Pigs is Pigs
Encyclopedia
Pigs Is Pigs is a story written by Ellis Parker Butler
. First published as a short story in The American Magazine in September 1905, "Pigs is Pigs" went on to dozens of printings as a book and in anthologies over the next several decades.
s and refuses to accept the lower pet rate, saying "pigs is pigs." Flannery believes that the "guinea
" is an indication of the pigs' national origin. He argues that they should bear the higher freight charge of 30¢ for livestock, rather than the lower 25¢ for domestic pets. In support of this, he submits that if they were "dago pigs" or "paddy pigs", there would be no question of the animals' status.
Because the customer refuses to accept delivery, Flannery is forced to feed and house what he now calls the "dago pigs" in his office, until he receives permission from his superiors to return the pigs to the company warehouse. By this time, the guinea pigs have reproduced geometrically in Flannery's station house. After returning all the descendants, Flannery resolves to charge the lower rate for any future livestock.
as possibly the origin of the flat cats in his novel The Rolling Stones
, since he may have read it or heard it as a child, but due to the intervening time he could not be sure. The concept obviously had some currency because it also shows up in the famous Star Trek
episode "The Trouble with Tribbles
".
cartoon in 1954 that was nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short Film
.
The 1937 Merrie Melodies
cartoon, directed by Friz Freleng
, is not an adaptation of the Butler story, though it shares its title.
Official website for Ellis Parker Butler:
Movies
Ellis Parker Butler
Ellis Parker Butler was an American author.Butler was born in Muscatine, Iowa. He was the author of more than 30 books and more than 2,000 stories and essays and is most famous for his short story "Pigs is Pigs", in which a bureaucratic stationmaster insists on levying the livestock rate for a...
. First published as a short story in The American Magazine in September 1905, "Pigs is Pigs" went on to dozens of printings as a book and in anthologies over the next several decades.
Plot
Railway agent Mike Flannery wants to charge the livestock rate for a shipment of two guinea pigGuinea pig
The guinea pig , also called the cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family, nor are they from Guinea...
s and refuses to accept the lower pet rate, saying "pigs is pigs." Flannery believes that the "guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
" is an indication of the pigs' national origin. He argues that they should bear the higher freight charge of 30¢ for livestock, rather than the lower 25¢ for domestic pets. In support of this, he submits that if they were "dago pigs" or "paddy pigs", there would be no question of the animals' status.
Because the customer refuses to accept delivery, Flannery is forced to feed and house what he now calls the "dago pigs" in his office, until he receives permission from his superiors to return the pigs to the company warehouse. By this time, the guinea pigs have reproduced geometrically in Flannery's station house. After returning all the descendants, Flannery resolves to charge the lower rate for any future livestock.
Literary significance and criticism
The story is credited by Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
as possibly the origin of the flat cats in his novel The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones (novel)
The Rolling Stones is a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein....
, since he may have read it or heard it as a child, but due to the intervening time he could not be sure. The concept obviously had some currency because it also shows up in the famous Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
episode "The Trouble with Tribbles
The Trouble With Tribbles (TOS episode)
"The Trouble With Tribbles" is a second-season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast on December 29, 1967 and repeated June 21, 1968...
".
Adaptations
The story was made into movie form several times, including the Walt DisneyWalt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
cartoon in 1954 that was nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short Film
Academy Award for Animated Short Film
The Academy Award for Animated Short Film is an award which has been given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards every year since the 5th Academy Awards, covering the year 1931-32, to the present....
.
- Pigs Is Pigs (1910)
- Pigs Is Pigs (1914) directed by George D. BakerGeorge D. BakerGeorge D. Baker was an American motion picture director whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era.-Early life:George Duane Baker was born at Champaign, Illinois on the 22nd of April, 1868,...
- "Pigs Is PigsPigs Is Pigs (1954 film)Not to be confused with Pigs Is Pigs Pigs Is Pigs is a 1954 animated film by Walt Disney Studios. It is based on the story "Pigs Is Pigs" by Ellis Parker Butler. This was Gary Owens' film debut. The cartoon was animated in the flat, colorful UPA Style.It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best...
" a 1954 cartoon (non official Silly Symphony) directed by Jack KinneyJack KinneyJack Ryan Kinney was an American animator, director and producer of animated shorts.Jack Kinney attended John Muir Junior High School in Los Angeles, California , and attended John C. Fremont High School there with Roy Williams...
The 1937 Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
cartoon, directed by Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
, is not an adaptation of the Butler story, though it shares its title.
External links
Official website for Ellis Parker Butler:
- Publication history
- Pigs is Pigs online
Movies