The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This week, while I was reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the main character, Pi began to take action.

I think that the meaning of these last few chapters has been to stand up for yourself and have drive to make change, even if it's just personal change.  This sudden drive in Pi is the near-death situation he had gradually settled into.  As the story said, as soon as there is no hope for you, you begin to do audacious things that may be life threatening, because you're going to die anyway, so why not take the chance?

Pi needed food and water, but had been confined to a corner of the life boat the entire time, because of the tiger that had taken control of the whole space.  Pi suddenly just stood up and began searching for food on the tigers claimed territory, which just might have been the risk that saved his life.  Once he found the boats survival supplies, he created shelter that protected him from the tiger, and hydrated and fed himself.  This new energy that he got from his bravery and drive to make change in himself brought a new hope to the story, and Pi now has enough food and water to make it, as long as he learns to deal with the tiger and show his alpha male quality.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I have finally reached the beginning of Pi's adventure, and am suddenly drawn into the story.  I have just picked back up were I left off and have yet to figure out the main idea of the whole story, but am picking up on character detail still, and think that this part is crucial to the rest of the story.

Pi is taking this whole situation in many different directions, showing his childishness and his grownup view.  Pi, like he should be, is extremely terrified by being stranded on this lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, with a hyena, a zebra, and an orangutang.  His actions mainly reflect this, because he has kept to himself and is inching his way to the corner of the boat to avoid becoming a meal.   This is what I would be doing as well, but probably in a more frantic fashion. His calmness on the occurring events is surprising, especially based on his childhood.  When his father has raised him to be deadly afraid of the zoo animals, it intrigues me that he is so visibly calm.  It also amazes me that, while he is in the presence of a hyena that is killing what it needs to survive, he can laugh at a seasick orangutang.  I would personally most likely find that hilarious as well, but would be in no position to find myself laughing, and observing Pi's character, I find it odd that he would laugh at that at all.  That makes me wonder what else he might do to cope with his situation.

Another thing that I am noticing about Pi is that he is constantly hoping. Hoping that he can live one more day, hoping that he will soon see a rescue boat out along the horizon, hoping that his family will reunite with him on the other side of this journey.  Through all the doubts and worries, Pi wants there to be a positive outcome so badly, that his realty is changing into the idea that Nothing can go wrong, and everything will fit together today.

Pi is changing his life every second now, and his adultness and childishness is what brings him along daily.

"Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville

Bruce Coville's short story, "Am I Blue?" teaches his readers that courage can really change your life, and if you loose your courage, you can get sucked into society.  The protagonist, Vince, the antagonist, and other supporting characters, such as Butch and the congressman, show this through their lives.

Butch Carrigan didn't have the courage to stand up for himself and share his real life with the world.  "'You little fruit,' he snarled.  'I'll teach you to look at me!' A moment or two later he had taught me my lesson.  I was still lying facedown in the puddle into which Butch had slammed me as the culminating exercise of my learning experience..." (pg. 3) This excerpt from the story shows that Bruce was one of the people in society that took it upon themselves to harm others for their personality.  This shows already that he has taken form to the outside environment, but it continues later in the story when the reader learns that Butch is in fact gay himself.  Knowing that it isn't just Butch being a bully, but he actually is just trying to take his feelings out on others shows that he truly is cowardice and in no form courageous.  Because Butch doesn't have courage to stand up for himself and show the world who he actually is, he has to live his life pretending, and can never truly be free in his own personality.

Another character that shows the same type of cowardice is a congressman on the news.  He had made some remarks in an interview about "the great crime of homosexuality" and "the gay threat to American youth." (pg. 14) When everyone who was gay turned blue toward the end of the book, however, he himself was blue.  That is another  example of hiding behind cruelty to save your own image.  When he couldn't open up, he hurt others, just like Butch had, but this time with words rather than physically.  He repressed who he was, and gave in to the standards of America.

The main character and protagonist, Vince, started out uncertain, but showed his courage by the end of the story.  He himself had become aware of the multitudes of gay people in our lives from his fairy godfather.  "I opened my eyes and gasped.  About a third of the people in the cafe---including the guy Melvin had winked at---were blue." (pg. 11-12) This section of the story is when Vince himself had "gaydar."  Once Vince is able to witness this though, he decides to take a stand for human kind as a whole. From his fairy godfather, he uses one of his three wishes and wishes for, "gay fantasy number three, coast to coast." (pg. 14) Because Vince made people notice how many people were actually gay and just covered their inside, it was okay for many people to come out.  Vince showed his courage by introducing a time of openness in the story.

Vince's courage brought him to a better place, where he could finally accept who he is, or who he might be.  The short story ends with, ... maybe when I meet the girl of my dreams.  Or my Prince Charming.  Whichever." (pg. 16) I think that quote is an excellent way to end the story, showing that everything working throughout his life came to a conclusion of honesty.  Vince had courage, and that changed his life.  It's important to stand up for yourself and make change, so that you can show your feelings, and never be ashamed.