Serpent's Tooth

Lore & Background

The novel centers on Angela, who is exasperated by the behavior of her 71-year-old mother-in-law, nicknamed the Old One. Angela is frustrated by the Old One's superstitious ways and her doddering, foolish manners. The Old One has an adopted son who is an imbecile named Ah Bock. Angela's elder son Mark does well in school and wins a prize in a national oratory competition, but she is worried by the influence her mother-in-law wields over her younger son, Michael. Angela also has to endure her husband Wee Boon's three younger brothers, including one in Australia who has joined a fanatic Protestant cult.

In Their Own Story

The plot follows Angela's daily struggles within her household, as she contends with the Old One's irritating presence and the threat it poses to Michael's upbringing. Mark's success in the national oratory competition offers a bright spot, but the tension between Angela and her mother-in-law over Michael's future remains a central conflict. The presence of Wee Boon's brothers, especially the one involved with a fanatic Protestant cult in Australia, adds further strain to the family dynamics.

Reader's Guide

For readers exploring the novel, key elements include the Shakespearean allusion in the title, which underscores the theme of thankless children. The character of the Old One is defined by her superstitious and foolish behavior, while Ah Bock is her adopted imbecile son. Angela's concerns are focused on Michael, the younger son, whom she fears is being negatively influenced by the Old One. Mark, the elder son, provides a counterpoint with his academic and oratorical achievements. The family is further complicated by Wee Boon's three younger brothers, one of whom has joined a fanatic Protestant cult in Australia.

Did You Know?

• The title is taken from a quote in Shakespeare's King Lear: 'Sharper than a serpent’s tooth/ It is to have a thankless child!'
• The novel was first published in 1982 by Times Edition Pte Ltd.
• The author, Catherine Lim, is a Singaporean writer.
• The mother-in-law is nicknamed 'the Old One' and is described as having superstitious ways and doddering, foolish manners.
• The Old One has an adopted son named Ah Bock, who is an imbecile.