THE PIGMAN CHAPTER SUMMARIES AND NOTES

CHAPTER 2

Summary

Lorraine speaks in this chapter and observes that John has the tendency to “twist things subliminally.” She just wants to write down all the strange events they experienced in the last few months. She continues commentary on John’s character by noting that he gets away with most of the unacceptable behavior he exhibits, because he is so handsome. She describes him physically - six feet tall, brown hair and blue eyes - but also observes that “he drinks and smokes more than any boy I ever heard of. . . he drinks and smokes to assert his independence.” She tries all the time to force him to quit, but she has been unsuccessful. She further observes that he is an out-and-out liar at his worst and a distorter of the truth at his best.

Lorraine shows the reader her deep compassion when she speaks about Miss Reillen or Cricket as John has nicknamed her. Lorraine wonders if she has many problems of which they are unaware which make her the way she is. She feels sorry for her. She Notes that this is the greatest difference between her and John. He doesn’t exactly lack compassion. He just refuses to show it. Lorraine thinks the hostility he frequently shows is actually directed toward himself.

Lorraine also takes some time to talk about herself. She describes herself as “not exactly the most beautiful girl in the world . . . Just ask my mother.” She observes that her mother constantly criticizes her appearance, making her sound like a monstrosity. However, Lorraine judges herself as not exactly Miss America but not the abominable snowwoman either.

The final part of the chapter is a lead-in to the real story of the Pigman and how John and Lorraine changed the minute they met him. She explains extensively how she and John met: she had moved into his neighborhood at the beginning of her freshman year and she met him at the bus stop. None of the other kids were nice to her and she felt very lonely for a long time. She had noticed John from the beginning because of his gigantic, beautiful eyes. He had to sit next to her on the bus one day when all the other seats were taken. He suddenly began laughing for no apparent reason and she thought he was laughing at her. She describes her reaction to him as paranoia, a debility she thought she had because of an article she read in a magazine about mental disturbances. At first, believing he’s laughing at her makes her feel terrible and then, she begins to get mad. She asks him to stop his laughter, because people will think she’s sitting with lunatic. He replies that he is a lunatic. Eventually, Lorraine’s only way to deal with the situation involves laughing, too. They both then begin laughing so hard together that everyone on the bus thinks they are out of their minds. And so a friendship is born.

Notes

Lorraine’s tone is distinctly different than John’s. She is softer, not just because she is a female, but because she is readily able to admit she has compassion. John’s is hidden deep inside him and seldom, if ever, appears. He covers his pain by being sarcastic, misbehaving, and acting stupid. She comes to like that in him, even as she tries to change him. Lorraine is very astute when it comes to analyzing everyone, including herself. She sees the deeper side of John and assesses her own qualities in a fair way. The first time he even reacts to her is an important moment, because it reveals for both of them how painful their lives are. She fears being laughed at and almost retreats into herself, until she reacts to John’s silly laughter by joining in.

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