The author uses different literary devices, including point of view and diction to show a character’s struggle in choice between regret and heroism. His use of first person point of view is used to convey regret, while his use of diction is used to show heroism.
The author uses point of view to show the regret he felt. “...I could see him as I might have let him go, sinuous and self-respecting in departure over the twilit sands...” He uses the word “I” to indicate that it is in first person. This use of point of view helps indicate the amount of regret he has from killing the snake. Regret is shown when he says “as I might have let him go.” He is regretful about what he did to the snake as he thinks about what would have happened