What is a Good Title?
It is necessary to know some necessary conditions and qualities of a good title. The title of a novel should be suggestive and appropriate. A writer has compared the title of a novel with signboard hung outside a shop which shows the contents of the shop. It is necessary that the title of a novel should show theme as well as the contents of a novel. From the same point of view the title of the present novel “The Serpent and The Rope” is proper and suggestive because it indicates the main theme of the novel. The serpent has been used for illusion, or unreality and the rope is used for reality or truth.
 |
| Appropriateness of the Title of Novel The Serpent and The Rope by Raja Rao |
A Contrast between Reality and Illusion:
The writer clearly shows a contrast, or difference between reality and illusion. In the present novel, the writer compares the serpent with illusion, or unreality, giving stress on ‘maya’ which is found in the world where the people live a life of sorrow and suffering as long as they live in this world. It is serpent which we regard as a rope. Most of the people fail to understand the truth, or reality on account of their ignorance. In the moments of illusion, or ignorance only the Guru or the teacher can remove our illusion, or our ignorance. By removing the darkness, he can show or guide us for truth and real life.
The Theme of the Novel:
As we study the story of the present novel “The Serpent and The Rope”, we find that the writer has asserted the main theme of the novel as a contrast between illusion and reality. The writer has expressed his real opinion showing the difference between an illusion, and reality in these words. “The world is either unreal or real - the serpent, or the rope. There is no in between the two and all that's in - between is poetry, is sainthood. You might go on saying all the time, ‘No, no, it's the rope’, and stand in the serpent. And looking at the rope from the serpent is to see paradise, saints’ avataras, gods, heroes, universes. For wheresoever you go, you see only with the serpent's eyes. Whether you call it duality or modified duality, you invent a belvedere to heaven, you look at the rope from the posture of the serpent, you feel you are the serpent - you are the rope is.”
It is necessary to say with whatever eyes we see a serpent, it is not a serpent but only an illusion. Only the Guru or the right teacher can show the reality with the brightness of the sun that “It’s only the rope.
Its Explanation:
The idea of the serpent and the rope has been related to the philosophy of Sankaracharya who was a great and famous philosopher of India and who had become very famous in the 8th century A.D. About this Sankara says these significant words explaining the difference between the serpent and the rope. “Just as owing to one's ignorance of the rope, the rope appears to be a serpent, the self is regarded as the individual soul, owing to the absence of the true knowledge of the self.”
The writer further says that the basic reality can be understood by the experience related to an illumined soul which gives the real knowledge of the self to a man or to a woman.
The Idea related to the Theme:
The idea related to the theme was made clear by Atmananda, Guru of Raja Rao in his composition ‘Atma Darshan’, in which he explained the real meaning which is directly related to the theme of the present novel “The Serpent and The Rope”. According to him, human life is like the sea waves which rise and fall constantly. In the same way human life changes between illusion and reality which is the main theme of Raja Rao in his present novel “The Serpent and the Rope”. He again says as the sea - waves appear and disappear, in the same way the ideas of human beings regarding reality and illusion go on changing one after the other.
Atmananda further asserts that the sea - waves are nothing except water; the same is the position of the sea. He asserts the same position of man or a woman in relation to God who is indicated by the traits of ‘Sat’, ‘Chit’ and ‘Ananda’. Only the Guru, or the right teacher can show the path of reality where all illusions disappear. The light of wisdom, or inner light appears in that situation and a man understands that God is the rope, or reality.
Conclusion:
“The Serpent and the Rope” is a unique novel showing the real difference between illusion and reality by using the symbols of the serpent for illusion and the symbol of the rope for reality. It is necessary for all persons to get the guidance of the Guru, or a right teacher. He can show the right path for the knowledge of the self. A man or a woman can know the real difference between the serpent and the rope, or between illusion and reality under the right guidance of a good teacher, or an illumined Guru with his real experience of human life and the exalted soul.
