Poison story
Harry Pope has been stuck in bed for hours because there is a venomous snake on his stomach. His friend Timber Woods calls a doctor, but is flippant about the danger and makes fun of Harry. When the doctor arrives, they help Harry stand up and there is no snake to be seen. Timber mocks Harry for his fear, but as soon as the doctor is gone, he gets bitten by the snake instead. Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock. Story by: Roald Dahl, Casey Robinson.
7 total · 1 choice · 4 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| human vs. venomous animal | choice | Harry Pope had been stuck in bed for hours because there is a venomous snake on his stomach. |
| coping with a problematic person | major | One point of the story was that Harry was frustrated by having to rely on Timber who was variously flippant and dumb, and would not treat Harry's mortal peril with the gravitas it warranted. |
| false friend | major | Harry and Timber went through the motions of friendship but by the conclusion of the story we understand that neither would have terribly minded seeing the other dead. At any rate they derived much satisfaction from each other's distress. |
| friendship | major | Harry and Timber were supposedly friends but it turns out to be more complicated. |
| medical occupation | major | Dr. Granderbay appeared to administer a snake serum, and to sedate the slithering reptile with chloroform. |
| alcohol abuse | minor | We heard that Harry had turned to the bottle at some point. |
| theft | minor | In the intro, Alfred Hitchcock feigned to have a rattlesnake in his pocket to deter pickpockets. |