Snakes are a motif related to the theme of The Influence of Religious Fervor. Carson Chambliss integrates snake handling into his services, largely as a result of his literal interpretation of a Bible passage that promises that faith in God can prevent humans from being harmed by their poison. The snakes he handles—and encourages his parishioners to handle as well—are indeed dangerous, as underscored when Ben Hall instructs Jess to bury a similar snake that he has killed. Though the snake is dead, Ben still fears its venom and does not want another animal to fall prey to it. When its body—separated from the head—lashes unexpectedly while in Jess’s hand, he understands how uncontrollable and unpredictable a snake can be.

It is Sheriff Barefield who draws a parallel between Chambliss himself and the snakes he keeps. Chambliss admires the way that snakes shed their skin, considering this a metaphor for redemption—how humans can cast off their bad behaviors and adopt new ones. Barefield, however, points to the fact that Chambliss’s skin was damaged by fire: His new, grafted skin serves as a reminder of his crimes and is an external manifestation of how he has not improved himself nor changed into a new, honorable person.