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.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi by Yann Martel so far is a very intriguing novel, although I am still in the very beginning. Although Pi has not yet embarked on his journey, there have been two scenes that stuck out to me that began to lay down the building of his character, Pi.

The first scene that showed Pi's character was from his childhood when his father wanted to teach him and his brother a lesson.  The boys lived at the zoo with their parents and their dad was trying to scare them out of touching the animals.  The first thing he did was he ordered for the tiger not to be fed for a few days.  Because the tiger was hungry the dad showed his children how it would attack a deer when it was that desperate for food.  I think that the father was indeed just trying to help his children from not getting hurt by the animals in the future, but it was a bit too harsh for the boys at such a young age in my opinion.  The author described the deer's bound feet and the blood spraying everywhere.  I think that because he demonstrated this danger with an animal in such a desperate position, it made it harder for the children to bear.  But on top of that, I believe this experience helped Pi to grow as a person.  I think this scene is intended to display how tough and grown up Pi would need to act at such a young age, and show that these characteristics came from a life full of sadness and challenges.

Another scene that shows Pi needing to grow up quickly and deal with hardships in life was when he was at school.  This scene described his fellow classmates and teachers calling him "Pissing" rather than his actual name, "Piscine."  It wasn't the making fun of that caught my attention, but rather the response Piscine had when he transferred schools.  During the first weeks of school, when your teachers are still trying to learn your names, you have the change to tell them what you would rather be called.  Piscine made a scene out of changing his name to Pi in an extremely adult-like way.  Pi didn't complain, he just kept to himself until he had an opportunity to make change himself.  Pi, a child going into his first year of Middle School, acted as if he was a grown man himself.  I think that those two scenes for sure show the build-up of his character, which will eventually lead into his expedition.