakes. The " won a Genesis Award for "consciousness-raising on behalf of animal issues". (Wikipedia)
Crooked character, “Snake,” in The Simpsons
Indiana Jones: “I HATE SNAKES!” Who can forget that memorable slithery moment when Indy gazed down into the pit of writhing snakes.
Pop Melodies with Snakes
As we close out our exploration of snakes in pop culture, I’d like to leave you with links to a couple of fun tunes from the past with snakes as their subject. Enjoy!
“Sammy the Christmas Snake”
I first heard this played on WNAP in Indy back in the early ‘80s. Not sure when or where it first received airplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRYN7CysDbc
“I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes”
Jim Stafford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vudA72hibg
Main Sources: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-most-famous-snakes-from-the-bible-to-harry-potter/ https://a-zanimals.com/blog/]
“Snakes in Pop Culture: Famous Snake Characters in Movies and TV” https://rwsnakecatcherbrisbane.com.au/blog https://rwsnakecatcherbrisbane.com.au/posts/snakes-in-pop-culture
(Robert Watson is a professional snake remover in the Brisbane North and Brisbane West. Robert’s house is a refuge for some of the Australian animals who have been removed from their homes making sure they are well fed and live in a safe and comfortable environment)
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