Argumentative Essay On Life Of Pi
When the main character is under circumstances where he is lost at sea and fighting for his life the reader immediately thinks of archetypal survival novels such as Robinson Crusoe or Shipwrecked. Yann Martel separates Life of Pi from other novels, by adding multiple dimensions and plot twists. This makes it much more than a survival story. Martel guides the reader through multiple versions of reality, drops barriers between truth and fiction and offers a change from a typical narrative style. Life of Pi is the story of Piscine (Pi) Patel’s journey to Canada. The plot changes when the Tsintsum a freighter used to take the Patel family and an ark’s worth of zoo animals to North America mysteriously sinks. Pi must fight for his life while
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at the whim of the wild ocean. Martel’s writing allows each reader to choose their own interpretation of the story. Throughout the first part of the book, there is only one reality to choose from. Pi is on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days until he washes up on the coast of Mexico. Reality changes when Pi is confronted by Japanese insurance agents looking for an explanation as to how he survives and how the Tsistsum sinks. Pi tells them a different story; a story that reaches the same destination but takes a twisted, cannibalistic and miserable journey. The animals on the lifeboat with Pi are replaced with individuals from the Tsintsum. Without further inquiry, all metaphor ends at this point. It is up to the reader to decide which story is true and which is fiction. Further analysis suggests that Martel is writing to the reader directly using symbols. The ship piscine was aboard was the Tsinsum. “In cabalistic doctrine, tsintsum refers to the voluntary self-contraction that God performed in order to clear space for the Creation” (Chicago Tribune.) The Pacific Ocean is a metaphor for God. The ocean is vast and expansive and, as pi experienced, an ocean full of water can be all around you and yet one can suffer from thirst. This is similar to how God is all around and people do not accept his love. Piscine’s nickname (pi) is a metaphor for his complexity. Pi is a number that never ends and never repeats. Piscine, with his three religions and unique life experiences is just as complex. Words cannot be relied on to convey a message, so symbols and metaphors are used to challenge the reader’s understanding. It is difficult to tell truth from fiction in Life of Pi. Martel relates the story in narrative form, filling in details as needed. He describes his inner thoughts, impressions and emotions. At the thought of Richard Parker, Pi recalls “I’ve never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams.” When Pi is alone with Richard Parker for the first time, the reader experiences Pi’s fear. Through a first person narrative, the idea that someone can be trapped on a boat with a tiger is made completely believable. The reader believes in the story until an alternate reality is offered. Martel understands he is stretching the reader’s comprehension of reality in the author’s note, when he proclaims “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” Martel questions the status quo and considers systemic skepticism.
Is it possible to belong to more than one religion? Piscine believes so and participates in Hinduism, Catholicism and Islam. Pi can choose the best aspects from each; his love of God is not restricted by one religion. When Pi is confronted by his parents about practicing multiple religions, he replies “Bapu Gandhi said ‘All religions are true.’ I just want to love God.” The reader’s understanding of truth and fiction is challenged when Pi describes his experiences with Richard Parker. Although Pi is afraid of the tiger when first on the lifeboat, he is disappointed with the journey’s end. He regrets not having the opportunity to say “It’s over. We have survived. Can you believe it? I owe you more gratitude than I can express. I couldn’t have done it without you.” Tigers are vicious animals. When Piscine is young, his father demonstrates how dangerous tigers are by placing a goat in the tiger’s lair and making Pi witness the brutality of a savage tiger. Ironically, Richard Parker saves Pi from himself. Piscine admits “without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.” It is difficult to believe that throughout hardship, Pi’s faith holds strong. Can a story of suffering prove existence of God? Pi is ignored by God. His family, possessions and lifestyle were mercilessly ripped away. However, at the end of this suffering his faith is stronger than
ever. Martel does not follow traditional narrative style. He includes his own conversation with Piscine, as well as personal notes about his lifestyle. When describing Pi’s early life, he uses a memoiristic approach. He switches to a diary approach as he describes the journey on the lifeboat. The author adds metafiction as he writes about how he came to acquire knowledge of Pi. He writes about the interviewing process at the beginning of the story and also at different intervals throughout the book. This adds temporal distortion to Life of Pi as he splices Pi’s story with his own experiences. Life of Pi is not an ordinary story. The author, Yann Martel makes the reader question reality, blurs the line between truth and fiction, challenges the status quo and distorts the traditional narrative style. While doing this he tells an epic story which defies our current notions and our beliefs. Life of Pi is much more than a story of a boy in a lifeboat.
