Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Martel's Mastery--due February 13
How is this 93-page exposition particularly masterful? Write 300+ words about the ways Martel develops Pi's character, both covertly and overtly, before the real action actually starts (the ship sinks). In doing so, you must use two Tuesday terms and two literary criticism/theory terms (make these four terms bold by typing them in between these characters: < b >bold </ b >).
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Pi is a very interesting character. He is developed in various ways throughout the 93 page excerpt. Pi’s character is developed overtly and covertly through his name. Pi is short for the grand swimming pool he is named after—the Piscine Molitor. The swimming pool is described as being the best swimming pool that Mamaji has ever experienced, just as Pi will experience his greatness in the largest, most grand swimming pool of his life—the ocean. Also, Pi can be referred to the mathematical symbol, meaning 3.14 and etcetera going on in its greatness. The mathematical symbol is great, powerful, and useful. Pi’s character is great, powerful, and important in many others’ lives.
Pi’s character is covertly developed through the language he uses. The way he describes the people he loves with care and love helps to tell what kind of a person Pi is. He speaks highly of the ones he loves, on page 8 he describes the family friend “Mamaji” and explains that the “ji” is added on to show love. This tells the reader that Pi is a sincere, caring, young boy.
Covertly, Pi is developed through the use of stories and saying Pi uses. For example, on page 8 Pi tells the story of when Ravi called Mamaji “Mr. Fish” to his face, he then put a banana peel in his bed. This tells the reader that Pi is a character that will stand up for the individuals he loves but also has a sense of humor. In addition, Pi uses a simile on page 13, “…for the guests are as unhygienic as alcoholics.” Pi is referring to the animals at the zoo, but he also lets the reader know his opinions on using alcohol or people that abuse alcohol.
The area that Pi grew up in and how he grew up also helps to develop his character. He appreciates simple things in ways that most people wouldn’t. The animals are his friends and he loves them dearly, he finds them fascinating. He takes pride in simple things like waking up to lions roaring (page 14). He is not materialistic. He his humble, intelligent, and caring. Pi is truly an interesting character that has intrigued me and pulled me farther into the book. I applaud Martel for using such creating, innovative ways to capture his readers interest.
Dreyer 2
Piscine Molitor Patel. A name that would enchant anyone who hears it to listen in for a story. But every meaningful story has to be developed, crafted, and selectively molded into the perfect narrative. Yann Martel was certain, while writing Life of Pi, that the story of Pi Patel had to be so beautifully composed. But first he had to develop the character. Get the reader interested. Yann Martel has chosen to take the first 93 pages of his book and make them an exposition. He is using the narrative technique by focusing on how he is writing his novel rather than the content alone. It is necessary to provide the reader with so much background so we feel connected to Pi Patel. To his life. To his experiences.
Yann Martel also uses mimesis in his novel. He talks to the reader. Various chapters such as chapter six or fifteen, Martel provides almost journal like entries, in which he covertly, gives us small pieces of information about Pi Patel. He shares information about his home, family, food--anything he observes. This gives the reader a more inside knowledge on the character. Maybe more than Pi intended for the reader to get.
The author also develops Pi overtly by showing the reader his beliefs, which he later on, outwardly expresses to his family and others around him. When reading into the protagonist in a psychoanalytic approach, you can say that Pi’s Id is his drive to follow what he wants. He is open to many religions and is not afraid to participate in each one. His superego is being wary of those in society who may not accept his varying beliefs and Pi uses his Ego to balance them out. He practices three different religions in order to satisfy both sides. He does it respectfully and openly.
In the novel, Pi can represent the hero. Even though we are not far into the book, I predict that he will stay this way. He is an archetype for being a hero. We can see his heroic qualities emerge as the author portrays Pi not only openly through descriptions, but through Pi’s thoughts and beliefs on various subjects. The way he forms the story shows us that Pi is able to satisfy many people and is good natured.
Gacke 2
Yann Martel masterfully created the character of Piscine Molitor Patel—a fictional yet genuinely real character. The culture that Yann Martel grew up in undoubtedly influenced this unique fictional character. Pi seems to stand against every cultural norm that exists: he devotes himself to three religions, has appreciation for the little things, and has an overwhelmingly caring heart for humans and animals alike. The simplicity of Pi’s thoughts are what intrigue me the most, for through his effortless and straightforward thinking he manages to embrace larger-than-life ideas. He tirelessly ponders the unthinkable story of Christ and remarks that the Islam religion simply provides a yoga exercise through prayer. However, following these simple thoughts, he comes to worship each religion, connecting and intertwining the three religions easily.
Pi’s name tells a lot about his character, and foreshadows what we should expect. He is named after a pool, and when examining it with an archetypal lens we know that water often symbolizes baptism and rebirth. Whether Pi’s rebirth occurs to him on his castaway journey or a rebirth occurs in us after exploring the truly thought-provoking mind of Pi, his name is not just incidentally named after a body of water. In addition, if one would look at Pi’s character through a Marxist lens , he seems to be separated from the rest of the world, not really fitting into any particular class or culture—because of his views, personality, and ideas. He lives by “leaps of faith,” in which he describes on page 64 the reasoning behind appreciating atheists rather than agnostics. Doubting can be tolerable for a while, but one cannot spend his whole life in doubt—for that is not living, and, to me, Pi seems to be an expert at living.
I believe that Yann Martel’s novel can/will be considered a classic . Intertwining fiction and reality, he has created a masterpiece whose power will linger and be studied for many, many years.
Most novels have a relatively short opening sequence, providing enough information so the story makes sense, but keeping it short enough as to not be boring. Life of Pi takes a different strategy. Nearly a third of the book is spent giving backstory on Pi, and helping us try to understand how he thinks. Yann Martel dives deep into to the Milieu of the novel: India. We learn all about the feel and style of the world PI inhabits, as well as his tendencies for going against the traditional culture. This section also gives remarkable insight about zoos and animal behaviors, setting the stage for the time spent on the lifeboat. Such an in depth backstory helps the reader to establish a personal connection with a character who is from a far different world than the one we live in. Through most of this time of discovery we see the world through the eyes of PI, learning as he does. But sometimes the reactions of those around him reveal more than his personal realizations. He is continually confused by the constant demands to choose one religion, a matter that seems logical to everyone else, but makes no sense to him. It is clear that Pi is unknowingly trying to break away from societal stereotypes from both a psychoanalytical and Marxist point of view. In a way Pi is doing exactly what the novel did to the literary world, breaking away from stereotypes. In the story, Pi’s unconventional characteristics are what make him exceptional, and I believe the same can be said of this book.
Bingen 7
Throughout the exposition of his soon-to-be classic, Life of Pi, Martel uses various techniques to create the robust character that is Pi Patel. From the beginning, Martel establishes Pi as a creature of habit. Pi was raised at a zoo. There, he and his family do the chores on a routine basis. Similarly, when he tries to intercept any potential bullying by telling everyone that he will be addressed as Pi, he repeats this during every role call in his next classes. Eventually, the other kids started playing along. Martel further develops his main character by giving him the name Pi. In math class, we learn that Pi is an irrational number 3.14…, so perhaps Martel is trying to tell readers that Pi is an irrational character from the start. Further adding to Pi’s irrationality, Martel makes Pi practice three separate religions. Through the Psychoanalytic lense, three religions can be seen as a way for him to satisfy each of the three aspects of his mind, the Id, Ego, and Superego. To most people in his culture, practicing several religions would be very strange. However, I don’t believe that Martel is saying that irrationality is an unattractive quality in people. In fact, judging from the email responses that we have from Martel, he thinks quite the opposite. He says that rationality does not give life meaning. By showing Pi as an irrational character, Martel is covertly showing that Pi is going to be the most meaningful character in the book. Additionally, without the constant Pi in math class, a great deal of problems would not be able to be solved. I think that Martel is surreptitiously telling readers that what Pi’s character stands for will be able to solve a lot of modern issues. I also think that all of the references to water that Martel uses to create the character of Pi are very interesting. After all, Piscine Molitor is named after the greatest pool his uncle ever swam in. Also, towards the end of part one, Pi asks to be baptized. Through the Archetypal lense, water is seen throughout literature as cleansing. Judging from the title of Part II, he is going to be cleansed by the waters of the largest pool in the world, the Pacific Ocean.
What I like about the way Yan Martel tells this < b >narrative is that we truly get to know Pi Patel before we get thrown in to the action of the story. This is different from most novels where we as readers almost get thrown into the action to learn more about the protagonist. In this book we get all the background before we get into the action. This book is not traditionally a narrative completely telling a story from beginning to end, we do see Pi’s story completely told form beginning to end. Martel shows us more of Pi’s character (as an adult) through the author’s point of view as he develops Pi’s story through Pi’s point of view in telling his story with the interview to the author.
The novel is also a very good use of < b >mimesishe has both an author and the main character narrate the story. When the author tells us about Pi as an adult, he is talking directly to the reader. He breaks that barrier between the fiction novel and the world of the reader. Martel is able to make Pi’s story real to the reader.
Pi can be seen < b >archetypally as an explorer. He does not want to life his life in the confines of what everyone else believes. We see this is Pi’s view point on religion. Pi believes that he can be Muslim, Christian, and Hindu all at once. To everyone else, this is absurd. They cannot believe that he can practice all three at the same time. Pi, on the other hand, just wants to explore every religion.
I feel that we can also look at how Pi lives in a < b >Marxist lens. During the encounter where Pi comes to meet all three religious leader, the priest and imam mention the caste system in India in which classes and social standings are very set. Pi says that he does not live in wealth, and that they do not even own the zoo or their own house. I think that this points out the strict lines drawn between the social classes in this sting.
Zahn 5
Piscine Molitor Patel is developed through various ways throughout the first 93 pages of the novel. His character is developed overtly and covertly through his name. Because the kids at school make fun of him for having the name of Piscine, on the first day of school he tells everyone that his name is Pi. Pi, short for Piscine Molitor for which he was named after, the famous Piscine Molitor swimming pool. The swimming pool is said to be the best swimming pool that Mamaji has ever swam in. In the mathematical reference, Pi means 3.14 and etcetera going on and on. Pi in math is very useful and powerful and regarding Pi as the character, he is useful to everyone in his life and will do powerful things. This novel was crafted by Yann Martel into a perfect narrative . Martel uses narrative techniques such as focusing on how he is writing the exposition rather than what he is writing, making the exposition crucial for us as readers. Throughout the book Yann Martel uses mimesis, some chapters are italicized in text which tells us that he is talking to us as the readers. He uses these chapters to express his own feelings and to provide us with more information on Pi. By doing so, Martel is giving us more knowledge on Pi Patel, knowledge that we wouldn’t be getting from Pi himself. The first 93 pages of this novel also gives readers an inside look into Pi’s religion. Throughout the course of the novel, Pi’s religion becomes more important to him. He is born as a Hindu, but wants to be Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. Everyone around him tells him that he can’t be apart of three religions and needs to pick one. He argues with them that he just wants to love God, so why can’t he believe in all three. Through the psychoanalytic approach, these three religions are three different facets of his mind, the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. When Pi talks about religion, he mentions water a lot. Through the archetypal approach, water is a symbol rebirth and often is associated with baptism. Pi asks to be baptized after he decides that he wants to practice Christianity. By the title of part II in the novel, his rebirth/cleansing may happen in the Pacific Ocean, the largest swimming pool in the world.
