The Philosophy of Eating in “Bon-bon”

The culinary discussions in “Bon-Bon” reveal Edgar Allan Poe’s philosophical contemplation on writing. Epicurus, the master of eating, concretizes the idealized writing process: the consumption of fresh ideas, the assimilation of intellectual substance, and the production of a new book. Furthermore, like human metabolism, writing processes must remain smooth and unobstructed so that an author can produce a “changing book” to reflect an on-going world. Bon-Bon’s frequent hiccups betoken his digestive problems and obstruct smooth processes. Together the culinary arguments between Epicurus and Bon-Bon are from opposite sides, but they beautifully outline a writing process characterized by consumption, digestion, and production.