...Anthony Pulicicchio Mr. Cook ENG4U Tuesday, January 12th, 2016 Pi and his Religious Survival Throughout many novels such as, The Lord of the Flies, The Road, and Then We Were None, there were many instances where God and the values of religion came into play, as the characters had to subdue their loneliness. Many of these novels had characters whom survived solely on the life skills they were taught as a kid, or they were given assistance from God. This ideology of God relates to the novel The Life of Pi. The novel incorporates and explains the central theme of the nature of faith, and how faith is one. This is shown as the novel’s protagonist, Piscine ‘Pi’ Patel, a character that dedicates himself and practices many different types of religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. Yann Martel makes a clear indication on how faith brings a person together and how faith and religion brought Pi to the person he is today. These 3 religions play an important role in Pi’s life as Pi refers to God many times throughout his devastating journey on the lifeboat. The novel, The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel offers and gives the reader the most accurate definition of religion, which is incorporated by simply and basically having faith. At the beginning of the novel Francis Adirubasamy states that Pi’s story of survival is “…a story that will make you believe in God” (Martel. 21). This story makes you believe the ideology of religion and notion of God due to the fact that Pi’s devotion...
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...Life of Pi is an interesting journey through life and faith in an extraordinary experience. Pi Patel is a man who speaks of his loss, his gain, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi Patel is a Christian Hindu who underwent a series of unfortunate events. Troubles about his own name, chaotic exposure to different religious beliefs, his proximity to his family, his ultimate loss against natural causes, his strive to survive and the adequacy of his whole experience. Imagining how his life could be so surreal, there’s no part in the story that is not interesting enough to not tell. He involved everyone who made a difference in his life. His uncle, who taught him how to swim; the one who swam in the clearest of waters in a French hotel, gave the idea of his name to his own father. The name he dare corrected to his peers and professors. By memorizing every number in the equation of pi, he proved that he is pi. Complicated as it were, no matter how different your name is, challenging your belief of anything brings you closer into harnessing the essence of it. In his quotes, lines as it were, he emphasized that religion should be challenged in order for your faith to grow stronger as climbing through the metaphorical ladder to God. As Pi grew, so did his religious beliefs. Meeting or being introduced, discovering three different religions made him see that there is one god and many gods to believe in. He met Christ as his older brother dared him to drink from the...
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...Thrive Throughout the book, Life of Pi, the main character Pi is placed in an extremely precarious situation which requires tremendous ingenuity, intuitiveness and responsive to higher guidance. This in turn, requires the growth of his person and faith. Pi undergoes a marked transformation in maturity, discernment and faith, all of which procure his survival. As time and situations continue to present themselves, it is in the becoming of Pi’s highest self which inevitability secures his existence. Pi undergoes a tremendous development and maturity of his character. Pi learns to fully accept and overcome his situation. The death of Pi’s family has a huge impact on how his character develops acceptance. “…It was not only the day that died and the poor zebra, but my family as well. With that second sunset, disbelief gave way to pain and grief. They were dead; I could no longer deny it”(Martel 160). Pi’s overwhelming grief leads him to a place of being striped of all external support. He must first accept how he will respond and grow through it. Without this situation thrust upon him, he would not have been forced or “gifted” with the opportunity to develop into full maturity as an individual separate from his family. Pi is placed in a horrific situation, which actually “gifts” him with the opportunity to grow in the midst of challenge, choose for himself who he will become and how he will respond, and subsequently experience transformation. Pi moves beyond his grief so that...