Chicago Tribune Book Review: A Metafictional Tale of Adventure Steven G. Kellman
at the whim of the wild ocean. Martel’s writing allows each reader to choose their own interpretation of the story. Throughout the first part of the book, there is only one reality to choose from. Pi is on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days until he washes up on the coast of Mexico. Reality changes when Pi is confronted by Japanese insurance agents looking for an explanation as to how he survives and how the Tsistsum sinks. Pi tells them a different story; a story that reaches the same destination but takes a twisted, cannibalistic and miserable journey. The animals on the lifeboat with Pi are replaced with individuals from the Tsintsum. Without further inquiry, all metaphor ends at this point. It is up to the reader to decide which story is true and which is fiction. Further analysis suggests that Martel is writing to the reader directly using symbols. The ship piscine was aboard was the Tsinsum. “In cabalistic doctrine, tsintsum refers to the voluntary self-contraction that God performed in order to clear space for the Creation” (Chicago Tribune.) The Pacific Ocean is a metaphor for God. The ocean is vast and expansive and, as pi experienced, an ocean full of water can be all around you and yet one can suffer from thirst. This is similar to how God is all around and people do not accept his love. Piscine’s nickname (pi) is a metaphor for his complexity. Pi is a number that never ends and never repeats. Piscine, with his three religions and unique life experiences is just as complex. Words cannot be relied on to convey a message, so symbols and metaphors are used to challenge the reader’s understanding. It is difficult to tell truth from fiction in Life of Pi. Martel relates the story in narrative form, filling in details as needed. He describes his inner thoughts, impressions and emotions. At the thought of Richard Parker, Pi recalls “I’ve never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams.” When Pi is alone with Richard Parker for the first time, the reader experiences Pi’s fear. Through a first person narrative, the idea that someone can be trapped on a boat with a tiger is made completely believable. The reader believes in the story until an alternate reality is offered. Martel understands he is stretching the reader’s comprehension of reality in the author’s note, when he proclaims “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” Martel questions the status quo and considers systemic skepticism.
Is it possible to belong to more than one religion? Piscine believes so and participates in Hinduism, Catholicism and Islam. Pi can choose the best aspects from each; his love of God is not restricted by one religion. When Pi is confronted by his parents about practicing multiple religions, he replies “Bapu Gandhi said ‘All religions are true.’ I just want to love God.” The reader’s understanding of truth and fiction is challenged when Pi describes his experiences with Richard Parker. Although Pi is afraid of the tiger when first on the lifeboat, he is disappointed with the journey’s end. He regrets not having the opportunity to say “It’s over. We have survived. Can you believe it? I owe you more gratitude than I can express. I couldn’t have done it without you.” Tigers are vicious animals. When Piscine is young, his father demonstrates how dangerous tigers are by placing a goat in the tiger’s lair and making Pi witness the brutality of a savage tiger. Ironically, Richard Parker saves Pi from himself. Piscine admits “without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.” It is difficult to believe that throughout hardship, Pi’s faith holds strong. Can a story of suffering prove existence of God? Pi is ignored by God. His family, possessions and lifestyle were mercilessly ripped away. However, at the end of this suffering his faith is stronger than
ever. Martel does not follow traditional narrative style. He includes his own conversation with Piscine, as well as personal notes about his lifestyle. When describing Pi’s early life, he uses a memoiristic approach. He switches to a diary approach as he describes the journey on the lifeboat. The author adds metafiction as he writes about how he came to acquire knowledge of Pi. He writes about the interviewing process at the beginning of the story and also at different intervals throughout the book. This adds temporal distortion to Life of Pi as he splices Pi’s story with his own experiences. Life of Pi is not an ordinary story. The author, Yann Martel makes the reader question reality, blurs the line between truth and fiction, challenges the status quo and distorts the traditional narrative style. While doing this he tells an epic story which defies our current notions and our beliefs. Life of Pi is much more than a story of a boy in a lifeboat.
Chicago Tribune Book Review: A Metafictional Tale of Adventure Steven G. Kellman