GLH+P4+2015+Symbolism+of+snakes+and+ladders

** Aim by Alex Zhao **

Symbolism can be found in the game “Snakes and Ladders” by the spiritual meaning of the game pieces, movements, and drawings on the board. All of these components come together to symbolize and highlight the importance of good deeds, wrongdoings, and the “karma” for negative behaviors. Professor Ramji Savaliya says, “The ladder is omnipresent in almost all religions as the symbol of ascent and the snake as the embodiment of evil” (Shastri 1). The game pieces signify the individual in the universe -- a single embodiment of moral decisions and their own particular needs and wants. The way the game pieces advance throughout the game is by snakes and ladders, a significant behavior which reinforces good behavior and punishes the bad. Simple movements, such as rolling an unlucky number and having to retrace steps on the game board, teach individuals the pure chance of mistakes and the consequence of making wrong decisions. As Sandra Dodd says, “The game is Hindu and was used to teach children about the religion in that the good squares allow a player to ascend higher in the league of life whereas evil will reduce a player back through reincarnation to lower tiers of life. Presumably the last square, 100, represents Nirvana” (1). Therefore, the goal to be the first to the end of the game strictly enforces the idea of a happy ending/future for others when their time as a physical individual is over; a positive and enlightening award for those who managed to make good moral choices and pure luck. As a result, the purpose of the symbolism within the game “Snakes and Ladders” is to teach individuals the difference between good and bad behaviors and to highlight the importance to strive to achieve greatly.

** Audience by Hunter Whitlow **

The popular game of “Snakes and Ladders” is a game that shows the effects of fate. The game is used to show the benefits and consequences of actions. Snakes and Ladders is most often used to teach children right from wrong. As it is stated in a Wikipedia article, “The game has also been interpreted and used as a tool for teaching the effects of good deeds versus bad” (“Snakes and Ladders” 1). Teaching good versus bad is most effective in children, so logically the game should be given to children most often. The symbolism involved seems minimal if not non-existent at first, but through further analysis the true symbolism is revealed. There is a practical implication of the game, which is right and wrong, and best applies to children. There is also a more spiritual and religious implication to the game, which is slightly altered depending on which society makes the game. An article in The Times of India outlines that “every religion, and even region, has its own version of the game. In these games every box signifies a stage in life or a virtue or a vice” (Shastri 1). In this sense, Snakes and Ladders applies to every person that believes in religion or has some sort of spiritual belief system. The most common audience of the game is children learning right from wrong, but it is just as important and applicable to spiritual and religious people.

** Cultural by Rachel Huston **

‘Snakes and Ladders’, or more commonly known in the United States as ‘Chutes and Ladders’, is a popular board game that not only has multiple version, but each version contains a hidden message. While America might have adapted the game to their very own version that contained chutes and not snakes, India, the country of the popular game’s origin, had their own ideas for the game that were shaped entirely on the culture of its origin. In an article from the Times of India, a researcher, who was fascinated by the variety of these board games, spoke, “ ‘For example, every religion, and even region, has its own version of the game. In these games every box signifies a stage in life or a virtue or a vice...If one looks at different versions from different religions, the desired attainment is different and so are virtues and vices’ “(Shastri). For the Indian culture, snakes are much more prominent in their culture than that of Americans, or other places where the board game has been adapted. In the popular religions of the Indian area, Buddhism and Hindu, snakes are that of “gods” and it is said that, “ The Snake primarily represents rebirth, death and mortality, due to its casting of its skin and being symbolically ‘reborn’. Over a large part of India there are carved representations of cobras or nagas or stones as substitutes”(Snake Worship). Because of India being so highly influenced by snakes, it makes sense that they would include such a symbolic figure into their games. And the fact the snakes are something of “gods”, betraying a snake and having it bite oneself would be considered a wrong doing, which is a “[virtue] and [vice]” that is portrayed in the popular children’s game. Overall, the culture of India created and shaped this game of “Snakes and Ladders” in their image as it reflected their cultural values and worths.

** Historical by Rachel Huston, Hunter Whitlow, and Alex Zhao **

The game of “Snakes and Ladders” has strong historical ties into India, where it was originally created. Historically, it has been, as James Masters puts it, “A game [..] used to teach children about the religion in that the good squares allow a player to ascend higher in the league of life” (1). The moral choices that children develop can be spurred on and reinforced with a hands-on board game. Using the character pieces as representing an individual, individuals are immersed by the experience and learn about their religion’s and their own moral values. India was, and still is, the home of the religion of Hindu, who believe strongly in the idea of ‘salvation’. Hinduism has been a very strong part of India’s history, which is why Children’s Web Magazine explains that their belief system is intertwined with the game of “Snake and Ladders” because, “The last number on the board, which is 100, represents the Salvation. The aim of the game is to reach the number 100 on the snakes and ladders board” (Shah 1). As a result, “Snakes and Ladders” is capable to trace its history back to the spiritual meanings of Hindu. The people of India were strong believers in the Hindu values of fate or destiny, and “Snakes and Ladders” encompasses these beliefs to the present day.

Works Cited

Dodd, Sandra. “Snakes and Ladders.” // Snakes and Ladders //. Sandra Dodd, 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. Masters, James. “Moksha-Patamu (Snakes and Ladders).” // The Online Guide to Traditional Games //. TradGames, 1997. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. Shah, Neelam. “The History of Snakes and Ladders.” // Children's Web Magazine //. Children's Web Magazine, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. Shastri, Parth. “Spiritual Lessons in Snakes and Ladders.” //TimesofIndia//. India Times. 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. “Snake Worship.” //Wikipedia//. Wikipedia, 25 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. “Snakes and Ladders.” //Wikipedia//. Wikipedia, 25 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.