Ellis 7
Throughout the exposition of Life of Pi Yann Martel uses a variety of methods to characterize Piscine Molitor Patel. He uses barely two lines to describe Pi physically. This description is not in complete sentences as if it was a simple observation and not what he cared about. However, when describing other characters Martel uses a lot of imagery. Mr. Kumar the atheist is described as a mountain atop two snakes and Mr. Kumar the Muslim is described as “plain featured” and “a shadow.”
Finding clever uses for metaphors, Martel characterizes Pi by saying “his memory is an ocean and he bobs on the surface.” This describes just how enormous Pi’s story is and how dangerous it is to dive deep into his memories. He may drown. Martel also uses a metaphor to describe Piscine’s nickname the symbol for pi is “a shack with a corrugated roof” and in that shack Pi found refuge from his “crown of thorns”-- an extra allusion Martel also makes.
Martel also did his homework on Indian culture in order to characterize Pi. As a child, Pi is a typical Indian boy. He was introduced to Hinduism as a small child and he loves spicy food. Pi goes to a Christian school like many Indian boys and his family is influenced by Indian politics. Pi also grew up in a zoo and became a zoologist. Because of his life around animals and his fathers lessons he understands how they think and how they act.
Martel takes advantage of flashback to characterize Pi and foreshadow what is to come. Throughout his house are religious symbols of multiple religions. Our description of his house reveals his passion to worship God. The author also is surprised multiple times by Pi’s wife, his kids and the house pet. This suggests that we will continue to learn new things about Pi until the end of the book.
Stensrud 2
Pi is unlike any character we have discovered. He is a young, intelligent, unquestioning believer. Piscine Molitor Patel; his full name, which sets the tone for this masterfully outlined narrative, is a boy growing up in Pondicherry, India. Martel emphasizes his own excursions through his writing. The author’s interjections allowing Pi to be characterized in two time periods of his life. Although Pi grows older, the authors vivid descriptions have made it clear that Pi’s values and beliefs have not changed along with his age. The author uses mimesis when he interjects the characters story to tell part of his own. Yenn Martel allows the readers to fully grasp Pi as a character before jumping into the action of the book.
Looking at the story through a Marxist lens we see young Pi Patel muddled at the choice of just one religion. Although I do not believe he only converts to one, I can infer that his castaway journey will help him overcome any social oppression he has felt. Pi’s ability to believe in three religions makes him unique. He struggles to be accepted by his parents, and the three leaders, which is evident in chapter 23 of the text when the men meet. Pi answers back to the men’s uncertainty with a quote from Bapu Gandhi “All religions are true.”
From an Archetypal lens Piscine Patel’s nickname “Pi”, which represents a number (3.14), also represents spiritual awareness. After reading 93 pages, it is clear that Pi is connected to the spiritual world, and has emphasized his love for God on more than one occasion. Looking at it from the mathematical standpoint, Piscine, like pi, is a very confusing character.
Yenn Martel’s hard work and attentiveness allow the readers to fully comprehend Piscine Molitor Patel before the action of the book begins.
Pearce 1
Martel masterfully creates the character of Pi in the beginning of this book.
< b > Culture plays a major role in the development of Pi. Martel himself comes from a diverse background growing up in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada according to the back of the book. The influence of various cultures on Martel has clearly gone over to Pi. Pi displays understanding of different cultures via practicing three different religions at once. Only Martel, with all of his experiences around the world, could have thought this up.
Using an < b > archetypal lens you can view the water that is in the book and the water is very important. So important in fact, Pi is named after a pool. Water is seen to be cleansing and can symbolize rebirth. The fact that Pi is named after a body of water––a pool––can’t be overlooked. Add that to the fact that he is about to embark on a journey across the Pacific Ocean––which is the largest body of water on the planet––then water is most definitely an important factor in the book. Maybe after the trip Pi is quote “reborn” into a new man and is different afterwards. I think there is a correlation between Pi being named after a body of water and then most of the book takes place on a body of water.
Using a < b > psychoanalytic lens you can look at Pi’s id, ego, and superego. Unlike most people, Pi’s id drives him towards religion––and three religions at that. His ego is able to balance these out showing the connection between the id and the ego. The ego is what balances out the id and connects the id to the real world.
With the way that this book has been written so far, I would say that there is a good chance that it could be considered a < b > classic. Of course, I will need to read the rest of the book to be sure, but this book is definitely on the right track.
Wright 1
Yann Martel’s masterpiece, Life of Pi, has sparked an almost instant emotional attachment with the reader and the main character, Pi; I was among many others who fell into Martel’s engrossing trance. Pi’s development evolved after the cruel schoolyard taunting incident, due to his unfortunate birth name, Piscine Molitor Patel. Soon, degradation of his reputation would force him to consider altering his dub into a more formal title, some included: “P. Singh”, “Ian Hooligan”, “3.14”, Pissing Patel”, or just “Pissing”. His first day at Petit Seminaire, a prestigious English-medium school, Pi would clearly inform and educate the students and teachers his name shall be known to all as Pi, simply Pi. Continuing throughout the day with the repetition of the deliberate stunt, his name finally caught on to others, even his own brother: “What’s this I hear about a nickname you have… It’s alright with me, brother. Anything’s better than ‘Pissing’. Even Lemon Pie.” Pi has a magical childhood. He is the son of a zookeeper, implying his love and affection towards exotic animals; a brilliant tactic for Martel to use Intentionalism. Martel wants the reader to feel sympathy for Pi and his brother after his father forces both of them to watch a cruel shamble between a ferocious Bengal Tiger, and a helpless goat. Martel’s novel is a feast for the mental imagination; from the beginning of the book, we know for certain Pi survives this inconceivable, and Epic voyage. Life of Pi takes the reader on an imaginary journey, where survival of the fittest is blessed upon, and fate is hoped for. Martel’s represents a Mimesis through Pi’s eyes by creating a far-fetched adventure, but has potential of occurring in the near future. Pi contains this earthly-spiritual ego throughout part 1: his desires focus on 3 different religious all pointing to his love for God, and his defensive “unfree” point of view dealing with all the animals in the zoo, opposed to their natural habitat. Pi’s father has a sense of the superego, forcing his sons to observe and believe the cruelty of the animals in the zoo: “the Himalayan bears and the sloth bears.” “‘One strike of the claws from these cuddly creatures and you innards will be scooped out and splattered all over the ground.’” “...The hippos.” “‘With those soft, flabby mouths of theirs they’ll crush your body to a bloody pulp. On land they can outrun you.’”
Van Egdom 5
First of all, Martel makes the proper first step by making his epic story a narrative. The first person perspective of a narrative provides a suitable foundation to characterize Pi Patel. Patel must endure the torture of having the nickname “Pissing” Patel, but he proves his intellect and courage by standing up to his peers on the first day of school to change his name from “Pissing” Patel to Pi Patel. Then, his father decides to scare his children into behaving properly. Patel will never play with the animals—a certain goat has frightened that foolhardy idea out of him. Patel quickly grew up, since most people do not have to deal with constant bullying or the sight of a deadly tiger shredding a goat to pieces. Living in a zoo has also aged him. Patel hears how cruel people can be to animals, which, according to Marxist theory, represents the lower class and how big business can hurt proletariats. Patel’s maturity level and curiosity is above his classmates.
Martel elaborates on Patel’s enthusiasm for religion. Patel stumbles into three religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Every culture has their preferred religion, but scoff at Patel for following three religions. Patel does not care. Even his hallucinations, which are his latent motivations according to Freudian theory, revolve around religion. He envisions the Virgin Mary and his heart beats with fear and joy—which exhibits his subconscious religious feelings. God’s magnitude simultaneously frightens and enraptures him. Religion is not the only love in his life; biology and animals influence him just as much. We can see this on page 64 when Patel refers to the two Kumar’s as the prophets of his Indian youth. On page 84, Martel does not directly refer to either as anything more than Kumar. The biology teacher mutters the scientific name of the zebra and the other Kumar responds with a religious greeting meaning “God is greater.” Kumar reverently mutters the scientific name, which shows readers that Patel embraces biology as a fourth religion.
Marais 1
Yan Martel writes an epic narrative story called Life of Pi. Martel skillfully uses mimesis and talked to the characters in the novel. Martel does an excellent job at places Pi in his surroundings. Culture plays a major role in the development of Pi. Martel comes from a diverse background growing up around the world reaching from Costa Rica to France. Which helps influence the various cultures that is displayed threw out the book.
Pi has factors from incorporating his family, his home, and his original Hindu culture to develop him as a character. Zoology and Religion come together in this story in an uncanny way. Life of Pi touches on the sensitive subject of religion while leaving the issue of innocence to the reader for reflection. In a psychoanalytic apprach you could say Pi is a the protagonist , he is driven to follow what he wants. He finds salvation in under animals and believing three major world faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. He is a conscientious and bright boy, loves learning. He remains very passionate about his faith and belief in God, always recognizing him as a strong presence. Pi also grows up knowing the different aspects of animals and how they are handled. He respects animals and pieces together his world, using them as a basis of reference for his life. I believe the close emphasis on zoology will makes a close connection with how Pi survives his journey. He loves his family and the surrounding community, strengthening the reserve of Martel’s character for the journey he encounters on the sea.
Grage 2
Pi is the most unique main character I have ever been introduced to in literature when it comes to his mind. He is a very caring person who enjoys the animals at his father’s zoo and his religious practices. Pi is different from other characters because he practices three religions instead of just one: Hinduism, Muslim, and Christianity. He separates himself from the normal culture of being Hindu to expanding out to two other religions as well. Pi does not care that all of his peers frown upon his decision on practicing all three religions. He says he simply does it because he loves God. Because of his individuality I have become attached to his character and respect his thoughts on religion even though it seems like he is confused on what he wants from his godly figures. There is also a lot of mimesis throughout this novel. The author uses italicized phrases to symbolize someone that is there but is not named. You could create this “person” to be yourself if you would like. I have done this so that it makes this novel easier to read if I imagine myself in the book as well. From an Archetypal lens stand point you can easily say that Piscine Molitor Patel, named after a pool, pools are filled with water and water is a symbol rebirth and often is connected with baptism. It is quite ironic that Pi wants to be baptized into Christianity later on in this section of the book. You could also look at this book from a Marxist lens point of view saying that because he is engaged with three different religions that he breaks the social norm and therefore is an outcast in his society. It is bizarre how involved he is religiously because of how we found out on page 65 that his father is not religious, and then Pi loves God(s) so much that he worships three different ones.
I think the 93 page exposition is too much. I’m not particularly fond of the concept of reading for 93 pages about a single character, not to mention that expositions don’t include the main action of the book. Nevertheless, I will continue to analyze this long-winded elucidation and perhaps see past my myopic viewpoint.
