Love, disgust and food

Everyone has foods that they love, and foods that they hate, which makes disgust a common theme in discussions of food. Some people can't stand slimy foods, some are repulsed by certain potent smells, and I, for one, used to have such a strong aversion for jelly beans, that I would begin to feel sick at the mention of them.

It is therefore natural that disgust is also heavily represented in food literature; and it is abundant in Nigel Slater's Toast. However, it is noticeable that disgust's effect is lessened by the presence of love.

This is a relevant part of an essay I wrote on disgust for my degree.

"Elements of disgust are present throughout Toast, however, it is only when his loving mum dies that it becomes so apparent. The opening paragraph of the memoir ends with the image of butter with “black bits in it” (1) and we are soon after informed that there was always a “whiff of [the incontinent] Auntie Fanny” (4) in Nigel's house. However, although these depictions are unpleasant, they never fully disgust the reader. At this stage, they are surrounded by images of love, comfort and on the whole, happiness. After describing the butter Nigel goes on to say that despite his mothers “failings” “it is impossible not to love her” (1). Auntie Fanny's incontinence is only referred to as “a pity” (4) because other than that he believes that “every child's Christmas memories should smell like that” (4). Both the reader and Nigel are inattentive to the disgust at this point because there is the presence of love. William Miller in The Anatomy of Disgust suggests that love is “that state in which various disgust rules are relaxed or suspended” (132). Love's ability to relax disgust suggests that is a more powerful emotion, and able to overcome disgust, explaining why it does not offend either Nigel or the reader in these early passages. However, as the narrative progresses, and the love in Nigel's life gradually vanishes, disgust becomes more apparent.

The “Tinned Ham” episode is one of the first passages in the memoir that disgust has full impact. Nigel's disgust is the first to be constructed. He describes the “cold boiled” ham and the “evil jelly” (33), comparing it to the things usually considered most abject, such as a corpse and excrement. He portrays it as being “prise[d] from its aluminium coffin” and compares it to “poo on [his] plate” (33). Describing the ham in this way not only informs the reader of how much Nigel was disgusted by it, but prompts them to consider the disgust they would feel if being presented with such things as “poo” or a corpse to eat. The next persons disgust to be constructed is Nigel's Father's. Nigel suggests a few things that his Father could have been disgusted by, but it is the description of himself just before “pushing the jelly to the edge of his plate” that the reader can relate to; the disgust felt towards someone 'playing with their food'. Finally, with the ruthless action of Nigel's Dad flinging Nigel's dinner across the lawn, the readers moral disgust is constructed. It is with the wearing away of his mother, and the replacement of her with the unloving father that disgust becomes noticeable; there is no longer the strength of love it relax it, and it comes to Nigel's aid as resistance."

 

 

I don't believe that disgust can be completely overcome by love, (I still don't eat Jelly beans - although I have no problem being in the same room as them now) but I think love can help make disgusting things, bearable.