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...As you probably remember, this novel had many ups and downs and various changes but one thing that remained constant was Pi’s faith. His belief in God was evidently extremely strong and this was demonstrated in several different parts of the novel. Although his belief and faith was constant in the book, it wasn’t as strong as it was in the beginning. The trauma that he went through while lost at sea and the experiences he had had an impact on his faith understandably so. Many of the things he had to go through made him question God at times and wonder why such a higher power considered so amazing and giving, would allow Pi to go through all this suffering and difficulty. Although all of this made him doubt and question his faith, it still never went away. His faith overall gave him the courage, power and hope needed to survive at sea which all proved how religion had an extremely significant role in the novel. Religion is used in Life of Pi to help Pi persevere through his struggles and essentially give him a sense of hope, sanity and individuality. Religion is fundamentally what kept Pi alive throughout the journey he experienced. It was the one motive he had that reminded him to remain hopeful through all the adversity. There were many scenarios he found it very difficult to have hope in, and he could’ve easily given up on everything as I think many others would have done if they were in his situation. He kept his hope and pushed through it and that primarily was the ...
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...Life of Pi is a film adaptation of the history of Pi by Yann Martel. It is a complex play where imagination can lead to different interpretations of the story. Here is my interpretation, of such a beautiful film as Life of Pi. Analyzing the few main elements on the film was the only way to truly grasp its purpose. The Tiger The figure of a tiger is rather interesting because it is a figure that was not intended to be there. Right at the beginning of the film, And Lee shows us a tiger just as we could imagine one that is as a symbol of strength and ferocity by its true meaning. A particular scene marks the bestiality of this beautiful animal and his predator instinct; that is the scene where Pi’s father decides to show his son the extreme danger of Richard Parker, and sacrifices a goat for the tiger, a symbol of innocence and belief for some religions (goat). Nevertheless the tiger’s brute force and ferocity, he eventually comes around the film’s edge and becomes a “friend” for Pi, who had tried several times to have a peaceful relationship with the tiger. This friendship is born trough ought a series of forces that make the tiger to be the energy motor for Pi. In front of feeding the tiger as to prevent Pi being his next meal, he finds enough reason to continue surviving. Interestingly enough, in the Buddhism, the tiger appears as a symbol of hope and spiritual effort. Faith Of course, Life of Pi is as well a film about faith. Pi, who is just a young man, does not choose...
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...Faith and hope coincide; wherever faith goes, hope follows. By building faith and trust in others, we can move onward through the direst of times. Trailing behind faith, though, is hope, which can become the bastion of our survival. Furthermore, that state of disparity and suffering also prompts miracles, for a young Indian boy accomplishes a feat beyond any other through religion and hope. In Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Piscine “Pi” Molitar Patel manages to survive out in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days alongside a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. While both fight for their lives to keep from starving, Pi finds even greater difficulty in believing he would live. Formed by the necessity and struggle to survive, man must gain hope from his trust...
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...tiger in a life raft and tyrannical pigs can give readers a very strong message about their lives. Animal Farm was written as a warning about governmental collapse and tyrants taking advantage of power. Through the story of the rise of evil pigs in the hierarchy of a new system of government in the farm, it portrays a clear message about tyrannical government. Life of Pi also tries to get the reader’s attention, though it tries to urge the reader into having faith in religion rather than warn them. With animals and numbers, the story of a boy stuck at sea guides the reader into understanding the power that religion can give to those who have faith. Both Animal Farm and Life of Pi use the beast...
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...In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi decides to to have faith in three religions to convey his love for God. Pi is a born Hindu, but discovers Christianity and Islam when he is 14-15 years old. Pi’s parents did not agree with his polytheistic belief until he shouts, “I just want to love God” (Martel 74). Religion can have a huge impact on someones personality and morals; It can also help someone through difficult times. Yann Martel illustrates how religion helps shape Pi’s personality through: his experience at sea, and his difficult experiences in life. Firstly, Pi’s religious devotion shapes his personality as a young man by allowing him to be non-judgemental, open-minded, and kind. While being devotedly faithful to three religions,...