The bonus to a 93 page exposition would be that the reader gets to know the main character. I mean REALLY get to know the main character. I say kudos to Martel for being talented enough to write that much, to be able to evoke an immense amount of thoughts, emotions, and opinions, all in a single exposition. And the italicized excerpts that Martel adds in are entertaining. Those are what make this a truly engaging narrative! They pull the audience out of one story and into another, sort of as a way to gauge their interests. The reader is very involved in the book—they’re forced to react and/or create theories about the book. Mainly, this effect distances the reader from the storyline as they don’t know which parts of Pi’s story are correct or exaggerated. Martel didn’t do this on accident; therefore, this makes it intentionalism. As readers, we want to believe the more exciting story. Hence why Hollywood even exists—humans want to be entertained! And, of course, Martel wants to ensure that the readers are learning about the culture that’s within the book. I mean the main character practices three totally different religions, so I have a strong inkling there’s going to be some more religion later on. But that’s just a feeling. Also, the imagery that the excerpts contain depicts the presence of many distinct cultures within the book as well. With all the religions that Pi practices, they have a few things in common. One is they all seek to interpret that which is beyond us humans, and the other is that as humans, we continue to do the “right thing.” In a sense, these religions serve as Pi’s “Superego” in the archetypal lens, as they encourage Pi to continue doing what he believes is the right thing. Pi’s character could be classified as seeming to be holier-than-thou, or otherwise depending on how the reader interprets it. These pieces that Martel has in the exposition all come together to create the almighty character of Pi.
Nitz 7
I really didn’t want to start “Life of Pi”, for numerous reasons –I was in the middle of a great book called “Sophie’s Choice” and couldn’t bear the thought of picking up “Life of Pi” before I finished the novel by William Styron, and I was also a little nervous about embarking on the literary journey that astounded so many.
Even through all that, I am enjoying Martel’s work immensely. You can feel Pi’s love and affection for the animals. Martel uses not only expert imagery in terms of pure description, but he also uses a lot of space to do so. Pi is telling his own story (through the author, through Mr. Martel…) so I think it’s important the amount of ink he devotes to the zoo and the animals themselves. Not only does the text exude care from Pi towards the animal friends he has, but care for the main caretaker of the animals is evident as well. Pi respects and admires his father, and these positive emotions play into the (relatively) archetypal family unit Martel creates. Pi is the younger, un-athletic brother to an annoying and sports-oriented Ravi. Father and Mother get along pleasantly, while filling their proper gender roles. For example, father protects the boys by showing them graphic displays of nature’s danger, and he is more logical, as he as “secular as ice cream” and concentrates on business; Mother shows emotional weakness by crying tears, and, although reluctantly, grants Pi’s wish to explore three religions while Father desires a different path for his son.
If you’re being a hard-nosed feminist critic, you ask: why aren’t there more women that Pi mentions? His mother is virtually the only female he describes in any amount of detail; is this because women are only supposed to be mothers in Pi’s eyes? (Look, I made a little lyric of my own. This was most likely not one of the intended uses for a Tuesday term, in Mr. C’s eyes, however.)
Pi is introspective, yet highly receptive to others’ feelings. Yann Martel does a shipshape job of creating a voice that speaks with humility and humor, yet great poise and wisdom.
Smith 7
From the very beginning, Pi’s character is masterfully described through the words and descriptions just within the first few chapters of Yann Martel’s < narrative >. Pi is immediately portrayed as an intelligent, religious, humble, distinctive young man who will soon be enduring an experience that transforms his entire future. Martell cleverly sets up this story by explaining the assets, beliefs, and environment within Piscine Molitor Patel life. The foundation of how Pi received his name, the description of India and the colors, as well as the animals within the zoo, is not only symbolic but also( in my opinion) very imaginative and artistic.
Pi is characterized as an < Archetype >, a “lost boy” searching for land, A.K.A an explorer, on a quest, looking for the remains of his life. He learns about all kind of cruel forces in the world. Pi’s father taught him a lesson at a young age, explaining that animals are animals and not to be played with. Just like the world. The answer seems to fall down to religion, and faith in what you believe in. Pi’s belief in three religions explained the < psychoanalytic > approach. The id explains Pi’s desire and wants to learn, and exercise his beliefs. His superego is described as Mr. Kumar, the atheist. He says “… atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith.”However, Pi excepts the fact and because of that, he is even more admirable.
Considering Pi Patel’s background, and upbringing, the< cultural > situation is very significant in the “Life of Pi”. The significance that Pi exercises multiple religions seems sensible considering Martel himself has explored many parts of the world and has learned about many cultures. However, the Indian customs and ethnicity seems very distinct compared to other cultures. India has seems to have the most vast customs from food (spices) and bright colors to dress and vibrant music. Yann Martell most certainly had a valuable reason to use these specific cultures and traditions.
Mutschelknaus 1
Although the 93-page exposition may not have been gripping, it did provide information that is vital to know. Life of Pi is an interesting narrative about a boy, Piscine Patel, who is not only Hindu, but also Muslim and Christian. Pi has been shaped by each of these religions and his attitude is reflective of the ideals of the religions. Pi’s choice of religions is one of many quirks Pi exemplifies throughout the exposition. He has always been different than the other kids. At a young age, he was made fun because his name rhymes with a bodily function one does in the bathroom. From that point on, he made it known that he was to be known as Pi and the other kids eventually play on. I thought it was very interesting that Martel chose a name such as Piscine for the main character. For one, it is a very unfortunate name for a little kid, and two, the first two letters represent an irrational number, Pi (3.14…). Martel perhaps did this to distinguish Pi from all the other characters; maybe to show that he is truly different which could play a big role throughout the book. Martel does a great job of using mimesis in the exposition. By using this, he creates the feeling that the novel is about a real person and not a fictional character. You are able to relate to the character a little more when you perceive them as being real than if the character is perceived as being fake. It adds to the emotional connection between the reader and the main character as well. When something happens to them, you feel a deeper emotional change than you would if you knew the character was fake.
Life of Pi can be seen through almost all the critical lenses. For example, the Marxist lens can be applied to many parts of the exposition; however, most of it is dealing with an animal which is new. One example of Marxism was when Pi was talking out how territorial animals are. If an animal were to cross into another animal’s territory they would most likely fight. This action shows the power struggle between the animals and the necessity land is for animals. Another lens that can be applied is the Archetypal lens. Pi, although he has not done anything heroic yet, can be seen as the hero because he is the main character, and he is also embarking on a “heroic” journey from his homeland of India to the foreign land of Canada. Although this may be a stretch, he fits the hero role so far.
Presler 2
In "Life of Pi," the unique blend of first person narrative and authorial interruption provides ample characterization of the novel's main character. Because Pi himself relates much of the exposition, the reader immediately gains insight into Pi's passions, hatreds, cares, fears, etc. We learn much about Indian culture, but we also discover Pi's idiosyncrasies, most prominently including his active practice of three religions and his love for the Pondicherry Zoo.
Intricately woven into this first person account of a middle-aged man's youth, the author's brief intrusions allow the reader to glimpse the enthralling Pi Patel from a third-person perspective as well. Physically, he is about five feet five inches tall; he has dark hair, dark eyes, and coffee-colored skin, and he has an expressive face and a slender build. Pi keeps his cupboards utterly full with miscellaneous items as if prepared for a siege. Moreover, he is married to a lovely woman named Meena and has two children, a dog, and a cat. Without question, the reader does not want for information about Mr. Patel.
Although relatively few archetypes seem to have been introduced at this point, we could perhaps interpret the orange color of the tiger's fur as rather representative of fire: danger, wildness, power, etc. We could possibly even extend the analysis of colors to include clearness or transparency, especially as it relates to the glow of the Piscine Molitor and to the obvious devoutness and piety of Pi. Moreover, viewing the 93-page exposition from a Freudian/psychoanalytic lens, we should necessarily be intrigued by the anecdotes of escape and subsequent return by zoo animals. When they escape, they are attempting to satisfy the id, the allegedly innate desire for freedom and chaos. Oppositely, the return illustrates the work of the superego; the pressures of the zoo (i.e. society) draw the animals back to order and structure.
Although I have been somewhat bored by the beginning of this novel, it seems to mirror the almost unbearably long exposition of "Great Expectations." That narrative, I might add, had a highly satisfactory ending. I hope for the same here.
This carefully crafted narrative told through the cultured eyes of Piscine Molitor Patel is undoubtedly destined to be deemed a classic . Martel molded Pi so masterfully every detail the reader is told is significant and what is not said is more significant. The reader is told about his life, about the zoo, about who Pi is today, and that Pi has a happy ending. But I found the most significance in how Pi speaks. He looks at things in a way others could never have imagined on their own, and sometimes in ways that offend other people, but he is not trying to change the world: only himself. I love that way that Martel overtly tells the reader about the beginning of Pi’s life, and where he is today-- but the middle is open. That shows that even when a person is determined to change, change does not happen over-night. Change is a process. I came to this conclusion because if it wasn't a process, the author would have interviewed Pi shortly after he was rescued.
Martel is a master of mimesis he overtly and covertly talks directly to the reader. He opening talks to the reader through the italicized chapters from the authors point of view, but more importantly he talks to the reader covertly through Pi. Chapter four is a guide of the human condition according to Martel. The condition of growing up too fast and things that you used to cherish now meaning nothing to you (the zoo now fits in Pi’s head), labeling large groups (types of flowers and animals), and over simplifying things (natural transition from hotel-keeper to zookeeper). I enjoy how Pi/Martel explains that animals like having a home in the zoo in the way that people like having homes. It is so true, we claim we want to be free and independent, yet we go home to the same place everyday never breaking the routine; like caged animals. Some people argue that Martel is speaking to the author overtly through the author: but I think he is speaking to the reader through Pi.
From the beginning of the novel reader know that Pi is the hero archetype not only because he survived the tragedy but in the way that he is kind and cherishes everything he has. I like the way that Martel established Pi as a hero through his beliefs and not through a great triumph. Yes, he triumphs over the sea and nature but he is a hero because he is so grateful for everything he has and anyone that will listen to his story.
Dykstra 7
In this 93-page exposition, Pi's character is revealed to us in a variety of ways. The first of these is through the author's frequent use of mimesis. He speaks directly to the readers both when narrating as himself and Pi. One example of this is on page 43, when Pi says, "So you see, if you fall into a lion's pit, the reason the lion will tear you to pieces is not because it's hungry--be assured, zoo animals are amply fed--or because it's bloodthirsty, but because you've invaded its territory." I think Pi's character is revealed most when the author speaks of his present day encounters of Pi; he speaks of Pi's hospitality and caring nature, of his continued belief in three religions, and of his wife, among other things. Another way in which Pi's character is developed is through imagery. The author paints a stunning picture of every scene in the novel, leaving readers engrossed simply due to the gorgeous images portrayed. An example of this is on page 42, as the author is discussing Pi's cooking: "Each time it's the same: my taste buds shrivel up and die, my skin goes beet red, my eyes well up with tears, my head feels like a house on fire, and my digestive tract starts to twist and groan in agony like a boa constrictor that has swallowed a lawn mower."
It is not difficult for readers to view this novel through a Marxist lens. For example, Pi discusses how social rank is key to animals in the circus. The animals highest on the social ladder are least expected, and least willing, to participate in circus activities. The animals lowest in the social structure are expected to prance about, performing for humans (and perhaps for their higher-class brethren). One could also view the novel through a Feminist lens. Women are rarely mentioned in the book at all. Pi's wife is discussed only briefly; the author admits he saw no evidence of her existence before their meeting, and even doubted she existed. The only other woman mentioned is Pi's mother, and she does not have a large role in the novel. She appears fairly submissive; for example, in the scene of the goat's death by tiger, Pi's mother speaks up about her distaste for what is about to happen, but her husband ignores her. Women never have roles of power in the book, and are on the margins of the action throughout.
