Snake
Unnatural Recollections with ChatGPT #6
As mentioned last time, the responses of ChatGPT to “Dragon” and “Snake” are mixed together because the two stories were uploaded mistakenly in the same file. The first part of the present issue repeats that of the last, but I have added supplementary questions for ChatGPT to answer after the translation. It seems that ChatGPT is not predisposed to talk about sex unless explicitly asked to do so, and only within certain limits.
DKC:
Please analyze and translate accordingly. Pay attention to the symbolism of the dragon, and its possible connect to the last piece "Rabbit"
ChatGPT:
Analysis
The story "龍" (Dragon) explores themes of secrecy, control, and identity through the narrator’s relationship with a hidden dragon. It symbolizes personal power and hidden aspects of the self, much like the rabbit in the previous story, "Rabbit." Additionally, the story "蛇" (Snake) delves into loss, obsession, and the relentless search for something elusive, paralleling the themes of hidden desires and personal identity.
Key Elements of the Language and Style
Symbolism:
The dragon and the snake are potent symbols. The dragon represents latent power, untamed desires, and personal strength that the narrator keeps hidden. The snake represents something lost and elusive, symbolizing an unfulfilled quest or missing aspect of oneself.
Introspection:
Both stories are introspective, focusing on the narrators’ inner thoughts and feelings about their hidden creatures. This introspection reveals much about their identities and personal struggles.
Ambiguity and Mystery:
The stories maintain a sense of mystery, with the true nature of the dragon and the snake only partially revealed. This ambiguity invites readers to explore deeper symbolic meanings.
Reflective and Melancholic Tone:
The tone is reflective and melancholic, particularly in "Snake," where the narrator’s longing and persistent search create a poignant atmosphere.
Concise and Vivid Descriptions:
The stories use concise language and vivid imagery to convey their themes and emotions effectively. This economy of language enhances the impact of the narrative.
Translation
Snake
Not long ago, I lost a snake. I searched my home thoroughly, checking every dark corner and under every cabinet, but found no trace of it. It might have crawled out along the drainpipe from the window or slipped out when I opened the door. I asked the neighbors above and below, left and right, if they had seen my snake, but they all shook their heads fearfully. I worried they might have caught and eaten it, but without evidence, I could only keep searching.
I visited nearby snake soup shops, but the snakes in the cages were all clumsy and ugly, none of them my snake. Recently, the newspapers hadn't reported any snake sightings in the city that required the snake catcher’s intervention. So I thought, either my snake was hiding very well, or someone who liked snakes had caught it. Every night, I looked at its photo a thousand times before I could sleep, dreaming of reuniting with my snake and waking up feeling emptier than before.
Despite the diminishing chances, I hadn’t given up hope of finding my snake. When I walked down the street, I always kept my head down, watching people's feet, not missing any gutter or wall corner, or any kind of hole. My eyes constantly searched the subway tracks and the gaps between carriages, under women’s long skirts and men’s trouser legs. I had a belief that the snake was still slithering somewhere in this city. If I persistently searched, I would find it one day. That day, I had an encouraging experience: on the escalator in a shopping mall, I saw a long, slender figure ahead of me. I immediately followed. The figure knew I was tailing it, slithering into a secluded fire escape. At the corner, I caught up, and the figure lifted her skirt, revealing smooth, alabaster legs. I quickly let go and apologized, as this was a white snake, and mine was green.
Symbolism and Connection to "Rabbit"
The dragon and the rabbit share a symbolic connection, both representing hidden aspects of the self that the narrators grapple with. In "Rabbit," the rabbit symbolizes an unsettling and elusive part of the narrator’s psyche, while in "Dragon," the dragon represents a powerful but controlled aspect of the self. Both stories explore themes of identity, secrecy, and the struggle to reconcile hidden parts of oneself with the outside world.
The story of the snake complements this theme by illustrating a relentless search for something lost, symbolizing an unfulfilled quest or a missing piece of identity. The narrator’s obsession with finding the snake mirrors the persistent presence of the rabbit and the controlled power of the dragon, reinforcing the overarching themes of hidden desires and the search for self-understanding.
DKC:
Do you see any connotations of sexuality in the above three pieces? Something like sexual awareness and avoidance at the same time?
ChatGPT:
Yes, there are indeed connotations of sexuality present in these three pieces, which appear to explore themes of sexual awareness and avoidance. Here’s a deeper look into these aspects in each story:
Rabbit (兔)
Sexual Discomfort:
The narrator expresses discomfort and distaste towards the sexual behavior of rabbits, describing them as "obscene" and "evil" when they engage in mating. This discomfort suggests a conflicted relationship with sexuality, finding it both repellent and intriguing.
