Mood And Symbolism In The Pigman

The internet defines pranks as, “practical or mischievous acts.” When one thinks of a “prank,” one thinks of covering someone’s house with toilet paper or filling a room with balloons, which typically results in anger, annoyance, and irritation. Ever thought of a prank that led to happiness, joy, and trust? This entire idea is the kickoff that starts the storyline of The Pigman, a realistic fiction book written in the 1960s by Paul Zindel. John Conlan is a troublemaker, and his best friend Lorraine Jensen gets sick at the mention of breaking rules. However, that doesn’t stop them from making prank calls to see who can keep the receiver talking the longest. To break the record, Lorraine picks Angelo Pignati. From a simple phone call as phony

When Lorraine, John, and their other two friends are ringing up randomly chosen numbers from the phonebook, Lorraine cheats a little and looks at the book. Her eyes drift to a man by the name of Angelo Pignati. It was an unusual experience. Zindel states, “There was something about his voice that made me feel sorry for him, and I began to wish I had never bothered him. He just went on talking and talking, and the receiver started to hurt my ear…” (Zindel 22). The excerpt is an example of mood. As a reader, one may feel confused, and have feelings of anticipation as to why Mr. Pignati wound up like this; it may even feel eerie. Later on in the story, they visit the old man and find out his wife has passed. The effects are reflected in the man and his behavior. This includes the way he talks, as Lorraine describes his voice as “sorrowful.” The fact that he continually spoke means he hadn’t had another person contact or reach out to him for years. Therefore, this scene demonstrates the disheartening and destructive effects after a loss in which loneliness begins to occur. Another example is seen towards the finale of the novel when the Pigman dies. The cause is not stated in the book, however, it is inferred that the two protagonists, Lorraine and John, were responsible for his unfortunate passing away. This is due to a wild party they threw at his property, and he was greeted by the unpleasant surprise after recovering from a heart attack. This may have pushed him over the edge. At his death, Zindel writes, “I saw the Pigman open his mouth, and then his hands started to shake. He went to grab hold of the railing, but let out a tiny cry…the Pigman dropped to the floor…” (Zindel 141). The text contains another example of symbolism. The Pigman dies right after hearing the news of his pet baboon, Bobo, dying of pneumonia. Bobo the baboon