Martinmaas 2
The first 93 pages of the book are used to describe Pi and his life. Throughout the chapters you learn that Pi has a very positive attitude. He sees the good in things including the three religions he practices. Instead of seeing the differences between his three religions he sees how they all connect with one another. You are also able to see how much Pi looks up to people, and worries about disapproval from others. On page 80 when he agrees to meet with Mr. Kumar, he quickly worries that he won’t be able to locate Mr. Kumar in the crowd because he looks too plain. Pi didn’t want to hurt Mr. Kumar’s feelings. Pi’s thoughts also stood out to me and how he sees things differently. On page 86, Pi talks about a viper eating a mouse and comments how the viper, somewhere in his mind, felt a twinge of regret for devouring a helpless animal. Unlike Pi, I wouldn’t have thought of the viper feeling regret for killing a mouse. Because of these characteristics, if you looked at Pi through a Marxist lens, he appears to be separated from the people around him. The priest, the imam, and the pandit don’t accept that Pi is practicing three religions. After the confrontation on page 66, Pi was no longer welcomed at the church, the Great Mosque, or the darshan. I also think the references to water help create Pi’s character. Pi was named after the greatest pool his uncle ever swam in. Through the Archetypal lens, water symbolizes baptism or rebirth. Pi was baptized at the end of Ch. 27 with water which he commented that “it had the refreshing effect of a monsoon rain.” Monsoon rain normally occurs after a drought. The next part of the story is titled The Pacific Ocean which could be another rebirth/baptism for Pi. Martel uses a mimesis to help the reader understand Pi more. Through a mimesis, Martel provides us information about Pi as an older gentleman rather than a young boy. In chapter 36, Martel reveals details about Pi’s personal life (including his family) that Pi hadn’t mentioned before. All and all I believe that life of Pi is going to be a classic that will be studied throughout classrooms in the future.
McGee 5
This 93-page exposition is extremely masterful. Martel draws you in and makes you love Pi. As a reader I feel as if I am walking along with Pi and his struggles. I love reading this book because it has really made me think about how he gets along with everything. He has gotten along with so many religions well and made it work. I have noticed that every religious person he runs into is so kind. I think that is one reason he falls in love with every religion he comes too. The people that he meet shine a light that no one can diminish which intrigues him and makes him fall in love with that religion. I also think that is why he is such a loving character through everything. One example is when the priest are telling him what he is doing is wrong; he keeps his calm and even respects them for their opinion. So why can’t we get along with anything. I think that is something that Pi’s father was trying to tell him—its nature. Pi, the protagonist, is a man I that intrigues me to the highest degree. Pi comes out as such an intriguing character in many ways. One of these ways is through the author's use of mimesis. The author is telling us this amazing narrative through Pi’s eyes so it makes it much more personal. Already I really like this book and I have a feeling I will continue to love it.
In this novel there is such a variety in culture. There are so many differing religions. Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity all are all religions that Pi is part of. Also Kumar his biology teacher is an atheist. The culture differences can be seen in the different religious trinkets talked about by Pi and seen in Pi’s house. In chapter 15 you can see the variety of culture because it shown the Christian figurines, Muslim figurines, and Hindu figurines.
West 5
The feminist view in this book is interesting. So far in this book there has only been one women character. This could be because women are viewed as far less important than men in India, but the one women, Pi’s mother, does not seem like she is a subordinate to Pi’s father. His father has the final say in some things, like Pi’s lesson of watching the goat be eaten by the Bengal tiger, but that is normal to almost all families.
Yann Martel sets up Pi’s character very interestingly. Looking at the psychoanalytical aspect, having the book be a narrative with Pi narrating the story gives us key insight into why he does things, and how he thinks about things. The culture of India is one that is mainly Islamic, so when Pi becomes a Muslim, Christian, and Hindu, all at the same time, it is clearly not widely accepted by the people around him.
Yann Martel develops the story line as a happy, successful family from India that came across some financial difficulties due to the overthrow of part of their government, and took action against it by moving to Canada. There are a few subtle hints that something big and bad is going to happen, but other than that, a reader can easily assume that the biggest obstacle that this family has to overcome in the book is settling in Canada, and Pi making new friends and figuring out his religious beliefs.
Mimesis is also used in this book. Martel talks to the reader through journal like entries that provide very important yet subtle hints like about his family, having two children, a dog, and a wife, or the tall reserve of food, implying a time of food deprivation that he must have gone through.
Fritz 5
Throughout the 93 exposition, Martel has built Pi into an extraordinary child. Although we consider Life of Pi a narrative, it is passed partially off of a real man, Piscine Patel. One can infer that the extra details Martel added to the story were influenced by the culture he grew up in. Martel incorporated real social issues that Pi was facing, like religion, into the novel.
As one reads, they begin to realize Pi is very curious. From talking with his teacher, Kumar, and just being in society he sees a big problem with religion. As Pi becomes very curious, he begins to explore religions outside of Hinduism. If one looks through the Psychoanalytic lens, these religions could be classified as the Id, Ego, and Superego. I personally believe Pi thinks all religions are right, he just takes what he understands/likes about all of them, and makes them his own. Many people found this odd; most were very upset with Pi. However, he did not quite understand why they were all so upset. He saw it as an act of trying to find himself and what he believed in.
On the other hand, if one looks through the Archetypal lens we see that water is a very important aspect. Water is known as cleansing and rebirth symbol. We know from the beginning of the book that Pi became a very good swimmer and will be soon setting off on a journey across the Pacific. With this knowledge, one can foreshadow after his journey he will be “reborn” into a new person based off his experiences in the Pacific.
I believe as time progresses, this novel will soon turn into a classic. I am very excited to see the turn out of Pi’s journey across the Pacific!
Jackson 2
I found the length and detail of the exposition very odd, as most books that i have read get into the pretty quick after the exposition or start with the action and flashback to an exposition afterward. I thought this was a pretty easy read and found it to be very fun and interesting to read. I liked the chapters in italics where Yann Martel, or at least an author of some sort is narrating and describing his experience when he was interviewing Pi Patel. I watched the movie before reading the book which I feel really helps to picture what is going on and get a feel for how the story flows with jumping from a story and then back to the interview. Yann Martel did a great job at giving you a good impression of each character and their relationship and attitude toward Pi. This is important to make the audience care about each of the characters so when a tragedy occurs, which we all know is going to happen, the injury, misfortune, or death of a character is significant. Covertly, Piscine is described with his name Pi which is a never ending number much like his future trip on the ocean. The vocabulary and descriptions Pi gives on the culture on the region also describes himself and his personality.
Yann Martel grew up in the milieu of Canada and think that is why he chose that as the destination of the Patels from India. Looking through a Marxist lens the Patels are dramatically influenced and almost controlled by money. Money is what actually leads to their demise in a way because that is the reason they are moving to Canada on a cargo ship. In the Archetypal lens Pi could be seen as a hero type or explorer because of his unexpected tragic journey.
Paul 2
In the epic narrative Life of Pi, Yann Martel ingeniously introduces Piscine Molitor Patel both covertly and overtly. The reader is informed of who Picine was in his own memory, and who is he today in Martel’s excerpts building up his character. Pi is an extraordinarily unique and aware individual. His name makes this evident. Piscine comes from the name of a pool. Viewing this from an Archetypal Lens water can be a symbol for life, cleansing, rebirth, and represents the mystery of creation. I believe the importance of his name will come in to play a lot throughout this book. Viewing Life of Pi from a Marxist Lens you can classify Pi in two ways. He was not born into a wealthy family and within that family his brother seems to have power over him so it could be said that he lost “the lottery” in that way. However, his ability to think outside of what is classified as normal and try new religions would be a win because it allows him to view the world in unique ways.
I find the overt development of Pi intriguing. We learn that he was teased for his name throughout grade school, and frequently received harassment from his older brother, Ravi. These types of experiences generally lead to an isolated and insecure personality, but not in Pi’s case. He explores outside of his family’s culture, and stands up for his faith. I view this as heroic. Piscine is also able to recognize the faults of the humanity. Not only does he see the poor behaviors seen at the zoo but also in the outside world. On page 6 it reads, “I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted through it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he’s not careful.” This statement proves Pi understands overworking is an issue and human’s obsession over money and materials. Pi has his priorities clearly on religion and being connected to God.
Berg 2
With the exposition being 93 pages long, the reader is able to fully understand the main character, Piscine Molitor Patel. Pi is first introduce during the author’s notes on page x where an elderly man tells the author that he knows a story “that will make you [the author] believe in God”. From there, the interest of the reader is heightened with each page turn being full of ambiguity. Also in this narrative, Pi is able to lead us to understanding his feelings growing up. He was bullied as a young child given the nickname “Pissing”. Although he was not very happy with his name at first, he was able to change his nickname to something he would rather be known to the world as: Pi. Pi stands for the mathematical symbol meaning about 3.14, making Pi feel better about himself and his knowledge.
Even though the main purpose of the exposition is to help the reader learn about Pi, it also gives the reader insight on different perspectives on religions. Numerous religions are mentioned and Pi says he belongs to three, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. The reader is able to view this novel through a feminist lens and see Pi as somewhat of a feminine character because he is not as athletic as Ravi (besides swimming which girls are able to do) and he relies more on his brains than his strength. The superstructure that shapes Pi’s life is his relationship with the other people in his life, the various cultures he has been exposed to, and the different religions around him. But the base of his world includes the knowledge he has. He is extremely smart and raises his hand often in class. His wisdom is one of his traits that might help him to survive later on in the novel.
Smith 2
Piscine is a character that the reader is really able to get to know. Yann Martel used a narrative technique to allow the reader to truly get to know Pi as a character. We get to see how he has become the man he is. We get to learn how he has learned all the different religions. We also get to hear what he is thinking as he goes through these important aspects of his life. The culture that Yann grew up in certainly made an impact on his writing also. While reading the authors note you can see all the similarities that Yann has established with Pi.
When reading Life of Pi it’s hard to ignore all the symbolic items Yann has put into the story. Reading this book with an archetypal lens you can see how Pi does not fit into the normal teen group. He does not seem to be interested in sports or playing with all the other children. He would rather spend his time studying and learning all the aspects of the different religions. Also, looking through a feminist lens you see that Pi’s mother is the epitome of a weak woman. When confronted by Pi about being baptized and getting a mat she tries to distract him. She tries to change the subject to some books instead of dealing with what Pi is asking for. When Pi’s father is going to teach the boys a lesson she also is seen as a weakling. She doesn’t try to stand up to Pi’s father.
I think that this book is very well written. Yann did a very good job with how he wanted to plan this out. He did so much research for this book and he clearly knows what he is talking about. This makes the reader work harder to understand everything that is going on. I think once the story gets to the plot it will be very good.
Lusk 5
In the narrative Life of Pi, Yann Martel’s cleverly crafted his story to make it seem more personal. He introduces us to the main character, Piscine Molitor Patel through the author who writes Pi’s story. I find this so fascinating because it is such an abnormal way of telling a story that it catches the reader’s attention. The reader connects with Pi right away because he isn’t just a character in a book, but he is a real person who is telling his story. Martel uses an author within the story to help build Pi’s character through mimeses where the author will talk directly to us and describe what he wants us to know. The physical characteristics of Pi are given to us very abruptly. We are told exactly what he looks in little words. This makes it seem as if the looks are not what is important here. His personality, however, continues to be shown to us during the first part—and will undoubtedly continue all through the book. We learn that Pi is a very adventurous and experimental individual. He practices three religions that he believes all to be great. Look from a psychoanalytical perspective it could be concluded that Pi is of six traits; intelligent, optimistic, stubborn, gentle, pessimistic, and cruel. Through an archetypal lens it is apparent that water is going to represent many different ideas throughout the book. Pi’s real name Piscine comes from the French word meaning pool, an indication that maybe he will have a strong connection or happening with water. However, from him trying to hide his real name and shortening it to Pi because he is embarrassed of it could be seen as the cause for his struggle on the sea. Also, because of his belief in Christianity Pi asks his family if he can be baptized, which also deals with water. Part two of the book is called “The Pacific Ocean” and therefore I believe that many more symbols of water might appear as we continue to read.
