Without its poison, the snake is no more and no less than any other of G-d's creatures. Whether it be the snake of hatred, of greed, of indifference, of jealousy, of pride, of any foul aspect of human character--they are only evil because of their poison, the poison of "I exist."
Because when "I exist," there is no room left for any other being in the world to exist.
Without the "I", even jealousy and pride can be glorious animals, driving a person to greater good.
