Consider the lobster

It sounded like to me a personal narrative. The tone was loose, more of story telling then hard cut like a research paper.

The footnotes give more detail and credibility to the authors statements. Having separate statements that may support the author but man not exactly work in well with the type or style of writing the author is using is a big reason for the footnotes. For example, "Of course, the common practice of dipping the lobster meat in melted butter ..." this footnote just provides support on an already existing topic of discussion.

I think the author dose shift topics. The author wants the reader to fully understand and think about the process of the lobster.