Arens 2
This is a great narrative written by Yann Martel about a boy named Piscine Patel. The characterization of Pi is very unique, 93 pages to describe one young boy and the beginning of his life. Going from Piscine to Pissing to Pi this young man has a lot more on his plate than his name. Pi proves to everyone in his school that he is more than just Pissing Patel on the first day by showing them all how smart and intellectual he is. Pi is a very humble, religious, smart, and stronger than most boys his age. He is humble in the fact that he does not take anything for granted and looks at things different than many other people. Looking at things differently probably comes from his religion, or should i say religions, Pi is Hindu, Christian, and Islamic. Having background and knowledge from all make him a very smart young man. His smarts are both book and street. He has learned these from growing up in his father's zoo and learning many life lessons taught by his father. These lessons made him strong. His strength for everything is what helped him survive his situation that is yet to come. This long 93 page exposition is just letting us get to know Pi as he was long ago and how he is today. We learn about how he is today through the use of mimesis. Martel stops Pi's story telling to have the "author" tell us about what is happening. He does this within the italicized chapters. But throughout this entire exposition Martel overtly and covertly talk to the reader by the italicized chapters and even through Pi in many ways. I feel like I am the one who Pi is telling his story to and I love it.
Many can view this novel through a Marxist Lens because of the social establishment between animal and human. Pi talks a lot about how the animal knows who is dominant and many may think that is man but Pi's father shows him that animals rule and that is that. His father shows him that even though they are in charge the animals may fight back because it is their manner. He shows him this through the killing of the goat.
Through an archetypal lens people will most likely look at the water throughout the book. Water symbolizes rebirth and is used in baptisms. Pi has been baptized once but I believe he will be "baptized" again, except not by a priest, instead the Pacific Ocean.
In the 93 page exposition of the novel , Life of Pi, Yann Martel does an excellent job of developing the main character, Piscine Patel. Pi is a multi-religious Indian, believing in Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, who grew up in a zoo. Pi is an irrational character, in that no other novel I have read is there a character as different as Pi, and even his name refers to an irrational number. Having grown up on a zoo and his Fathers unorthodox demonstration, Pi has developed an immense respect for animals and this will help him further on in the book. The author presents Pi as both a child, in the main story, and an adult, withing the italicized parts. That extra information helps the reader to really get to know Pi and see how he may change from a kid to an adult. Martel's background, growing up and living in about 5 different countries, adds culture to his novel. The different pools, leading to Pi's name, all the different religions, and variety of characters all stem from the culture Yann Martel grew up in. Looking at this exposition through an archetypal lens, water has a huge importance to the novel. It is a symbol of cleansing/baptism and also is symbolic in the naming of Pi. It is also a foreshadowing element because Pi is the only Patel to learn to swim and he is destined to be the only Patel trying to survive. Another lens you can use to analyze the beginning of the book is through a psychoanalytic lens. Through it you can use the three religions Pi believes in as the Id, Ego, and Superego. Combining all these elements, Yann Martel pulls the reader into the book and forces them to get a deep understanding of his main character Pi. He did such an excellent job in composing this novel that I am convinced it happened even though I know it is a fictitious story.
McIlravy 2
Piscine Molitor Patel is unlike any other character we have met in the recent novels we have read this semester. Yan Martel produced an epic narrative called Life of Pi. Pi’s character is instantly introduced and masterfully described throughout the first 93 pages. He in described with intelligence and explained in great detail. We have learned that Pi is religious and humble. He will soon undergo and experience that will change his life and future. Though we are unaware of what will happen, we know it is said to be catastrophic and life changing. Throughout the novel, we learned a great deal about Indian culture and where Pi comes from. His religion and upbringings play a great role in his future and how he will deal with what he has ahead of him. Though this classic novel did not grab my immediate attention, I am excited to learn about his journey and how he survives. While learning about Pi and his religious ways, Martel uses mimesis to talk to the readers directly. In the midst of Pi’s life and behaviors, Martel uses italicized sentences to write from the author’s point of view.
Pi believes he is lucky to have grown up in a zoo. He got to experience the lives of animals, and determine that humans are the worst kinds of animals. Pi becomes curious with religions, and decides to explore. Pi does not have a problem with any religion, and he just believes in what he thinks is right. Many judged Pi for this action, but he did not understand. He was just trying to find what he believed in. He continued to explore his believes and branch out from his family’s culture. Pi’s intelligence and wisdom will help him survive and last throughout his dangerous journey.
Ask 5
The first 93 pages of Life of Pi haven't exactly kept me on the edge of my seat. We need to understand that that's ok. Yann Martel has done this on purpose, and still has made me enjoy his novel greatly. This book does not follow the "cookie cutter" plot line that we were spoon fed in middle school to believe books were supposed to look like.
In Yann Martel's narrative, he has made us deeply care about his character before the worst happens. Pi, the protagonist, is what I call in class "The most tolerant person on the planet", Pi does more than tolerate, he partakes in all these different religions. His reasons behind it are full of ambiguity, but I feel like he believes there is one god, then named separately by man. Pi cares about everybody, he loves people of all religions, and hates none. We as readers can't help but be drawn into liking him. The only types of people I could see not liking him are either racist towards indians, or are hardcore Religious. By that, I mean they hate Pi because he is practicing more than one religion. Yann Martel is the man when it comes to making us love Pi. I am excited to see more symbolism later in the book.
Peltier 1
Pi a character that may be a fictional character but the realism Martel creates with imagery paints Pi as a real human. When I started reading, the book I had to remind myself it was a piece of fiction. All of these events Pi goes through whether it be him finding his religions or seeing death before him, help the reader to understand who Pi is before we learn his story.
Though the first chapters seemed to me as not belonging in the book at this point yet as we move further into the book these chapters will be vital to our understanding of Pi’s relationship with Richard Parker. Mimesis is used constantly in the first 93 pages of Life of Pi. As the scene where Pi’s father demonstrates how a lion is dangerous even though it is in a cage. Many of the things that Pi goes through could have happened to a boy living in India at a zoo. Martel displays Pi as a boy who really partook in these events in many more chapters.
Looking at Life of Pi with a psychoanalytic lens, I saw even though Pi does choose to take part in the three different religions there is an unconscious pull to some religions he cannot explain. How he described his finding of himself in Christianity was not Pi consciously looking to find another religion but the unknown of Christianity intrigued him. Consciously he made the decision to go into the church and see what it was like but throughout the day that he kept going back, he unconsciously becomes a follower of Christianity. While Christianity became part of Pi unconsciously, Martel chooses this to be Pi’s fate. These three religions different yet together in similar beliefs, I feel are in the book to help Pi understand and learn why different events happen. I think Martel intended to let these religions allow Pi to sympathize and relate to the animals. Everyone around Pi is trying to tell him, the boundaries on religious beliefs telling him he can only have one religion, therefore trapping Pi in the similar situation as the animals that mature in the wild being placed in a zoo. Pi relates to these animals as he tries to escape the very box that holds him, like the cage that holds the animals.
Life of Pi with a Marxist lens shows main differences in the book take place in the different levels of religious belief. Pi’s father does not believe in any religion while his son whole-heartedly believes in three religions. Religious could be considered this books money in Life of Pi. Pi’s life may not be rich in money but he is rich in faith; Pi does not seem to care about the money he has a love of knowing there is a bigger force looking out for him unlike his father who does not reach the same realization as he always rely on working to satisfy his need for wealth. Pi’s father may find wealth but he will not find the wealth Pi has found in religion.
Life of Pi is rapidly becoming one of my favorite books we have read in a English class the pure imagery and realism the book contains sparks my interest. These first 93 pages have done more capturing of my attention then The Crucible did last year.
Bachman 1,
Yann Martel is a master of storytelling and develops his characters through action and by written word. Life of Pi is a fantastic narrative following the life a young Indian boy, Piscine Molitor Patel. In the exposition he develops Pi through action, specifically with his love for the animals, and with the mimesis from the author.
Pi’s devotion to the animals really explains a lot about his personality. He respects the animals and yet he fears them. Having a stern father that wishes for his sons to be strong adults, Pi was exposed to the truth about the tiger especially, when his father makes him watch the tiger maul and eat the goat. Based on the psychoanalytic/Freudian lens you could see that Pi is the Id in this situation by playing with the tiger, and his brother tries to be responsible and tell their father, therefore he fills the role of the superego. Also based on the way Pi describes everything he sees you really get to understand how this man was as a child. All of his loves, fears, aspirations, and vices are revealed through his own perspectives on life.
Another way in which the character of Pi is developed is through his belief and practice of many religions at the same time. Despite being told numerous time that it is impossible to believe in multiple religions, Pi show determination and curiosity as he pursues his interest in the Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. Looking through the Feminist Lens, Pi probably has a great respect for his mother and all women because his mother was the only person to believe that he can practice any religion and let him grow to be a strong adult.
Finally his character is developed through the periodic interaction with the adult version of Pi and an unknown author that is interviewing him. Through the third party description of the man a lot of insight can be seen about his character. He is a small man who is only 5’5” and has a skinny frame. This does not seem like the type of man that could survive alone for many months. This shows that the character has heart and determination.
Yann Martel artfully crafts his main character in the exposition not with action, but with description. Martel’s unmatched style is present at the novel’s start; he varies sentence structure, writes conversationally, and employs beautiful metaphors. Pi casually expresses his personality before thrusting readers into an intense plotline. As an author, Martel demonstrates poise and patience by creating 93 pages of relative calmness before introducing the story’s true action. Keeping readers engaged with a lengthy exposition is not an easy task, yet he does so seamlessly. Martel develops Pi’s character by making him seem both relatable and mysterious. Pi is mature beyond his years as a young boy and possesses a respect for all people, despite their journeys in faith (or lack thereof). At the same time, some of Pi’s beliefs or reactions to his surroundings are initially confusing. One paradox is evident when Pi’s mother defends her son while he is being taught a lesson too harshly: “I could see she had tears in her eyes. I felt better” (36). We are usually brought to more pain when we see our loved ones in despair, but this moment gives Pi a feeling of belonging. His mother weeps for him because he matters.
Yann Martel’s writing can be analyzed with various lenses. I believe there is evidence of social messages that can be observed through a Marxist lens . The animals have formed their own social ranks, and the higher class animals sit back on “colourful barrels” (like the cars and houses of rich humans) as the lower class animals fight for chances to rise in status. Also a mouse is finally allowed to live in coexistence with the snakes, but when one snake points out the species’ “ignorance” to society’s rigid rules, the others pounce. A psychoanalytic lens provides interesting insight to the story’s meaning, as well. Yann Martel may be writing about Pi’s transition from India to Canada in part due to his experiences as a child; Martel spent time in France, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada during his childhood, so he understands the difficulty of leaving life in one country for another. Writers are undeniably observant, and Martel placed parts of his emotions and experiences into Life of Pi while still speaking through a fictional--yet real--character.
