Introduction
While pie may seem like an unusual subject for an academic essay, many writers over the years have used references to pie as literary devices or themes within their works. In this essay, we will explore the various ways that pie has been incorporated into forms of creative nonfiction writing like personal essays. From metaphorical uses of pie to comment on cultural issues, to more lighthearted descriptions of the baking process itself, pie holds intriguing symbolic meaning for some authors. Analyzing these pie-related essays can provide insight into the subjects and styles of different writers.
Pie as Cultural Commentary
Some writers have used pie as a vehicle to discuss broader cultural topics happening in society. For example, in her 2009 essay “Obama’s America: Living the American Pie,” writer Rebecca Traister reflects on the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president of the United States. She notes that Obama’s victory represented a major step forward in terms of racial progress and integration in America. She argues the country was still far from reaching a post-racial “slice of the American Pie” where prejudices no longer existed. By describing America as a metaphorical pie whose ingredients were still separating along racial lines, Traister provided a thought-provoking commentary on the intersections of politics, race relations, and societal change in that era.
In a similar vein, writer Helen Weaver penned the 1994 personal essay “American Pie: A Slice of Reality” as a reaction to media coverage of tension between African Americans and Korean Americans in Los Angeles. Using pie as a lens, she dissected stereotypes and resentments within both communities through invoking the metaphor of American cultural groups still needing to better “mix their fillings.” Weaver’s pie analogy served as an astute vehicle for addressing issues of ethnicity, prejudice and the challenge of forming a cohesive multicultural society. These examples demonstrate how pie can function as more than just a tasty dessert – it can represent the mixings and blendings of culture on a national scale.
Pie Baking as Expression of Identity
Beyond societal symbolism, pie is also woven into essays as a means of self-expression and conveying personal identity. In her 2010 piece “All-American Girl Makes Her Grandma’s Jam Pie,” writer Amanda Petrusich shares her experience baking her grandmother’s cherished recipe as a way of feeling closer to her deceased family member. For Petrusich, the act of making the pie served as an almost spiritual ritual allowing her to feel sustained by her grandmother’s memory and sense of heritage.
Similarly, in the 2015 essay “Apple of My (Southern) Eye: Reclaiming Identity Through Pie,” Southern writer Kelly Glass explores her complex relationship with her native Georgia through rediscovering regional pie recipes. Preparing heirloom dishes like her great-aunt’s fried apple pies helps Glass reconcile her past, present and perceptions of the modern Southern lifestyle. These essays illustrate how baking specific kinds of pie can represent an expression of ancestry, regional ties and the desire to preserve nostalgic connections through foodways traditions.
Pie as Tactile Creative Process
In lighter pieces, authors may focus more on detailing the tactile and sensory pleasures of the pie-making procedure itself rather than profound symbolism. Essays like this allow readers to nearly taste and touch the pie through vivid descriptions. Claire Cameron’s 2012 personal essay “Sweet Potato Pie: A Recipe for Gratitude” is one such example. Cameron paints an indulgent portrait of selecting sweet potatoes, rolling and crimping flaky pie dough, and smelling the spices bake into the filling. By immersing the reader in these rich details, she moves beyond a generic baking tutorial into a literary work that stimulates the senses.
Similarly, writer Bridget Lancaster’s 2020 article “Imperfectly Perfect Pie Crust” embraces the imperfect and inconsistent nature of homemade pie dough. She joyfully describes variations in texture, appearance and taste that give handmade pie its charm compared to commercial versions. Rather than aiming for absolute uniformity, Lancaster argues part of pie’s appeal lies in its deliciously flawed irregularity. These essays show how pie lends itself as a multi-sensory subject capable of captivating readers through vivid descriptions alone.
Pie as Subject of Humor and Personal Reflection
On a lighter note, pie is often where writers find material for humor, introspection and self-deprecating anecdotes. In “Thanksgiving, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Pumpkin Pie” novelist Jami Attenberg shares the tale of a disastrous family gathering where she baked not one but two badly botched pumpkin pies. Through mining embarrassment for comedy, Attenberg transforms her kitchen failure into an amusing short story prompting readers to examine their own holiday fiascos.
Likewise, in “My Impossible Quest for the Perfect Pie Dough” humorist Blythe Roberson details a pie experiment gone awry that results in dozens of misshapen creations with names like “Lumpy,” “Elephant Skin” and “Sad Flat Stanley.” Her story playfully pokes fun at perfectionist tendencies while normalizing learning through trial and error in the kitchen. Pie allows these authors to share funny mishaps that explore broader relatable themes of flawed ambitions, family relationships and embracing imperfect efforts.
Conclusion
As these essays demonstrate, pie lends itself as a rich and multi-faceted subject for creative nonfiction. Far more than a mundane dessert, pie holds cultural, personal and symbolic significance that writers have mined for commentary, expression of identity, sensory portrayals and humor. Whether invoking pie as a metaphor, sharing the meaning of particular recipes, or simply finding the amusing within failure, pie provides fertile material for insight into broader topics. Analyzing how authors incorporate pie into their works illuminates the power of food as literary device capable of enhancing themes, characterization and style. Though an unlikely candidate, pie has undoubtedly earned its place within the genres of creative nonfiction and personal essay writing.
Andrew Stroud