The Pigman Character Analysis

How can people be so similar and different at the same time? In the novel The Pigman by Paul Zindel both the protagonists John and Lorraine have different characteristics.John and Lorraine are both best friends who are sophomores in high school. Although they are very close friends they have different personalities.At the beginning of the Novel, John is more of a troublesome kid whereas Lorraine is calm, sensitive and compassionate.Overall the novel The Pigman by Paul Zindel demonstrate how different good friends can be.

Throughout the book, we see that John and Lorraine are divergent characters.For an example, Lorraine is more sensitive and compassionate where she seems to care about the world around her.Lorraine is also very good at interpreting others we see this when she said,"John has compassion deep inside of him, which is the real reason we got involved with the Pigman".On the other hand, John tries to act like he doesn't care about anything.

For an instance, Lorraine tells us that John would be "the last person on earth" (2).Another difference is that John has a much greater amount of confidence compared to Lorraine.John uses his intelligence, good looks, and charm to manipulate people.Lorraine describes John "extremely handsome" (2), and John immodestly agrees: "Like Lorraine told you, I really am very handsome and I do have fabulous eyes".John also believes strongly about his future dream of being an actor even tough his parents are against it.On the other hand, Lorraine’s self-confidence seems to be ruined.Her mother's constantly makes harsh criticisms, such as: "You're not a pretty girl, Lorraine" (2). According to John, The way her old lady talks you'd think Lorraine needed internal plastic surgery and seventeen body braces, but if you ask me, all she needs is a little confidence. Lorraine, in fact, is afraid of her mother who frequently verbally abuses her and even slaps her. In conclusion Lorraine and John in many ways have tremendous dissimilar

personalities.

Although John and Lorraine have many disparities they are similar in many ways.For an instance, like John, Lorraine is an inventive liar. When Lorraine first talked to Mr.Pignati on the phone while playing the telephone marathon she made lie after lie. Additionally, Lorraine always tells her mother that she is at her friend's house studying when she is at Mr.Pignatis house with John. John also always lies to his teachers, parents and everyone except for Lorraine. In addition to John and Lorraine both lying a lot they both have major conflicts with their parents. John is in a constant conflict with his parents. He always tries to manipulate his father whom he calls Bore. Such as when John’s father threatened to put a lock on the phone to teach, John "how to use the phone properly," John replies, "Yeah. No kidding?" "Now it was just the way I said yeah," John tells us, that "set him off," and prompted John's father to put a lock on the phone. However, by putting glue in the lock, John has the last laugh – now no one can use the phone, including his father (3).Another reason why John always seems to have tension with his father because John’s dream is to become an actor but his dad wants John to continue the family coffee shop. John tells his father that “I want to be me”, his dad dismisses his goals by saying “thank god Kenneth was not a lunatic”. As for Lorraine her shyness and low self-confidence are probably caused by her mother's constant harsh criticisms, such as: "You're not a pretty girl, Lorraine" (2). John has something else to say about Lorraine's appearance The way her old lady talks you'd think Lorraine needed internal plastic surgery and seventeen body braces, but if you ask me, all she needs is a little confidence. (3)We see from both Lorraine and John they have major problems with there parents and lying.