A DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG – CHARLES LAMB

A DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG – CHARLES LAMB

     Charles Lamb was one of the popular essayists of eighteenth century. He was good at writing personal essays. His essays were published in London Magazines, under the pen-name ‘Elia’

‘A Dissertation upon Roast Pig’ is one of Lamb’s funniest and most fanciful essays. It has two parts. In the first part, Lamb gives an account of how people in China discovered the custom of roasting pigs.

     A Chinese boy by name Bo-bo was asked to take care of the swine-herd by his father Ho-ti. The boy was fond of playing with fire, while he was playing with fire a spark fell on the thatch and caught fire. Nine young pigs were burnt to death. Bo-bo, smelt an alluring smell from the burnt pigs. He touched one to know if it was still alive. He burnt his fingers. To cool it, he put his fingers in his mouth. Thus, he tasted the meat sticking in his fingers. It was delicious, so he started eating it with great interest. When the father came back, he noticed his son who eating burnt flesh of pigs. He was horrified and he started to beat his son. The son persuaded the father to taste some burnt flesh of pigs. After tasting the roasted pig, the father cooled down, and praised his son. Their after, Ho-ti’s  cottage caught fire often to eat roasted pork. The matter was reported to the judge by the neighbours. The father and the son were put on trial. The Jury who enquired the case, tasted the burnt pig and declared the father and the son were not guilty. They gave permission to all the people to eat the roasted pig. Pigs and fuel soon became very expensive. At last someone invented the gridiron and houses were prevented from fire.

     In the second part, Lamb, expresses his love for the roast pig. He says that old pigs are not tasteful as the taste of a month old pig. He calls it ‘animal manna’. He becomes poetical in describing the sight of a young pig being roasted. After being roasted it lays so meekly on the plate. He does not have any pity for the suffering pig. Pine apple is tasty but it cannot satisfy hunger. But the roast pig is not only tasty but also satisfies one’s hunger. Moreover, all its parts are useful. When it is served, no one complain of getting a less tasty portion than another. Lamb is ready to share anything with his friends except the roast pig. He shares an anecdote about  his boyhood. Once he gave a beggar the plum cake presented to him by his aunt. Later he felt that he had betrayed her. He would feel similar regret if he shared the pig with anybody.

     The suckling pig was whipped to death in the past. This appears very cruel. Lamb feels that it is not necessary as the flesh of a young pig is tender enough. He ends the essay with a reference to the sauces which should accompany the roast pig. He is against using onion and garlic, as they are too strong for the delicate flesh of a young pig.