The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

While animals and the cruelty they endure as victims of encroachment is a motif throughout the story, the most notable animal symbol in this story is the snake. In many cultures, the snake has long enjoyed a reputation as cunning, clever, and deadly. But snakes are also symbols of transformation and fertility, especially in native cultures. When a snake sheds its skin, it’s an invitation to give up old ways of thinking and behaving. Additionally, the ouroboros symbol of the snake biting its own tail is generally known to represent eternity and the continual renewal of life. This symbolic creature appears throughout the book to embody change, revival, and death.

When Antonio miraculously survives the snake bite, his life changes. Only after this symbolic transformation does Antonio receive an invitation to the full spectrum of Shuar culture, which includes participating in festivals and dancing, taking hallucinogens, forming a deep friendship with another man, and receiving the gift of a woman with whom he falls in love. The snake bite is therefore a symbolic moment that precedes Antonio’s complete transformation from white settler to honorary Shuar Indian. However, while Antonio is granted these gifts and is welcome among