Pi is an interesting character whose words instantly become important to readers. Upon reading Part One of his journey, I can confidently declare a paradox of my own: the exposition of Martel’s novel is intriguing because of its simplicity and amazing because of its complexity.
Yann Martel did a fantastic job of developing our new protagonist: Pi Patel. In the span of only ninety-three pages, I came to know Pi as if I've known him my whole life. One of the most novel ways Martel develops Pi in the novel is through his use of dual narration. The reader gets a unique opportunity to meet Pi both through the eyes of Pi and through the eyes of the unnamed author. This mimesis makes the reader think that they could drive to Canada and meet Pi.
It seems that Pi is also developed with subliminal messages. His name, Pi, is an irrational expression, perhaps foreshadowing the irrational things that are about to happen to him or perhaps to show that he is an irrational deviant of a protagonist compared to traditional narrators. I also looked at Pi from the colors that surrounded him. As archetypes, the colors red and gold (on Pi's prayer mat) represent passion and wealth respectively. Martel could be subliminally saying that Pi is rich in religious passion, which we can also confirm from other, more direct examples. Some of the things that Pi does also give us insight into his personality, such as his practice of three, separate, clashing religions. We can assume that someone who would devoutly practice three religions must be rather curious, passionate, understanding, and intellectually gifted to some degree.
Due to our two distinct narrators, it seems that Pi is directly characterized twice as fast and in two separate stages of his life.
We learn that physically, Pi is a small, dark haired, dark eyed, and dark skinned man, but he is very bright as we learned from his school experiences. From a Marxist standpoint, we can see that Pi is accustomed to adversity. He lost the genetic lottery, being born into a poor family in an under developed country. He was also born a small and nonathletic child, especially compared to Ravi, who seems to be a son from a father's dream. I think that these disadvantages will ultimately aid Pi in his survival on the life raft. Only someone who is accustomed to adversity can overcome copious amounts of it.
In the first 93 pages of Life of Pi, Martel has developed a distinctly unique style of storytelling in which he establishes his main character, Pi Patel. Switching between first person narrations of Pi’s childhood to snippets of Martel’s own observations, this remarkable individual grows in our minds. As the story begins, we hear from an adult Pi Patel who has been deeply affected in ways we have yet to discover. There is something mysterious and aloof about Pi, yet he is insightful about the world around him and firm in his beliefs. He is the kind of character that keeps you reading. Then, as we delve into the story of his childhood, we begin to comprehend some of his culture, history, and personality.
From the very beginning, Pi is meant to be read as our archetypal hero. His uniqueness ranging from his name to his religious practices, Pi beats the odds in countless situations. We can infer that, while obedient and respectful of his superiors, Pi does not like to be told what to do or how to act. When dubbed with the nickname “Pissing”, Piscine reinvents himself as Pi. A natural born leader and thinker, he gives his strategy careful consideration and then moves forth in a confident manner. Pi also faces adversity in what can be considered his strongest and strangest feature, faith. From a Marxist standpoint, Pi seems to be born into a money-worshiping, capitalistic family. He is the only Patel to truly embrace not only one, but three different religions. A practicing Hindu all his life, Pi discovers Christianity at age 13 and by age 15 he has adopted the Islamic faith as well. Pi has an outstanding capacity to believe, even if others do not agree with his tri-partisanship. He lives his life how he chooses and as he says on page 69, “I just want to love God.”
Pi’s character would not be complete if it weren't for numerous other factors as well. Growing up at the Pondicherry Zoo gave Pi insight into the role and nature of humanity that many are oblivious of their entire lives. The mentors Martel chooses to include also shape Pi’s personality. Mamaji teaches Pi to swim; Mr. Kumar (the science teacher) introduces the idea of atheism; Mr. Kumar (the baker) introduces the idea of Islam; Father Martin teaches Pi the love of Christianity and, finally, his father teaches him that animals aren't friends and that humans are the most dangerous animal of them all. Each of these men, along with all of Pi’s struggles and successes, have helped to mold Pi into the character he is and will become.
Knudtson 5
Yann Martel expertly writes this first person narrative, 93-page exposition. Martel also adds to the book through his own thoughts and imput via italized print. I really enjoy learning about the culture of India and Piscince’s growing stages, primarilly because I was very impressed by his faith and open-mindedness. Yann Martel develops Pi overtly, but mainly covertly. This is done in Pi's name; Pi was named after the French pool Piscine Molitor, the best pool ever swum in by Pi’s family friend Francis Adirubasamy. Pi grew up calling him Mamaji. Mamaji meaning an uncle out of respect, covertly showing us of his kind and loving nature. It is overtly shown because he was named after the best pool, and he will come to traverse the larger pool, and by far much more powerful pool known as the Pacific Ocean. Some details are not quite described by the culture of India
besides his Hinduism basis, in the exposition we learn how Pi becomes the multi-religious character we see him as. This is not how I expected Pi’s culture to be like, as most to be like, as most people would believe culture is the mainstream thoughts on fashion and such trends, what everyone follows save for a few outcasts. Pi is no outcast, he may be extraordinary, though still not an outcast. I define culture on a more individual echelon, Pi’s culture would include his Christian and Islamic viewpoints. The Patel family is dominated by the economy, looking at this exposition in a Marxist Lens we would see how the economy and money has affected the family. The lack of money eventually led to the demise of their business in Pondicherry, thus causing them to move out of India. The Archetypal Lens gives insight to Pi’s character as water symbolizes cleansing, and renewal. Not only is the setting of the book primarily in the Pacific Ocean, Pi is named after a pool of water. Pi, 3.14, is used frequently throughout this book in deep meaning and I hope we, as a class, find these clues as we transgress the exposition, into the Pacific.
Martel develops Pi masterfully throughout the first 93 pages. We are introduced to Pi as a young boy as he encounters how he obtained his infamous name. The name Pi is cleverly picked to showcase Pi's intelligence, which will come in handy later. Pi also talks about his older brother, Ravi, who is a local legend of an athlete. It seems as though Martel is trying to covertly tell us that Pi is not supposed to be like Ravi. Another interesting idiosyncrasy of Pi Patel is his religious views. He is Hindu, Christian, and Muslim all at once. I believe Martel is making a statement to the reader here by suggesting that peace between religions is in fact possible. The < b >culture is also introduced with Pi narrating for us the different aspects of life in India. The author also gives us a little bit of culture through < b >mimesis by detailing how Pi, now 40, would cook him spicy Indian food. Looking at the book from a < b >feminist is intriguing. There has only been one major female character introduced so far. The lack of woman in the novel may suggest the non importance of women in society, or it may simply be coincidence. Pi is viewed from the beginning of the novel as the < b >archetypal hero because of the way he acts. We know the book ends well, as the author says so on page 93. We can almost infer that Pi will perform some type of heroic act within the novel.
Anderson 5
In the “Life of Pi”, Yann Martel begins with introducing Pi by telling how he got his name. Piscine Moliter Patel, named after a swimming pool, gets made fun of at school. On the first day, he does something about it by going up to the board and telling everyone that he wants to go by Pi. He writes on the board explaining this by putting 3.14 on the board. The students and teachers listen, which makes him proud. By using this name, Pi shows he is going to be very powerful throughout the book. You can tell this because Pi is a very important mathematical term, and also by the way he stands up for himself at school. Yann Martel was able to capture all the right information to be able to display this novel as a narrative. He focuses on how he writes the book. For example, he goes back and forth from the story to the conversation between the author and Pi, which does a great job of explaining what is going on throughout the book. Martel also uses mimesis throughout the book. He does this by using the chapters in italics to write and explain to us, the readers, how the story came to be and how he got the information. Yann Martel shows us a Marxist Lenses when Pi’s father takes them to see the tiger and the goat. The tiger symbolizes the upper class and the goat shows the lower class. The tiger kills and eats the goat which shows he is higher on the food chain. Just like the upper class is thought to be more important than the lower class. When looking at Pi through an archetypal lenses, he seems to be confident in what he is doing. He wants to experience being the leader in his life, rather than have someone tell him what he should do. He shows this by being a part of all three religions even though that is thought to be absurd.
Murtha 5
In Yann Martel’s classic, Life of Pi the audience is introduced to the character Piscine Molitor Patel. Up to page 93 we have learned very interesting parts of Pi’s life. He was named after a pool in Paris that a close friend Mamaji had swam in while studying. It is not ironic that the name Piscine means water and his name is very symbolic in itself. He became nicknamed Pi after he was bullied by classmates that called him Pissing Patel. Pi made a new name for himself and a lot of us never really have been given a good example of this, but Pi changed his life by just creating a nickname. Even at a young age we can see that Pi is the super ego in the Freudian lens. He his intelligent beyond his years and very curious throughout the chapters we have read.
Pi is always seeking to explore new religions and he becomes entangled in Hinduism, Christianity, and Muslim. His curiosity for different types of religions I am foreshadowing will save him while on his journey with Richard Parker, a journey that he references on page 6. Richard Parker is a tiger that is part of Pi’s father’s zoo. The zoo follows a Marxist way of life. The animals can be split up into the three different classes: the upper, middle, and lower class. Richard Parker would fall under the upper class because he is born with the right traits to dominate over all the other animals, if given the chance. Some could say that Pi could fall under the upper class as well, not because he is well off but because he seems to have the traits to dominate over his society. He exceeds his brother in the mental aspect of life and I feel that his is respected by many even if they don’t admit it. I am interested to see if my predictions of Pi being the upper class in a Marxist lens hold up throughout the book.
Dietz 7
I feel like I understand Pi’s childhood very clearly. He gives an immeasurable amount of detail in everything he talks about. He uses the animals to show society’s values and how society is. This is a lense. An symbol I saw in this book so far was the white for religion. In each of the religions he observed he described how they were wearing white or how he saw white. This is meant to symbolize how pure religion is. Black should not be matched with religion. He backs this up by defending religion when his biology teacher, Mr. Kumar, says that religion is darkness. The rest of the exposition explains how it is not darkness. He feels very passionately about religion because he has three of them. The beginning of the novel uses the literary device of . This means that it is not real but it could be. This helps us take a step back and look at what he has written and relate it to ourselves and society. So far, this book could have been nonfiction. The story imitates real life situations and Martel talks to the reader in some of the paragraphs in the book. Another part of literature that this piece evokes is . This is not where the author, but the author’s work comes from. The author did not come from many places but the story does. He actually went to India to write this book. The book can show the culture of India because it was written in India and the author was lucky enough to be able to live there and eat their food. The author’s work came from his own experience of listening to someone else’s experience. It helps show all the different culture in our world that we would not necessarily think about if we had not read this book. He makes the book very personal by writing it in first person. It also makes it believable.
Beldin 1
When I started reading the first few pages of Pi’s story I was immediately captivated by the details of this narrative. Reading the authors note starts the novel off with a great sense of mystery. The reader knows of an epic adventure a character will endure, that will supposedly make someone believe in God. The first 93 pages spend a great amount of time trying to develop Pi as a round character. Pi himself is a greatly unorthodox character. He is irrational in his name, religious views, and how he was raised. Pi was raised by an atheist father who believes in capitalism, and a mother who was raised Hindu and sent to a Baptist school. Pi’s own brother doesn't seem to find much interest in anything other then sports. Not only is Pi’s family irrational but, Pi himself is the very definition. Pi’s name is a symbol for a continuous irrational number. He tries his very hardest to practice three religions that have few similarities.
