now do cargo ships
reality is meh
the narrative is far moar dasting
summary:
Hogg, as lunchmeat, is tormented and ultimately consumed as a sandwich filling.
exposition and analysis:
The main idea of "Opus Luncheonis: The Struggle of Hogg with Mayo, Lettuce, and Tomato" is a satirical and somewhat existential exploration of the fate of deli meat, personified as "Hogg," as it is transformed into a sandwich. The poem uses theatrical structure and vivid imagery to depict Hogg's journey from a "Lunchmeat Eternal" to a consumable product, emphasizing themes of:
Loss of Identity: Hogg loses his individual identity, becoming a standardized "cold cut" defined by its role as sandwich filling. He is no longer a person ("Not man, nor boy"), but a processed commodity.
The Absurdity of Existence: The poem highlights the absurdity of Hogg's existence. He is "born again as deli flesh" only to be "consumed" and struggle eternally as sandwich filling.
The Torment of Transformation: The process of becoming a sandwich is depicted as a form of torment. The condiments (mayo, lettuce, and tomato) are not merely adornments but "tormentors" that degrade and mock him. The tomato's "acid burns his deli-skin."
Consumerism and Deception: The poem satirizes consumerism by showing Hogg as "lied into existence," suggesting that the reality of the meat is masked by marketing and presentation. The sandwich is "Sealed, labeled, barcoded, /Priced at $5.99 with a side of chips." The fresh appearance of the lettuce is a "false freshness."
Theatrical Irony: The use of theatrical language like "Act I," "Act II," "Finale," and references to playwrights Antonin Artaud and the horror genre of "Grand Guignol" underscores the artificial and performative nature of Hogg's suffering, highlighting the distance between the product and its origin.
Eternal Recurrence: The "Eternal Bite" and the final chorus ("Never grow old, never die,/Only be sliced, only comply!") suggests that Hogg's struggle is cyclical and inescapable, a perpetual state of being processed and consumed. He is perpetually bound to garnish and eternal cuckoldry.
/qhoneypot/