Life Of Pi Literary Analysis
Life of Pi – Literary Analysis Paragraph
Q: Why is Pi considered a dynamic character? How does he evolve?
Pi could be considered a dynamic character because he evolves from an innocent vegetarian to a violent carnivore. Before he is lost at sea, Pi believes he can worship multiple religions and claims that “All religions are true. I just want to love God” (Martel 69), initially, showing his innocence. In Pi’s life, all he wants is acceptance and love; he thinks loving God(s) will do this for him. He is an innocent little boy trying to find his place in the world. After the shipwreck, Pi shows his love of life while struggling to kill a flying fish for survival. He eventually convinces himself to “break [the flying fish’s] neck” as “tears [flow] down [his] cheeks…[and] no longer [feels] any life [in his hands]” (Martel 183). Pi feels terrible about the crime he has commited, but does not regret it, and “[is] now a killer” (Martel 183). He cannot stand killing another defenseless creature for his own personal gain. Afterwards he “[weeps] heartily” and “never [forgets] to include [the] fish in [his] prayers” (Martel 183). This is only the beginning; soon, if any living creature comes into Pi’s sights, it will be his dinner. Eventually, he is even willing to cannibalize a lost, starving man because “[Richard Parker] [rips] the flesh off the man’s frame” and then, in desperation, Pi “[eats] some of his flesh” (Martel 255 and 256). Pi does not directly cause the man to die, but he takes advantage of the situation in a sickening way. He is going insane and will even sink as low as eating another human being to suffice his needs. Pi may have began his journey as an innocent, lost soul trying to find his way home, but as the days and months go by, he evolves into something he never wishes to be – a violent carnivore, desperate to survive.
Q: Why is Pi considered a dynamic character? How does he evolve?
Pi could be considered a dynamic character because he evolves from an innocent vegetarian to a violent carnivore. Before he is lost at sea, Pi believes he can worship multiple religions and claims that “All religions are true. I just want to love God” (Martel 69), initially, showing his innocence. In Pi’s life, all he wants is acceptance and love; he thinks loving God(s) will do this for him. He is an innocent little boy trying to find his place in the world. After the shipwreck, Pi shows his love of life while struggling to kill a flying fish for survival. He eventually convinces himself to “break [the flying fish’s] neck” as “tears [flow] down [his] cheeks…[and] no longer [feels] any life [in his hands]” (Martel 183). Pi feels terrible about the crime he has commited, but does not regret it, and “[is] now a killer” (Martel 183). He cannot stand killing another defenseless creature for his own personal gain. Afterwards he “[weeps] heartily” and “never [forgets] to include [the] fish in [his] prayers” (Martel 183). This is only the beginning; soon, if any living creature comes into Pi’s sights, it will be his dinner. Eventually, he is even willing to cannibalize a lost, starving man because “[Richard Parker] [rips] the flesh off the man’s frame” and then, in desperation, Pi “[eats] some of his flesh” (Martel 255 and 256). Pi does not directly cause the man to die, but he takes advantage of the situation in a sickening way. He is going insane and will even sink as low as eating another human being to suffice his needs. Pi may have began his journey as an innocent, lost soul trying to find his way home, but as the days and months go by, he evolves into something he never wishes to be – a violent carnivore, desperate to survive.