In the first 93 pages, a reader will realize that it’s not just the characters that are irrational, but, also the way the story is being written. The constant use of mimesis leads a reader to believe that the story is really a true happening. The fictitious author is constantly pulling the reader into his conversations he has with the much grown Pi. The reader doesn’t question if the story is fiction, because immediately they will believe all they are hearing is true. Nowhere in the entire first pages does a person interpret the story as a tale made up by a man. I also believe Martel wanted all who read to believe in this miraculous story, to show them power in faith.
When viewing Pi through a Marxist Lens we immediately know Pi wasn't blessed enough to win a genetic lottery. He has dark skin and dark hair; he is small in stature and lives in an under-developed region. His family is poor and during the later part of his teens his family owns a zoo to make a living. He also, doesn't fit smoothly in the social classes that are so strictly set. He is a member of various religions, unlike many in India who are either Hindu or Muslim.
“Life of Pi can also be interpreted through a Archetypal Lens. There are constant symbols of water through the novel. Water often means birth in a Christian faith. Pi following the Christian faith wanted to be baptized. Pi is also named after a body of water, or a pool. Also, Pi’s prayer rug was made of gold and red fabrics, which often represent wealth and riches. Although, Pi isn't very rich in society he is rich in faith.
Hall 5
In Life of Pi ,Yann Martel does a great job evoking readers emotions making us show great passion for a character we have never met. Throughout this 93 page exposition, we learn of Pi’s unique culture. Patel practices multiple religions, such as: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, which makes for a phenomenal character. We are so used to conformity and consistency that we become intrigued by Pi. By using this fascinating character Yann is able to create a superb narrative. I am a fan of novels written in first person for it draws me closer to the story. I believe I am this way because of our society. Once a story is passed around through multiple people its hard to believe everything that happened. Sometimes you can not trust such fables. However, when hearing it from the man who experienced such crazy events makes it seem more real.
I enjoyed viewing the cover through an Archetypal lens. Blue representing: trust, wisdom, and peace, was found covering the entire casing. In the exposition we had to read for today’s class we can already see the wisdom Pi contains. He is highly intellectual and open-minded. Later, we will be able to see the relation between the blue color that’s surrounded Pi for so long and the peace and trust he will find. Another way to view this story is through a Marxist lens. This can represent the social classes in our society. Pi’s father shows the power of the higher class by releasing a goat in front of Richard Parker, a tiger. This lens views the higher classes always above the lower classes which prevails true in this book.
Kara pd.2
Martel is a very talented author and that shows through in the first 93 pages of this < b > narrative < / b >. Martel develops Pi in a way that gets the reader attached to him by showing us his life through Pi's and the unnamed author's viewpoints. The use of this < b > mimesis < / b > makes the reader develop an even closer relationship with Pi.
As I read further into this novel could tell Pi could fall under the category if a < b > archetypal hero < / b >. It is assumed that at some point he will overcome a great hardship. Water is very symbolic in this exposition because it means rebirth/baptism. It is also the reasoning for Pi's full name. Pi gets baptized into Christianity and later on will be "baptized" by the Pacific Ocean. From a < b > Marxist < / b > viewpoint Pi has lost the genetic lottery. He is born into a poor family that lives in a country that seems to be having problems with its government. He is small and not as popular or athletic as his older brother, Ravi.
Yann has wonderfully crafted these first 93 chapters by teaching us about Pi's life, and the clever placement of the different chapters. The placement of the chapter where Pi's father shows him and Ravi how dangerous animals can really be, is genius. In this chapter Martel is trying to show the connection between how cruel wild animals can be to how brutal humans have been to each other in the past usually over religious reasons.
I find Life of Pi especially intriguing because it is both a narrative and a story, all at once. One could focus on the various literary devices that Yann Martel uses, ranging from metaphors and similes to alliteration and allusions to various other stories or religions. His use of the “author” of the book breaking into the story is also a fascinating element. It’s not often that the reader gets to catch a glimpse inside the mind of the writer, and the jumps to the present in the novel are often humorous and relevant to the surrounding chapters in some way. Also, similar to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the chapters seem to jump around in time, place, or thought. However, in the first 93 pages, we are introduced to the story as well. Piscine Molitor Patel recounts his experiences from his childhood. We find out his extensive knowledge of animals, his life in the zoo, his conflicts (or rather, lack of) with religion, his family, and much more. There are many humorous anecdotes scattered throughout these pages. Yann Martel is building his character in Part One, creating his archetypal hero before the rising action even begins.
On another note, Life of Pi displays quite a lot of mimesis. I doubt Yann Martel grew up in a zoo, but his depiction of life inside of one seems realistic. He put in the time to research zoo life, and his studies are reflected in the knowledge Pi imparts to us readers. Pi himself is a believable character, even if his life seems to be more fantastical than ours. He doesn't start out being the top kid on the block, being genuinely smart or super-humanly strong. He’s an average kid who gets picked on for his highly unusual name like any child does. I can relate to Pi. His older brother was well-known at his school, just as mine was. J.W. didn’t excel in sports, but academically he far surpassed me, and most of my teachers recognized me as “J.W.’s little sister” freshman year. Once again, Pi’s life is extraordinary, but realistic.
One criticism I’d have of this book when looking through a feminist lens is the lack of female characters that influence Pi’s life. The only recurring woman is his mother, and so far she has only shown to fit that motherly role of protecting her child. She opposed to her husband’s plan to strike fear of the animals into her children by forcing them to watch a goat being devoured right in front of him, and she cried for them after it happened (mourning their loss of innocence, I’m guessing). Other than his mother, all of the people who have influenced Pi’s life have been male. Both Mr. Kumars, the Father at the church, his father, the Hindu Brahman at the temple. All important characters, and all men. Other than that, I love the book so far. Great choice, Mr. C. :)
Antrim 5
Martel creates a character that no one can forget. Piscine Molitor Patel, is a boy/man with culture. Most stories start off with a short introduction about the main character giving a brief summary of their life and personality. Martel takes roughly 93 pages to develop the character. Although this is unusual for a book it is a wonderful choice he made. Through the 93 pages Martel develops Piscine(Pi) extremely well. Pi is a boy who is always a good boy, does what he’s told and so on. Pi starts off in the book as a proud Hindu. When Pi is on a vacation there are two places of worship facing each other on mountains. Pi goes to observe the buildings and discovers Christianity. With Christianity, Pi detects a whole other side to himself. Later on he is in a bakery and he encounters a man, Mr. Baker, who is Muslim. It is at this moment he falls in love with the Muslim religion. Martel uses the three religions to help mold and shape Pi into a more understanding person.
It is easy to look at Life of Pi through the Marxist lenses. Throughout the novel, Martel gives examples of this through animals. For example, Pi’s dad feeding the goat to the lion. This shows that the goat is lower class and nobody really care what it thinks about what happens and the lion gets what it wants. Food. “If we had politicians like these goats and rhinos we’d have fewer problems in our country.” Pi’s father says this in the novel directed at the rhinos that live in harmony with the goats. They are on different levels of the food chain yet they don't hate each other and want to kill one another. This helps shape Pi into a man who will accept everyone for who they are
The Life of Pi is a classic and hopefully always will be. It is to my surprise that Life of Pi has not become a canon yet.
Kruse 1
Yann Martel’s work is particularly masterful because he is creating a narrative for us. He is telling us the story in a new way, it is how he tells it. When writers compose, I believe that they are putting a piece of their soul into their work that gives a story authenticity. Life of Pi promises to be a masterful work in just the first few pages. Martel uses classic “tricks” such as varying chapter length to add interest and to emphasize parts of the book. It includes beautiful phrases reminiscent of the eloquent writing style of earlier days, but has controversial topics that make it relevant. Intentionalism is something that will probably come up and be debated as we delve deeper into the novel; in part I think this because of some of the past e-mail responses I have read that were from Mr. Martel. He definitely seems to know where he is going and what he wants to evoke with the novel; however, he does say that the book now belongs to the readers. We get to have the pleasure of finding meanings that are important to us and our processes as we read this text. I think a piece of work is already considered masterful if it elicits an emotional and thought-provoking response from the reader or viewer, and Yann Martel is certainly eliciting responses from our class.
Throughout this exposition, Pi is having many religious epiphanies. With a usual style of writing I may have questioned whether he would take on more religions, but we see that in present time he is still participating in the same three. I question may be, “Why doesn’t he take on more religions?” Does Pi practice the religions he does because they are in his area? What if he was exposed to more? As Piscine reflects on his childhood, we see a lot of surface development. His actions, encounters, and environment are shaping his views. Under the surface Piscine is definitely conflicted at first. I love the realization that he has, that one does not simply have to choose one religion. He questions appropriately, not to find fault, but because he is inquisitive. I love that his questions bring him closer to God, even though they are not always answered in ways that are expected, or sometimes, answered at all.
Mathematics is highly logical, but within mathematics there are uncertainties. Irrational numbers abound, such as Pi. For people who devoutly follow a religion, the religion itself has been accepted to them as highly logical. As an outsider of a religion, it can be looked upon with contempt and uncertainty. I think that Pi has developed his mind well, and has strong spiritual connections and a certain contentedness. He took a great leap of faith when he decided to follow more than one religion, and I think that his faith will be severely tested as we continue to hear his story.
Kara pd.2 (I published my comment above before I was finished)
Martel is a very talented author and that shows through in the first 93 pages of this < b > narrative < / b >. Martel develops Pi in a way that gets the reader attached to him by showing us his life through Pi's and the unnamed author's viewpoints. The use of this < b > mimesis < / b > makes the reader develop an even closer relationship with Pi.
As I read further into this novel could tell Pi could fall under the category if a < b > archetypal hero < / b >. It is assumed that at some point he will overcome a great hardship. Water is very symbolic in this exposition because it means rebirth/baptism. It is also the reasoning for Pi's full name. Pi gets baptized into Christianity and later on will be "baptized" by the Pacific Ocean. From a < b > Marxist < / b > viewpoint Pi has lost the genetic lottery. He is born into a poor family that lives in a country that seems to be having problems with its government. He is small and not as popular or athletic as his older brother, Ravi.
Yann has wonderfully crafted these first 93 chapters by teaching us about Pi's life, and the clever placement of the different chapters. The placement of the chapter where Pi's father shows him and Ravi how dangerous animals can really be, is genius. In this chapter Martel is trying to show the connection between how cruel wild animals can be to how brutal humans have been to each other in the past usually over religious reasons.
Having Pi worship three different religions makes for an interesting character. I am used to associating with mostly Christian people so reading about Hinduism and Islam is very interesting. I think the older generations in my family can be very close-minded and they do not consider that other people can worship other religions and not be dangerous or scary people. Like Pi states in the novel he realizes all religions are about love.
I wouldn't call this exposition masterful; although Martel's prose is commendably easy to understand and filled with humor, I can't bring myself to call it masterful.
In particular, I don't like the way he generalizes the nonreligious, the agnostics and atheists. By definition, atheism is a lack of a belief in god, and it bothers me that Martel claimed that "every word they speak speaks of faith" (28). This is not true, at least not in the sense that Martel intends the reader to understand it. It seems to me that Martel intends the reader to look at atheism as a religion, which supremely bothers me. What bothers me more, however, is Martel's callous characterizations of agnostics on page 64, and, most of all, his calling reason "that fool's gold for the bright" (p. 5).
