The Pigman by Paul Zindel
"The Pigman" by Paul Zindel is a poignant young adult novel that explores themes of friendship, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative is presented through the alternating first-person perspectives of two teenagers, John and Lorraine, who initially deceive an elderly man named Mr. Pignati while playing a prank. As they interact with him, they discover his profound loneliness and develop a genuine bond, which deepens when they learn about the death of his wife. The novel captures their adventures together, including visits to the zoo to see Mr. Pignati's beloved baboon, Bobo.
However, the story takes a tragic turn as their actions lead to a betrayal of trust, culminating in Mr. Pignati's unexpected death. Zindel's work is notable for its realistic portrayal of adolescent thoughts and behaviors, presenting characters that embody both flaws and virtues. First published in 1968, "The Pigman" stands out in young adult literature for its humane spirit and emotionally resonant themes. It has influenced subsequent works in the genre and remains a significant title in Zindel's literary repertoire.
On this Page
Subject Terms
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
First published: 1968
Type of work: Social and domestic realism
Themes: Friendship, coming-of-age, and death
Time of work: The late 1960’s
Recommended Ages: 13-15
Locale: A middle-class suburb of New York City
Principal Characters:
Lorraine Jensen , a sophomore at Franklin High School, who wants to be an author when she grows upJohn Conlan , a handsome student in Lorraine’s class, who dreams of being an actorAngelo Pignati (“the Pigman”) , a retiree in his late fifties, who is still deeply affected by the death of his wifeNorton Kelly (“the Marshmallow Kid”) , a social outcast at Franklin High SchoolDennis Kobin , a friend of Lorraine and John with whom they play practical jokes
The Story
The Pigman is a narrative told by John and Lorraine in the first person, with each of them writing alternate chapters. Their goal in presenting this story, they say at the outset, is to be as honest as possible, even if the truth is not flattering to them. Thus they admit that they first heard of Mr. Pignati while playing practical jokes on the telephone. Choosing numbers at random, Lorraine had wanted only to keep total strangers talking as long as possible. From the tone of their conversation, however, John sensed that Mr. Pignati might be a gullible victim and suggested to Lorraine that they visit this old man; his plan was to obtain a “contribution” to a fictitious charity. Lorraine initially felt uncomfortable with this idea but, after John’s repeated reassurances, she agreed to the plan.
John and Lorraine then meet Mr. Pignati and begin to feel sorry for him. He seems extremely lonely and, moreover, he is so kind that they develop a genuine liking for him. The two teenagers thus give him the nickname “the Pigman” both as a play on his last name and because he had given his wife a large collection of glass and ceramic pigs. After their initial visit, John and Lorraine accompany the Pigman to the zoo where they discover that he regularly visits a baboon named Bobo. Bobo has become almost a pet of Mr. Pignati. Before the arrival of John and Lorraine, this animal seems to have been Mr. Pignati’s only friend. On the following evening, the two teenagers return to the Pigman’s house, and there John discovers a bill for the funeral of “Conchetta Pignati.” John and Lorraine realize from the bill that the Pigman’s wife is not away on a trip, as he had claimed, but had died some months ago. This discovery only increases their sympathy for Mr. Pignati and helps to explain his loneliness.
Lorraine and John then become regular visitors to the Pigman’s house. On one occasion, Lorraine reveals the truth: She admits that they are students and not charity workers, as they had originally claimed. Moved by this display of their honesty and trust, Mr. Pignati reveals his own secret and tells John and Lorraine that his wife has died. The friendship of the three characters deepens through their regular visits to one another. On a number of these visits, they play games.
While running about during a game of tag, Mr. Pignati has a heart attack and falls down the stairs. During his stay at the hospital, John and Lorraine use the Pigman’s house for a party without receiving his permission. Norton Kelly, though not invited to the party, forces his way in and begins destroying the collection of glass and ceramic pigs. Finally, when Norton attempts to steal an oscilloscope, John challenges him. At the moment of the greatest confusion, Mr. Pignati arrives back home. He is shocked and disappointed by John and Lorraine’s violation of his trust.
The two teenagers try to patch up their differences with the Pigman by taking him back to the zoo. Once there, however, they discover that Bobo had died while Mr. Pignati had been recovering in the hospital. The shock of hearing this news affects the Pigman deeply, and he collapses. Before help can be brought, Mr. Pignati dies.
Context
The Pigman was Paul Zindel’s first novel for young adults and remains his most influential book. In 1968, when The Pigman was first published, Zindel had already established his reputation as a dramatist. His best-known play, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1964), received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1971.
From the very beginning, The Pigman was distinctly different from most of the juvenile fiction that had been produced until that time. For example, the novel re-created the thoughts and language of adolescents in a realistic setting that readers would recognize. In particular, the character of John Conlan appeared to be neither a paragon of youthful virtues nor a negative example of juvenile delinquency; away from his parents and teachers, John smokes, drinks, and swears. One of the themes of the novel is that people must be accepted as they are, not as one would like them to be; John’s flaws are thus treated objectively as signs of human weakness, not as proof of a serious moral failure. This humane spirit, in addition to the novel’s realism, originally gave The Pigman its distinctive tone.
In the years after the appearance of The Pigman, Zindel returned to the themes of this novel in such works as The Pigman’s Legacy (1980), My Darling, My Hamburger (1969), and Confessions of a Teenage Baboon (1977). Each of these works is, in its own way, a similar sort of coming-of-age novel. They present characters whose individuality—and even, at times, peculiarity—cause them to be regarded as outsiders. Zindel’s novels thus fall into the same tradition as Judy Blume’s Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (1972), Blubber (1974), and Tiger Eyes (1981), or Robert Lipsyte’s One Fat Summer (1977) and Summer Rules (1981).
Bibliography
DiGaetani, John L. “Paul Zindel.” In A Search for a Postmodern Theater: Interviews with Contemporary Playwrights, edited by DiGaetani. New York: Greenwood Press, 1991.
Forman, Jack Jacob. Presenting Paul Zindel. Boston: Twayne, 1988.
Megyeri, Kathy A. “Paul Zindel.” English Journal 93 (November, 2003): 12-13.
Rees, David. The Marble in the Water: Essays on Contemporary Writers of Fiction for Children and Young Adults. Boston: Horn Book Press. 1980.
Smith, Grant T. “The Pigman’s Story: Teaching Paul Zindel in the 21st Century.” In Censored Books, II: Critical Viewpoints, 1985-2000, edited by Nicholas J. Karolides. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow, 2002.
Strickland, Ruth L. “Paul Zindel.” In Twentieth-Century American Dramatists, First Series, edited by John MacNicholas. Vol. 7 in Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale Research, 1981.