The Will to Survive
Throughout this novel there is a strong emphasis on what animals including humans are capable of doing in dire situations. The will to survive is a driving force in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Pi’s determination to live, and the behavior of the animals on the boat represents this force. Pi’s will to survive is tremendous, he faces monstrous odds and lives to tell the tale, he is stranded on the Pacific Ocean with minimal food and water and survives for 277 days. In order to survive Pi adapts to his surroundings, he starts eating fish and drinking blood, and becomes a cannibal."I ate his liver. I cut great pieces of his flesh" (Martel 345) This is a challenge at the beggining for Pi, due to the fact that he had been a vegetarian his entire life and never had to anything remotely violent. but this just reinforces the fact the will to survive is a powerful force, if it can totally make a new person.
Religious Storytelling
Pi's journey on the Pacfifc lead him to do some horrific things, and in order to move on from the hardships he faced, he uses storytelling to fabricate a different "better story" so he could move on with life. Pi who is ardent follower of three religions knows the role that storytelling plays in the lives of humans, he knows that religion takes horrific things and transforms them into tall tales. he does the same, by substituting the other survivors with animals himself included he is able to forget what happened on the lifeboat. By creating the story with animals he is creating a defense mechanism from the honors he faced something organized religion has done for centuries.
Throughout this novel there is a strong emphasis on what animals including humans are capable of doing in dire situations. The will to survive is a driving force in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Pi’s determination to live, and the behavior of the animals on the boat represents this force. Pi’s will to survive is tremendous, he faces monstrous odds and lives to tell the tale, he is stranded on the Pacific Ocean with minimal food and water and survives for 277 days. In order to survive Pi adapts to his surroundings, he starts eating fish and drinking blood, and becomes a cannibal."I ate his liver. I cut great pieces of his flesh" (Martel 345) This is a challenge at the beggining for Pi, due to the fact that he had been a vegetarian his entire life and never had to anything remotely violent. but this just reinforces the fact the will to survive is a powerful force, if it can totally make a new person.
Religious Storytelling
Pi's journey on the Pacfifc lead him to do some horrific things, and in order to move on from the hardships he faced, he uses storytelling to fabricate a different "better story" so he could move on with life. Pi who is ardent follower of three religions knows the role that storytelling plays in the lives of humans, he knows that religion takes horrific things and transforms them into tall tales. he does the same, by substituting the other survivors with animals himself included he is able to forget what happened on the lifeboat. By creating the story with animals he is creating a defense mechanism from the honors he faced something organized religion has done for centuries.