Discussion Topic
Significance of the Protagonist and Overview of "The Pigman"
Summary:
The Pigman, by Paul Zindel, is titled after Mr. Pignati, a pivotal character who significantly impacts protagonists John and Lorraine. The nickname "The Pigman" initially seems unflattering but becomes affectionate as the teens bond with him. John, who is considered the protagonist due to his character development, starts as rebellious but grows empathetic through Mr. Pignati's influence. The novel, framed as a memorial by the teens, explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and the nature of family.
Why is the book titled "The Pigman"?
The first sentence of chapter one alerts readers to the book's title.
Now, I don’t like school, which you might say is one of the factors that got us involved with this old guy we nicknamed the Pigman.
John tells his readers that at some point in the book, he is going to tell us about some old guy that he and Lorraine gave a very unflattering nickname too.
It turns out that this man is named Mr. Pignati. He turns out to be an amazing influence on both John and Lorraine, and with that last name, it makes sense that John and Lorraine might nickname him "The Pigman." But wait. It turns out that Mr. Pignati has a collection of ceramic pigs, so his nickname really makes sense. What's great about the nickname and the title is that is sounds completely unflattering; however, as John and Lorraine...
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come to love Mr. Pignati more and more, the nickname winds up being a term of deep endearment. The book is titled the way that it is because the book is John and Lorraine's "memorial epic" that is dedicated to their dear friend Mr. Pignati -- The Pigman.
She’s got very interesting green eyes that scan like nervous radar—that is they used to until the Pigman died. Ever since then her eyes have become absolutely still, except when we work on this memorial epic.
Who is the protagonist in The Pigman and what are their traits?
The structure of Paul Zindel’s novel The Pigman makes it difficult to state with certainty which character is intended as the protagonist. The author creates two strong characters in John and Lorraine and establishes them as alternating narrators. John plays a somewhat more dominant role, including claiming to have written the text. In addition, he has the larger scope for character development, so he can be considered the protagonist.
John’s behavior initially makes it seem like he is a hostile and selfish person, but as the novel progresses, more positive qualities emerge and develop. His rebelliousness, sense of being an outsider, and destructive acts are a smokescreen to cover up his loneliness and the pain that his father’s neglect causes him. Although his relationship with Lorraine originates through their mutual desire to trick other people, they become genuine friends. Through their mutual friendship with Mr. Pignati, and their shared experience with his illness and death, John learns both to feel and express empathy.
John’s rebelliousness can be see through his aggressive, destructive pranks such as lighting firecrackers in school, as well as his involvement in the fake charity scheme through which the two teenagers initially contact Mr. Pignati. His tendency to take advantage of others is also shown by holding the party in his house.
While his character develops throughout the book, these changes are foreshadowed from the first chapter, when John expresses concern for another. He states that one reason for writing his narrative is so Lorraine will not suffer, as indicated by the “miserable look on [her] … face.”
Who is the most significant character in The Pigman?
The entire novel is meant to be a memorial written by John and Lorraine in memory of their friend Mr. Pignati, and so the simple answer would be that the most important character in the novel is Mr. Pignati. However, it is not the character himself but his interactions with John and Lorraine, and his ability to see people differently, that makes him important.
John's father thinks John is a "lunatic" for wanting to be an actor, and his mother spends more time cleaning the house than speaking to or spending time with him. Lorraine's mother tells her she is "not a pretty girl," and her father is no longer in the picture. The employee at the zoo says that Bobo the baboon has a "nasty disposition." Mr. Pignati, however, calls Bobo his "best friend" and treats John and Lorraine as if they were his own children, showering them with love and providing them with a place where they can feel at home—more than their parents have ever done for them.
Perhaps Mr. Pignati and Bobo are representative of each other: both are misunderstood by most but, despite this, still loved by those who have chosen to be near them and get to know them. John and Lorraine grow to love the isolated, lonely Pigman, while Mr. Pignati sees something in Bobo that no one else does, showing him love and feeding him treats.
Mr. Pignati's death also leads to certain questions and themes that are difficult to answer. Did Lorraine and John cause his death? Lorraine believes they did, although John disagrees. Did they lose a family? Does family always mean blood relatives are involved? Were they all trespassing in each others' lives, as John says? What is youth? What is old age? Mr. Pignati is the root of all these questions, but he dies at the end of the novel, leaving all the questions unanswered.