# Story of the Pig and the Billy-Goat explained — The Blue Lagoon

> Chapter companion for The Blue Lagoon by H. de Vere Stacpoole.

## What happens

Mr. Button tells stories to amuse Dick and Emmeline while they drift at sea, including a tale of a pig and a billy-goat that fight and fall off a cliff. The children share their own thoughts about babies, angels, and parrots, and then they all rest under a makeshift awning.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Loss

The children's naive questions about babies and angels contrast with the harsh reality of their situation adrift at sea.

### Isolation and Survival

The group is isolated on the boat, with Mr. Button using stories and makeshift shelter to cope with their predicament.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Button

Tells stories to entertain the children, including the tale of the pig and the billy-goat.

### Dick

Fishes with a bent pin and twine, and shares his thoughts about babies and cabbage patches.

### Emmeline

Dreamily discusses babies, angels, and parrots, and moves into the shadow of the sail.

### Paddy Button

Tells the story of the pig and the billy-goat, and later makes a tent with the sail for the children.

## Key lines

> Hung on to his fist like a bulldog, and him bawlin' 'Murther!'

The baby bit the doctor's hand and held on tightly while the doctor screamed for help.

_Mr. Button's story about Hannah's unusual birth._

> I wish I had a baby, and I wouldn't send it back to the cabbage patch.

Emmeline expresses a desire to have a baby of her own and would keep it, unlike the imaginary cabbage patch babies.

_Emmeline's childish wish after hearing Dick's story about babies growing in cabbage patches._

> Away wid yiz! says the billy-goat. Away wid yourself! says he.

The billy-goat told the pig to leave, and the pig told him to leave instead.

_Part of Paddy's story about the confrontation between the pig and the billy-goat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se/chapters/part-i-vii-story-of-the-pig-and-the-billy-goat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se/chapters