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...Seminar Life of Pi Introduction We are all the hero of our own lives, and we are given the opportunity to make choices and decisions that ultimately affect our own personal stories. Carol Pearson, in the Hero Within says the “Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves. Although they may feel very alone during the quest, at its end their reward is a sense of community: with themselves, with other people, and with the earth.” The Life of Pi is a wonderful story about the voyage of life and learning for Piscine Molitor Patel, a boy from Southern India we come to know as Pi. Pi’s journey has many classic elements of a monomyth quest. The values and beliefs that create the framework we follow can shape our experiences and just as importantly how we perceive our experiences. As significant as Pi’s life challenges and experiences are, the real learning for those who travel with him is how he approaches them, endures them and ultimately survives them. Our belief in Pi’s authenticity is grounded in his beliefs and perceptions of life. Thesis Statement The Life of Pi is a classic study of the Monomyth Quest. Through discussion I will prove this claim by drawing from Joseph Campbell’s description of the essential elements of the “Hero’s Journey”. The story of Pi is broken into three parts and within these distinct parts there are elements of the Call to Adventure, the Initiation and The Return will be evident supporting the claim...
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...Life of Pi Theme of Religion At times, Life of Pi reads like a defense of religion. Has science proved religion wrong? Here's a protagonist who believes passionately in both zoology and religion. What about the fact of multiple faiths? Don't these faiths contradict each other, cause wars, and other problems? Here's a protagonist who is Muslim, Christian, and Hindu – all at the same time. The book defends not only the common spirit behind these three religions, but the rituals and ceremonies of each. It's as if all three religions find harmonious common ground in this character. Seems unlikely, but then again, the protagonist argues passionately that the miraculous happens in our darkest moments. Quote #1But I don't insist. I don't mean to defend zoos. Close them all down if you want (and let us hope that what wildlife remains can survive in what is left of the natural world). I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both. (1.4.14) | Do zoos incarcerate animals in confined spaces and make them miserable? Pi doesn't think so: "Certain illusions about freedom" tempt us to this conclusion. In actuality, an animal's life in the wild is more circumscribed than "a knight on a chessboard" (1.4.8). Predator-prey relationships restrict the animal's movement. A zoo enclosure is actually more like a hearth for an animal: a place of comfort and rest. Likewise, most people think of religion as a restrictive...
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...known anguish, suffering, and loss, yet find their way out of the depths of despair. Life changes at a great pace, and many times it is hard to appreciate the things that are available until they are gone. Mankind has been given a gift that cannot be bought: the gift of life. Though it is not a gift that has been particularly requested, it is one that requires fight and determination to keep. In the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi does not fully treasure this gift until he almost loses it. He realizes its value and for this reason wills himself physically, morally, and spiritually to stay alive and ultimately preserves the gift of life. Pi’s devotion and faith in God is an important theme in the book. Toiling in devotion, Pi is able to overcome many hardships, which, in turn, help him gain the will to live. “Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love — but sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation, and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up. At such moments I tried to elevate myself” (Martel 231). In these trial-some times, Pi expresses his strife and inner struggle; however, he is determined not to lose faith in God. Pi attempts to control his negative feelings to avoid a lack of morale, which would decrease his odds of surviving. Pi is a clear example of the fact that regardless of the circumstances or surroundings...
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...magazine article, Tracy reflects on the meaning of life. It’s focused towards people that spend countless hours contemplating their reason to be on this Earth. Some people believe that they were created to perform a duty, task or have an effect on something in any way. It also talks about the ideas of where religious thoughts and ideas fit into one’s search for their life quest, if in fact it does at all. The article “Quest for Meaning is about the Journey, Not the Destination” was very useful and an interesting read towards my thesis topic. I made a connection with this piece because the writer went to Pi to hear a story that will make him believe in God and faith. It was interesting because when one is on a self-seeking journey as Pi was (and we all ultimately are) sometimes you find yourself dwelling if religion plays a part in your evaluation. The people that are drawn more towards the first story told by Pi are the ones that do. I also liked this article because I felt that Pi’s literal journey was also inevitably a psychological one like this article focuses on. Cole, Stewart. "Believing in Tigers: Anthropomorphism and Incredulity in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi." Studies in Canadian Literature / Études en littérature canadienne [Online], 29.2 (2004): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov. 2013 Believing in Tigers is a thoroughly abstract review on Life of Pi and giving you information on the first story told by Pi. The narrator (Pi) who has studied multiple religions implies a difference...
