David Wallace managed to turn an ordinary lobster food festival into an extraordinary and captivating essay. He did this by taking a twist on the common love for food festivals and lobster. Wallace opened a new realm to food festivals and described how actually terrible they are and how much of a rip off they are, including the $20 you have to pay just for a seat to watch live music. However, he did not just rip on food festivals, he took all different twists and turns throughout which I really enjoyed. He explained the history of lobster and how it was nothing like the delicacy it is today but instead it was a food for the poor and was basically “chewable fuel” because of its protein. This is most definitely not common knowledge to the average person and it adds an interesting support to his entire argument. He even explains the taxonomy of a lobster and proper way to cook one.
Another interesting topic he covers is whether or not it is all right to boil a live lobster. Most people just see this as a normal thing because lobster is meant to be eaten as fresh as possible, so they disregard the actual humaneness of this practice. Some say that lobsters do not have the nervous system that humans do to feel pain; however, when you throw a live lobster into boiling water they react as if they do feel it. They try to get out and they sound as if they are yelling for help. Wallace also mentions how sad it is to see the live lobsters in the glass containers all stacked up. Overall, Wallace covered all different areas of a lobster food festival that not all people would ever really consider. He took an event where people are happy and having fun into something rather morbid and also quite a rip off. I think this essay made me open my eyes more and made me want to think more about events that I attend and what they really consist of. By this I do not mean to be a negative nellie about every event, but just aware. I now think that is an important thing to do.
Beth Mackey 