The Pigman Home Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter)

Quote #4

[John:] "Touch them," he told [Lorraine]. "Don't be afraid to pick them up." It was a big change from my mother who always lets out a screech if you go near anything, so I couldn't help liking this old guy even if he was sort of weird. (5)

John immediately responds to Mr. Pignati's warmth and acceptance.

Quote #5

[John:] They [his parents] just seemed tired, and I seemed out of place in the house. I had become a disturbing influence, as they say. If I light up a cigarette, all my mother's really worried about is that I'm going to burn a hole in the rug. If I want a beer, she's worried I'm not going to rinse the glass out.

"John, turn your radio down."

"John, you're disturbing your father."

"John, you're disturbing the cat."

"John, don't slam the door when you go out; don't make so much noise on the porch; don't bang your feet when you walk up the stairs; don't walk on the kitchen floor—don't, don't, don't."

"John, please do whatever you like. Make yourself comfortable. If you want something out of the refrigerator, help yourself. I want you to feel at home."

And always with a big smile so you knew he meant it.

That was the Pigman, and I knew I'd kill Norton if he tried to hurt the old man. (9)

Again, John points out details of the sharp contrast between the welcome he feels at Mr. Pignati's and the restrictions, criticisms, and rules of his own house. He is quickly coming to think of Mr. Pignati's house as, in a sense, his own.

Quote #6

[Lorraine:] It got so that every day John and I would go over to the Pigman's after school and have a glass of wine and conversation. It was routine by the time the Christmas holidays came around, and it was nice to have some place to go besides the cemetery when it was cold out. Masterson's tomb is an escapist's dream in the summer, but it's a realist's nightmare in December. (10)

Is there something disturbing about the last sentence? Are John and Lorraine going to Mr. Pignati's, in part, only because they need a warm place to hang out? Haven't they also come to, in a way, love the old man?