In the short passage entitled "The Rattler," language and details about the man, the rattler, and the setting invite the reader to feel sympathy towards both the snake and the man.
Language details about the man evoke compassion in the reader. At first the man is reluctant about attacking the snake. The snake takes the man by surprise and the man is abruptly "stopped short." The man is clearly not expecting to be in the presence of a potential life-threatening rattle snake. Throughout this whole ordeal the man's agenda was pure, and he admits that his first intention is "to let the snake go." Initially the man does not want to harm the snake and he prefers to allow the snake to continue. However, the man starts to realize the potential danger of the snake. For the sake of the "children, dogs, horses," and the "men and women lightly shod," the man feels he is "obliged" to kill. The man is trying to protect the animals on the ranch and his unsuspecting family from what he considers to be probable predator. The man in his heart does not want to kill the snake because he does not feel the satisfaction in the "sport in taking life." Still, it is his "duty to kill the snake." After a tough struggle within himself and with the snake the man finally kills the snake. The man feels remorseful and rather contrite. The man is by no means proud of what he has done, thus he does not "cut the rattles off for a trophy." He does not want to boast about what he has done. Reluctance, the man fulfilling his obligations, as well as remorse, compel the reader to feel empathy for the man.
Language details regarding the snake encourage sympathy in the reader. In the beginning the snake appears to be non-aggressive. The snake is not moving, nor is his head "drawn back." The snake is in a very peaceful and non threatening state, he is "not even rattling yet," nor is he "coiled. The snake is not expecting danger, therefore there is no reason for him to try and get away or protect himself.
