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Measure of Madness

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Measure of Madness
Measure of Madness
Perplexing lights, a burning fire, the unstoppable adrenaline running inside of every human being; the measure of madness. In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi clearly states his idea about the willpower inside every creature, “All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways” (41). The incomprehensible insanity wandering around every individual is what makes the unimaginable come to life. It is the sparkling life-saving feeling that moves them to foreign directions. The will every human possesses is the seed of life which keeps them alive, granting them the ability to adapt; without it no living creature would still be breathing. A dull existence will sputter and stall until one actively fuels it with excitement. Yann Martel, seeking inspiration, dropped everything and traveled to India in search of the obscure. It wasn’t long until he found the superb motivation of writing the story, Life of Pi. As said in the novel, even wild animals, perfectly adapted to zoos, will encounter moments of eagerness that will compel them to escape. “Consider the case of the female black leopard that escaped from the Zurich zoo in the winter of 1933…” Due to numerous paw injuries, this wild carnivore squeezed through a break in the roof bars breaking free. Chaos up-roared among the citizens of Zurich. No trace was found for ten weeks but finally a casual laborer was able to shoot it. Just like animals, humans experience such moments, when their determination to seek the unknown, surpasses the desire for comfort and security. The endurance to do something new can be terrifying, but it will be an unforgettable and worthwhile experience. It wasn’t long after I decided my dull life needed alteration, that I chose to do something completely different. New Zealand, the perfect destination for anyone who desires the unknown, is where I decided to go and spend the most exciting eight months of my life. Most

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