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...|Life of Pi|Real World| When? (Perspectual)| At the age of 14 he studied Islam and Christianity. 1977 was when the family decided to emigrate to Canada (Age 16)| Life of Pi was published in 2001, believed to be written late 1990’s. “Now it looks like Life of Pi was this big monumental work, but when I was writing it, I was a poor writer living in Montreal.” – (Martel Yann)Yann started writing at the age of 27. | Where? (Locational)| Pondicherry India. (Hometown.) They also own the zoo. Due to new Government policies, Pi’s father decided to sell the zoo and emigrate his family into Canada. Also, Piscine Martel, when older, was speaking of the story in Toronto.|High school- Port Hope Ontario.University- Trent University (1981) Montreal is where he wrote the fantastic novel “Life Of Pi”This problem faced can happen anywhere in this world. | Who? (Charactural)| Piscine Patel, “Pi” an Indian boy, from Pondicherry.(Brought up as a Hindu, discovers Christianity and Islam) (Has a mom, brother and father, who die in the ship wreck while traveling the Pacific Ocean) Father:Santosh Patel| Yann Martel is a Spanish born Canadian writer. (Bachelor degree for Philosophy). It affected him spiritually, but I believe the whole word was struck by his imaginative yet true journey to believe in god. | What? (Thematic)| Pi’s father is emphatic about his kids being aware of the true nature of wild life (animals). Which then lead him to believe that Pi didn’t truly understand that the animals...
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...Template I. Introduction A. Lead: The "Monomyth" is a simplistic pattern for stories that has been used for many years worldwide. Yann Martel's Life of Pi is an excellent story about the life altering journey of a 16 year old boy Pi Patel. B. Thesis Statement (Includes Life of Pi and poem that you close read): C. Life of Pi is an exquisite example of a Monomyth. Pi's journey is sequenced into 3 sections. Each containing one of the elements of the Monomyth; the Call to Adventure, the Initiation, and the Return. D. Three Supporting Arguments (Your Blueprint) : 1. Pi's vast and scholarly ambience allows him to measure up as the hero of the story and welcome the Call to Adventure with supervision from Supernatural Aid. 2. Pi's dedication to his faith allows him to endure the stage of Initiation with his monotonous indemnification with his Spiritual Father. 3. Pi's adequacy to acclimate and welcome the position he is in allows him to embark on the Return stage while using the point of view of Freedom to Live (Living within the moment). II. Body 1st Idea E. Topic sentence: Your topic sentence will consist of your Thesis and supporting argument. You must write out the entire topic sentence as it would appear in your actual essay. : F. Life of Pi is an exquisite example of a Monomyth. Pi's journey is sequenced into 3 sections. Each containing one of the elements of the Monomyth; the Call to Adventure, the...
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...Conflicts in Life of Pi Gary Chen Trinity Western University Teacher: Andy Casali July 25, 2011 Literary Analysis of Conflicts in Life of Pi Yann Martel (2001) reveals a story about a young boy’s conflicts in his novel, “Life of Pi”. Pi is the main character who has experiences of legendary in this story. The main plots of this story are happened in the Pacific Ocean. Pi is an Indian boy who moves from Indian to Canada with his family by boat. His father owned a zoo when their live in Indian. Pi learns a lot of knowledge about animals from his father. As political instability in India, Pi’s family decides to move to Canada. Unfortunately, their ship sank in the Pacific, and only Pi and a tiger Richard Parker survive. The story shows us that Pi how to survive with a tiger in a lifeboat through the conflicts between Pi and others, and Pi and environment. Pi has a conflict with his parents and three wise men because of he believes three religions at the same time. When he asks his father that he believes three religions, he father says, “You [cannot] be both. You must be either one or the other… They [are] separate religions! They have nothing in common” (p.91). His father thinks Pi is just an ignorant and childish boy. His father thinks only believing one god is the pious performance. Every religion is independent, because every religion has its own background and history. His mother also thinks that he must be either “a Hindu, a Christian or a Muslim” (p .93). Pi is an...
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