Life Of Pi Maslow's Hierarchy Analysis
Maslow’s Hierarchy is a pyramid that is divided into five sequential sections that reflect the needs of human beings ascending from bottom to top in this order: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization. In Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the different needs of Maslow’s hierarchy are embodied in the protagonist, Pi’s survival. After the ship he was travelling on sinks in the Pacific Ocean, Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with limited supplies and only a Bengal tiger for company. He learns to fend for himself and his life journey and quest for survival follows Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Before the accident, Pi was living safely and happily in India. He was able to pursue his religious interests, therefore pursuing self-actualization. This category is found at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy pyramid, therefore if Pi was able to reach it, all his other physiological, safety, social, and esteem needs would have been met. Pi was provided for by his parents, he had shelter and safety, he made friends with religious leaders, had the support of his family, and he had gained esteem from others. During this time, he said “I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion,” (67) an example of how he was …show more content…
He no longer has time to focus on his self actualization for example, he must combat his Hindu belief in vegetarianism in order to survive, proven when he says, “Lord, to think that I'm a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal's neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible” (218). Pi’s initial interest and pursuit of religion decreases as time goes on because he is left to focus primarily on survival and
Before the accident, Pi was living safely and happily in India. He was able to pursue his religious interests, therefore pursuing self-actualization. This category is found at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy pyramid, therefore if Pi was able to reach it, all his other physiological, safety, social, and esteem needs would have been met. Pi was provided for by his parents, he had shelter and safety, he made friends with religious leaders, had the support of his family, and he had gained esteem from others. During this time, he said “I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion,” (67) an example of how he was …show more content…
He no longer has time to focus on his self actualization for example, he must combat his Hindu belief in vegetarianism in order to survive, proven when he says, “Lord, to think that I'm a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal's neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible” (218). Pi’s initial interest and pursuit of religion decreases as time goes on because he is left to focus primarily on survival and