Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anthony Hecht's poem "Pig" weaves together Christian symbolism, biblical imagery, and reflections on redemption to create a poignant and layered narrative. The poem starts in a familiar setting, the manger, but quickly delves into deeper theological themes.

The opening lines place us in the nativity scene, "In the manger of course were cows and the Child Himself / Was like unto a lamb." Here, Hecht draws on the imagery of the lamb, a symbol of innocence and sacrifice in Christian theology. This lamb, representing Jesus, is prophesied to enter Jerusalem on an ass’s back, referencing the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in the New Testament.

Hecht continues to explore themes of redemption and the Peaceable Kingdom, a vision of harmonious coexistence among all creatures. The poem mentions the idyllic state where "the lion eat straw like the ox and roar its love / to Mark and to Jerome." This imagery is a nod to Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 11:6-9) about a future where natural enemies live in peace, symbolizing the transformative power of divine redemption.

The poem takes a darker turn with the reference to a singular "full of offense / Into which the thousand fiends of a human soul / Were cast and driven hence." This line alludes to the biblical story of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), where Jesus exorcises a legion of demons from a man, sending them into a herd of swine. The swine, possessed by the demons, then rush into the sea and drown.

In the final lines, Hecht invokes the swine with a prayer-like cadence: "O Swine that takest away our sins / That takest away." This invocation juxtaposes the swine with the traditional Christian invocation of Jesus as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." By replacing the lamb with swine, Hecht creates a provocative image that challenges traditional symbols of purity and sacrifice. The swine, often seen as unclean, here becomes a vessel for the removal of sin, emphasizing the theme of transformation and redemption.

Hecht’s poem navigates through various layers of Christian doctrine, using rich imagery and biblical references to explore the complexities of sin, redemption, and the divine promise of peace. The closing lines leave the reader with a sense of unresolved tension, reflecting the ongoing struggle between sin and redemption, and the transformative but sometimes uncomfortable power of divine grace.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...