The Trail of the Snake

Introduction

“The Trail of the Snake” by Robert E. Howard is a humorous and ironic tale centered around a character named Snake Wamberson, a boxer with an imposing physique but lacking the courage to match his appearance. The story is set in the vibrant and competitive world of boxing, with a focus on the African American community’s interest in the sport. Howard’s story explores themes of reputation, bravery, and the impact of lies, all woven into the fabric of early 20th-century boxing culture.

Howard’s tale is a satirical look at the boxing culture of his time, highlighting the discrepancies between appearance and reality, and the consequences of living a lie.

Summary

Snake Wamberson is known more for his physical presence than his fighting prowess. Despite his impressive build, Snake’s lack of courage becomes evident whenever he faces a formidable opponent. Residing in San Francisco and competing in lesser-known clubs, Snake carefully selects weak opponents to maintain his facade of a formidable boxer. His vanity and laziness keep him in the boxing world, despite his aversion to actual fighting.

The story takes a turn when a fight promoter, tired of Snake’s antics and last-minute withdrawals from fights, decides to teach him a lesson by setting up a match against a supposed “big raw sailor boy,” which Snake reluctantly accepts, believing he’s been given an easy opponent. To his horror, on the night of the fight, Snake discovers his actual opponent is Steve Costigan, a name he himself falsely boasted of fighting soon. In a panic, Snake attempts to flee but is forced into the ring, only to be knocked out with a single punch by Costigan, much to the promoter’s delight and Snake’s humiliation.

After this debacle, Snake flees to Alabama, seeking to start anew. He quickly becomes the center of attention in a small community, weaving tales of his fabricated boxing victories to impress the locals, particularly a woman named Astoria. His lies go unchallenged until a real challenge emerges from an unexpected source: Tommy Wicks, a timid but large local man pushed by his unrequited love for Astoria and egged on by his friend Sammy Gupson. The fight is arranged, but in a twist, Panther Horton, a real and formidable boxer, replaces Tommy last minute to defend his sister-in-law’s honor. In a chaotic and comic conclusion, Snake accidentally knocks out Horton, thanks to a painful incentive from a spectator, and flees the scene, leaving his false reputation and troubles behind.

Characters

  • Snake Wamberson: A boxer with a formidable physique but lacking in courage. His vanity and laziness are his downfall, leading him to flee after accidentally winning a fight he was supposed to lose.
  • The Promoter (Harger): The fight promoter who becomes frustrated with Snake’s cowardice and sets him up for a humiliating defeat.
  • Steve Costigan: A tough and reputable boxer who Snake falsely claims to have been scheduled to fight, and who eventually knocks Snake out in a rigged match.
  • Tommy Wicks: A large, timid man in love with Astoria, who initially seeks to challenge Snake to win back Astoria’s affection.
  • Sammy Gupson: Tommy’s friend who convinces him to stand up to Snake and helps arrange the fight that ultimately exposes Snake’s cowardice.
  • Astoria Bassums: The object of Snake’s and Tommy’s affection, whose admiration for Snake is based on his fabricated tales of boxing prowess.
  • Panther Horton: A real and formidable boxer who steps in to fight Snake in defense of his sister-in-law’s honor, only to be accidentally knocked out by Snake.
  • Dirk Knife Bill: A spectator with a menacing presence, whose intervention forces Snake to inadvertently win the fight against Panther Horton.

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