Most I know about snakes is that they're vaguely phallic and they're on the symbol for doctors/medicine in general. Actually, I think that's a tapeworm or flatworm of some kind instead of a snake. I know pythons aren't poisonous? I think they're right on it being used as a symbol of feminine power though - David Eddings is jumping up and down in the back of my head waving a sign with 'Salmissra' on it in neon lettering - but aikaterini's answer is far more succinct.

So it wasn't this chapter that makes me throw in the towel - no Loren as yet. It's an annoying chapter though. Annoying comments from the girls, annoying sledgehammer to the face with 'oh-look-he's-gay!', annoying actions by Zoey and annoying idiocy by same. It's like the Casts are dangling plot on a string in front of our noses - as soon as we think we've finally got some, they yank it back. Unfortunately they haven't quite mastered the entertaining plot-building interlude.