A Message from the Pig-Man
“A Message from the Pig-Man”
John Wain
The story “A Message from the Pig-Man” was written by John
Wain in 1960. John Wain was born in England in 1925. He was the son of a dentist, and studied at St. John's College on Oxford. For most of his life, John Wain worked as a journalist and author, writing and reviewing for newspapers and the radio. He died in May 1994 at Oxford. He is usually placed in the group of post-war critics called The Angry Young Men.
Eric is the son of newly divorced parents. He is the first and only child in the family. He is nearly 6 years old and has difficulties adapting to the new circumstances. He is in a period in his life where he is on the verge of becoming a ”big boy”. The childish manners are coming loose and the complicated grown-up world is taking over. He is very proud that the grown-ups also see him as a responsible young man. Still, he has problems understanding the adults. There are many questions he would like to ask them but is afraid to do so. How are the adults going to respond? Are they grown-up questions? In order to protect his newly established valuations as a mature boy, he ignores asking. One of the questions he is struggling with is why his father is no longer with them. His mother told him that a new man was going to stay with them.
Everything would be as before, except that Dad would not be there. Eric does not understand why his father had to leave just because Donald moved in. He loves his father very much and does not mind sharing his bedroom in order for his dad to have the spare room. On account of his father’s absence he hesitates to accept the kindness that is offered to him and is insecure of the foundations of his surroundings. He is worried about being left alone and he does not have anyone he can trust and open his feelings to.
The narrator categorizes the characters in the story into two groups. The adults and the children. We read the story from the point of view of the
John Wain
The story “A Message from the Pig-Man” was written by John
Wain in 1960. John Wain was born in England in 1925. He was the son of a dentist, and studied at St. John's College on Oxford. For most of his life, John Wain worked as a journalist and author, writing and reviewing for newspapers and the radio. He died in May 1994 at Oxford. He is usually placed in the group of post-war critics called The Angry Young Men.
Eric is the son of newly divorced parents. He is the first and only child in the family. He is nearly 6 years old and has difficulties adapting to the new circumstances. He is in a period in his life where he is on the verge of becoming a ”big boy”. The childish manners are coming loose and the complicated grown-up world is taking over. He is very proud that the grown-ups also see him as a responsible young man. Still, he has problems understanding the adults. There are many questions he would like to ask them but is afraid to do so. How are the adults going to respond? Are they grown-up questions? In order to protect his newly established valuations as a mature boy, he ignores asking. One of the questions he is struggling with is why his father is no longer with them. His mother told him that a new man was going to stay with them.
Everything would be as before, except that Dad would not be there. Eric does not understand why his father had to leave just because Donald moved in. He loves his father very much and does not mind sharing his bedroom in order for his dad to have the spare room. On account of his father’s absence he hesitates to accept the kindness that is offered to him and is insecure of the foundations of his surroundings. He is worried about being left alone and he does not have anyone he can trust and open his feelings to.
The narrator categorizes the characters in the story into two groups. The adults and the children. We read the story from the point of view of the