The Pig is a wonderfully dark and hilarious example of irony at its best. Roald Dahl has portrayed an interesting conflict between the “meaning of life” and “survival of the fittest”. The poem outlines the story of an intelligent pig that knows every single thing on Earth but astonishingly is unaware about the real meaning of life. The Pig simply has no clue as to why he was placed on the Earth and what is the motive of his life.
The pig has been compared to a normal individual who despite being knowledgeable about everything in the society including mathematics, flying an aeroplane, knowing how an engine works, having almost all the information his massive brain can fill in.
Despite knowing everything about his surroundings, despite having read all the books when it comes to knowing the meaning and significance of life, his knowledge is zero. The lines “What was the reason for his birth? Why was he placed upon this earth?” Reveal the curious nature of the young masses today who has puzzled their life to such an extent that they cannot understand what the simple thing called life is? This is the reality of each and every individual today. They plan everything in their life, every single event is pre-planned; but they fail to understand the essence of life.
As time passes by, the intelligent pig sooner or later understands why he is placed on the Earth and how can he survive properly here. The pig understands that in order to survive he has to adjust among the fittest sections of the society.
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But if the individual fails to do so he will live a life that is undesirable by any individual. The pig suddenly realizes that what the entire world wants from him is his flesh, roast it to get the pork, all they want from him is a delicious lunch.
Roald Dahl has beautifully portrayed the plight of an individual who has no other option except giving himself up to the circumstances and adjusting towards the end, he needs of the society. Yes it is funny that he has compared an individual’s life with that of a pig but this is what the bitter truth is. An individual works day and night, failing to understand that what actually his or her call for life is.
Towards the end of the poem Roald beautifully explains the fact that the only option that an individual is left with is to either fall a pray to the circumstances or mould the circumstances according to their own will and determination.
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But to attempt something like this, it is essential on the part of an individual to become fearless on his road of life. The only option left in front of the pig towards the end of the poem is either to fall a prey in the hands of the people or to make them its prey.