Poem Analysis - Pig Song

Introduction: A Pig's Lament

Margaret Atwood's "Pig Song" is a visceral and unsettling poem about subjugation and survival. The speaker, transformed into a pig by an unnamed "you" (Madame), expresses a complex mixture of resentment, defiance, and grim acceptance. The tone shifts from accusatory and self-deprecating to assertive and even celebratory, culminating in an ironic declaration of devotion. The poem explores themes of exploitation, resilience, and the power of voice, even in the most degraded circumstances.

The Dehumanizing Gaze: Power and Transformation

The poem powerfully illustrates the theme of exploitation through the speaker's transformation into a pig. The opening lines are brutally direct: "This is what you changed me to." This declaration immediately establishes a power dynamic, highlighting the “you’s” control and the speaker's loss of agency. The speaker is reduced to a "greypink vegetable with slug / eyes," a grotesque image that emphasizes their dehumanization. The imagery of a "stinking wart / of flesh" and "large tuber / of blood" further underscores the speaker's degradation, showcasing the complete objectification inflicted by the "Madame."

Finding Strength in Filth: The Resilience of the Spirit

Despite the horrific transformation and the clear exploitation, the poem also explores the theme of resilience. The speaker, though reduced to a pig, refuses to be entirely silenced or broken. The lines "Meanwhile / I have the sky, which is only half / caged, I have my weed corners" suggest a tenacious hold on freedom and a claim to a small but vital space. The speaker’s continued existence, and more importantly, the continued ability to sing, becomes an act of defiance. This is no passive victim; the pig reclaims agency through its song.

The Song of the Subjugated: Voice as Resistance

The central symbol of the poem is the "song" itself. The pig’s song initially appears repulsive, a "song of roots and noses, / my song of dung." It is a song of the earth, of the base and unrefined, reflecting the pig’s degraded state. However, this very song becomes an act of resistance. The "Madame" finds the grunts "oppressively sexual," revealing her discomfort and highlighting the pig’s ability to disrupt the established order. The pig’s song, even in its perceived vulgarity, becomes a powerful assertion of existence and a challenge to the oppressor’s control.

Garbage In, Garbage Out: An Ironic Hymn

The poem concludes with an ambiguous and unsettling assertion: "I am yours. If you feed me garbage, / I will sing a song of garbage. / This is a hymn." This ending can be interpreted in several ways. It might represent a complete surrender, a cynical acceptance of their fate. However, it can also be read as a subversive act. By embracing the "garbage," the pig exposes the true nature of its oppressor. The claim that it is a "hymn" adds a layer of irony, suggesting that even in the most degraded circumstances, there is a kind of perverse beauty and truth to be found. The pig’s song of garbage becomes a testament to the human capacity for endurance and a scathing critique of the forces that seek to dehumanize us.