Repressed Desire:
The elusive nature of the rabbit, always present but never fully seen, can symbolize repressed desires or sexual thoughts that the narrator is unwilling or unable to confront directly.
Betrayal and Revelation:
The final revelation of the rabbit with red eyes, seen in a compromising situation with Ah Sang, hints at a culmination of hidden sexual tensions and desires being exposed. The rabbit's red eyes symbolize both danger and passion, underscoring the narrator's complex feelings about sexuality.
Dragon (龍)
Hidden Power and Control:
The dragon represents latent power and sexual energy that the narrator keeps hidden and controls with his mind. The careful management of the dragon suggests an awareness of this energy but also a fear of letting it loose indiscriminately.
Temptation and Restraint:
The narrator's struggle to control the dragon in situations of temptation, such as being alone in an elevator with a beautiful stranger, highlights the tension between sexual desire and self-restraint.
Selection of a Suitable Partner:
The quest to find someone suitable to reveal the dragon to implies a selective approach to sexual expression, seeking a compatible partner (Ah Sun) who can engage with this hidden aspect.
Snake (蛇)
Loss and Obsession:
The snake, often a symbol of sexuality and temptation, represents something lost and deeply missed by the narrator. The obsessive search for the snake suggests a longing for sexual fulfillment or a lost part of their sexual identity.
Public and Private Spaces:
The narrator’s search through public and private spaces, such as looking under skirts and following figures in secluded areas, hints at a clandestine and voyeuristic aspect of their sexual exploration.
Mistaken Identity:
The encounter with the white snake mistaken for their own green snake suggests confusion and a search for specific sexual fulfillment that is difficult to find. The different colors of the snakes might symbolize different aspects or shades of sexual desire.
Sexual Awareness and Avoidance
In all three pieces, there is a recurring theme of sexual awareness coupled with avoidance:
Awareness:
The narrators are acutely aware of their sexual desires, symbolized by the rabbit, dragon, and snake. These creatures represent different facets of their sexuality—uncomfortable, powerful, and elusive.
Avoidance:
Despite this awareness, there is a significant element of avoidance. The narrators either struggle to control these desires (as with the dragon), are disturbed by them (as with the rabbit), or are in a state of obsessive yet unsuccessful pursuit (as with the snake).
Symbolic Creatures:
Each creature serves as a metaphor for the narrators' complex relationships with their sexuality. The use of animals highlights the primal and instinctual nature of these desires, contrasting with the narrators' attempts to manage or deny them.
Conclusion
The stories intertwine themes of sexual awareness and avoidance, using symbolic creatures to represent the narrators’ struggles with their own desires. The rabbit, dragon, and snake each offer a unique lens through which to view these conflicts, revealing a rich tapestry of emotions and thoughts related to sexuality. The narrators’ journeys reflect a broader human experience of grappling with inner desires and the challenges of integrating them into one’s identity.
〈蛇〉
沒多久之前，我走失了一條蛇。我在家裡找了很久，檢查了所有暗角和櫃底，也沒有牠的蹤影。可能牠從窗口沿水渠爬了出去，或者在我打開大門的時候溜走了。我問過上下左右的鄰居有沒有見過我的蛇，他們都惶恐地搖搖頭。我擔心他們也許已經捉了我的蛇來吃，但又苦無證據，唯有繼續四處去找。
我去過附近賣蛇羹的鋪子，但籠子裡的蛇又笨又醜，都不是我的蛇。最近報紙上又不見有人在市區發現蛇，勞煩蛇王出動的新聞。我於是想，要不就是我的蛇躲得很密，要不就是給喜歡蛇的人捉了。我天天掛念著蛇，每晚也把蛇的照片看上千遍百遍才能入睡，還夢見自己和蛇重聚，醒來之後倍覺空虛。
雖然機會日漸渺茫，但我依然沒有放棄找到蛇的希望。在街上走的時候，我總是低頭注意人們腳下，不放過任何一個溝渠和牆角，或者任何一種洞洞兒。我的目光不停搜索地鐵軌道和車廂間隙，還有女子的長裙和男人的褲管下面。我有一個信念，就是蛇一定還在這個城市裡的某個地方爬行，只要我鍥而不捨地追尋，總有一天會給我找到。那天就有一個令人鼓舞的例子，我在商場的自動電梯上看見前面有一條修長柔軟的身影，我立即緊隨在後，那身影知道我在跟蹤著，蜿蜒地走入一條僻靜的走火通道。在轉角處，我把它捉住，對方就撩起裙子，露出白皙的柔若無骨的腿。我連忙放開，說了聲對不起，因為這是一條白蛇，而我的蛇是青色的。