Perhaps I should've preempted the previous paragraph in saying that I'm making the assumption (perhaps an incorrect one?) that Martel is speaking through Pi, as Pi is the narrator.
Anyways, to the required elements:
Martel uses culture to characterize Pi in a number of ways; in particular, he uses Pi’s upbringing in India to give context to Pi’s ability to adapt three different religions. India is perhaps the only place in the world where this could be possible: a Hindu majority, a large Islamic minority, and a near-total lack of Christianity, except for in the schools, which allows Pi to have an opportunity to encounter three separate theisms.
Another (rather obvious) term Tuesday example is the narrative Martel uses to tell Pi’s story. This will, I think, later provide a much more personal experience while Pi struggles to stay alive on his lifeboat. If some omniscient narrator were to tell the story, it would be much less interesting of a story.
An archetypal example in Life of Pi is when Pi references experiences that Jesus went through while describing himself. He does so at least twice; on page 5, Pi claims that the waiter reprimanding him was like having “nails being driven into [his] flesh”, and later describes his being called “Pissing Patel” as his “crown of thorns.” Pi is intentionally comparing himself to Jesus, for a reason (as of page 93) unknown.
When analyzing Life of Pi from a feminist viewpoint, surprisingly little material is available to work with. The only woman in Pi’s narrative is his mother, the character who is, by far, the most emotionally unstable character thus far. His mother is the only one who cries and is definitely the most outwardly-hesitant member of the Patel family to leave India.
The 93-page exposition was particularly masterful as it expressed every possible question you could wonder about and hope to have answered. With the immense detail, however, Martel has come across the issue of giving too much information at times. With the excessive detail into smaller matters.
From mimesis to dialogue, the exposition is one of odd creations. The constant telling of how Pi grew from a young boy in school to a developing teen with religious questions almost seemed like the readers had to suffer through every day with him. Many of the religious background stories seem to try and disprove all of those that choose to not believe in anything and make those against religion feel like they are left out of the story. Much of the story so far has excluded me and really repelled me from it, so the effort that I have taken into reading really lacks compared to GOOD books.
The overall feel of the book, and Piscine in general, is isolated partially by the culture , but not the milieu , from India. The lack of feminist ideas so far in the book, especially with how Pi’s father is often quoted and talked about while his mother seems over-looked more than concerned with, is a bit of a struggle for me to be satisfied with. Pi’s superego that tries to make everyone happy when he goes to each religion’s respective area gives the Freudian principle credibility. His Id however, forces Piscine to be confused on what he truly wants. Piscine seems to want to be the center of everything that he likes and by doing so he is satisfying his Id by doing everything that makes him self-fulfilled.
Pi is a developing character that right now seems fairly one-dimensional, transparent, and uninteresting.
Long 1
In this 93 page long exposition, we learn an immense amount about Piscine Molitor Patel—other wise known as Pi. Yann Martel did an excellent job of developing the main character. This excellently written narrative really makes you believe that you are walking along side Pi on any given day listening to the countless stories he has to share. I felt that there might have been a little too much detail in the exposition, however. Any person reading this novel would be able to put together that culture was very important to Martel, as he has put forth numerous efforts to get his point across. What is intriguing about this novel is that Martel uses an author within the book to tell Pi’s story. This form of writing definitely catches the readers attention.
One way you could look at this novel is through a Feminist lens. Throughout this 93 page exposition, we have only learned about one female character, Pi’s mother. Could this show that women are/were viewed less important than men in India? Possibly so. I found this very interesting. I have not read on deeper into the novel, but I am sure that there will be other women characters that we come across.
Pi is named after the grand pool, the Piscine Molitor—otherwise known as being the best swimming pool that Mamaji has ever experienced. This foreshadows the up and coming “pool” that Pi will be swimming in—the ocean. By looking through the Archetypal lens, we can see that water is a very important aspect in the novel. Water is known as a cleansing and rebirthing symbol. Pi becomes a very good swimmer, and by swimming in the Pacific, he will be “reborn” and totally changed into a new person.
Smith, 5
Out of a hundred motive chapters, Yann Martel depicts a narrative that cannot be compared—soon to find this particular novel accepted into the canon. Masterfully exemplifying the disposition of Piscine Molitor Patel, the author blatantly and covertly reveals his character. Yann Martel finds a way to speak to his readers through his book. An Italicized font is replaced in multiple chapters, as it is the indication that the author is trying to stealthily connect to the speaker as he shares his personal thoughts. For example, in chapter 2, Yann Martel strictly illustrates what he knows of Piscine Patel for us, the readers… “He’s a small, slim man--no more than five foot five. Dark hair, dark eyes…” Ingeniously, this is a superb way, without a doubt, to connect with the main character and the author!
Right away in chapter 5, Piscine’s attitude is pronounced as he walks up to the chalkboard with determination and deliberately scribbles his “new” name down--Pi Patel, =3.14. Creatively, Pi is a significant name as it is also a significant number. With in the 93-page exposition, Pi’s cultured views are prominent, however, his views of religion are undulating. What I find the most fascinating is Pi’s willpower to chose his own religion, by himself, without consuming peer pressure, although it is shown that he deeply cares about others. At the young age of ten, Pi seeks for his true spirituality between 3 religions. I believe that Pi picks and chooses what he desires and wants out of the 3 religions he studies.
It is pointed out that Piscine was named after a swimming pool that his parents admired and Piscine became a fine swimmer, unlike his parents. But looking with archetypal criticism, you (the reader) finds that the novel is based off of water. Pi’s is surrounded by water for almost a year. But, us the reader know that water is purified, and a symbol of life. Therefore does Pi’s journey in the ocean purify him into a new man throughout the story? Reaching page 93 only led to an apprehensive feeling as it is stated that the book will have a happy ending!
Gingles 7
Yann Martel is amazing at developing Pi’s character a quality which all authors should have if they want their book to be classified as a canon. When we start the book, we learn all about Pi’s name. He is named after a beautiful swimming pool, but because it sounds like “pissing” he was constantly made fun of at school. We know that he is inventive and active because he decided to make himself known by another name. He does this by giving a brief math lesson in which he explains that people can call him “Pi”. The next thing we learn about Pi is that he is very animal intelligent. Piscine grew up in a zoo and enjoys observing the animals. Because of this, he observes different habits of animals like the way they assert their territory and the way that they can become accustomed to animals not of their species.
Woessner 7
Throughout the first 93 pages of Life of Pi, Yann Martel develops Piscine Molitor Patel’s character extremely well using some great imagery. This book is kind of a mix between a fiction story and a novel. In the beginning, Martel talks about how Pi got his unique name. One of Pi’s father’s business friends was named Francis Adirubasamy. Francis was a champion competitive swimmer, and he traveled all over the place competing in different competitions. One of his favorite pools was the Piscine Molitor, which is what Pi got his name from. When Pi was growing up, he decided that he wanted to explore what other religions and cultures were like, outside of his native Hinduism. With the input of one of the Kumars, Pi wanted to study religion in his later schooling years. Pi sees an Islamic man that drops to his knees and starts to pray, and this interests Pi quite a lot, so he starts to look into Islam. His biology teacher, the other Kumar, is an atheist. This also sparks and interest in Pi’s mind, so he starts to study up on atheism. I liked how Martel talked about Pi’s father, Santosh Patel. Martel told us how Santosh explained to Pi and Ravi that the animals in the zoo can be very dangerous, and he demonstrated this by feeding a goat to a tiger when Pi and Ravi were still young boys. That had to affect their minds greatly. Martel also sets Pi apart from other people when he talks about the viper eating the mouse. He said that he feels like “even the adult viper, as it swallowed the mouse, must have felt somewhere in its undeveloped mind a twinge of regret, a feeling that something greater was just missed, and imaginative leap away from the lonely, crude reality of a reptile.” I don’t think normal people would think of this as regretful, because we as humans eat animals all the time. I can’t wait to complete this classic.
Woessner 7
Throughout the first 93 pages of Life of Pi, Yann Martel develops Piscine Molitor Patel’s character extremely well using some great imagery. This book is kind of a mix between a fiction story and a novel. In the beginning, Martel talks about how Pi got his unique name. One of Pi’s father’s business friends was named Francis Adirubasamy. Francis was a champion competitive swimmer, and he traveled all over the place competing in different competitions. One of his favorite pools was the Piscine Molitor, which is what Pi got his name from. When Pi was growing up, he decided that he wanted to explore what other religions and cultures were like, outside of his native Hinduism. With the input of one of the Kumars, Pi wanted to study religion in his later schooling years. Pi sees an Islamic man that drops to his knees and starts to pray, and this interests Pi quite a lot, so he starts to look into Islam. His biology teacher, the other Kumar, is an atheist. This also sparks and interest in Pi’s mind, so he starts to study up on atheism. I liked how Martel talked about Pi’s father, Santosh Patel. Martel told us how Santosh explained to Pi and Ravi that the animals in the zoo can be very dangerous, and he demonstrated this by feeding a goat to a tiger when Pi and Ravi were still young boys. That had to affect their minds greatly. Martel also sets Pi apart from other people when he talks about the viper eating the mouse. He said that he feels like “even the adult viper, as it swallowed the mouse, must have felt somewhere in its undeveloped mind a twinge of regret, a feeling that something greater was just missed, and imaginative leap away from the lonely, crude reality of a reptile.” I don’t think normal people would think of this as regretful, because we as humans eat animals all the time. I can’t wait to complete this classic.
Klamm 2
Martel develops Piscine Molitor Patel, better known as Pi, quite extensively in the first 93 pages of this < b >narrative. We get the description of what Pi physically looks like: "a small, slim man--no more than five foot five." This is through < b >mimesis, where the author, be it Martel or a fictitious author, interrupts and interjects the story with his own observations of Pi, his home and how he is living now. The physical descriptions of Pi and his surroundings are very important because they bring us into the fast paced, chaotic country of India, a subcontinent many of us have not and likely will never visit. We need all this background to know literally Pi's background. We need to know where Pi comes from and why we should care that a small Indian boy is stuck out in the Pacific Ocean with a tiger. Martel knows this and masterfully shows us Indian and what a character from Indian would experience. We also and more importantly get what Pi spiritually looks like. He has a pure soul that is very receptive to religion, which can be seen when Pi is almost literally drawn to the Christian faith by the story of Jesus. He is drawn to every religion that is available to him, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. We are told in the beginning that this story is going to make us believe in God. We however are not told which god we are being drawn to believe in.
This exposition is rife with fodder for a literary criticism,be it from the Feminist, Marxist, Archetypal or lesser known lens perspectives. The< b >archetypal lens is the one that jump to the forefront of my thought when i consider this book through a lens. We are given numerous descriptions of water and water is a very important symbol in the Archetypal tool belt with its meaning of purification, redemption and growth. The growth aspect is especially seen when Pi learns how to swim, conquers his fear (and his mother's) and becomes a successful swimmer. We can also analize through a < b >Marxist lense and focus on money matters and how that affects Pi. Pi and his family are not considered rich as they only own a zoo and are only truly the owners of the animals. Pi's family is then not overly concerned with money because they have enough to survive and be comfortable. This allows Pi to go out and do things like convert to three religions and visit many religious services throughout the week. If money would have been more of an issue, Pi would not be able to wander off and be idle but would have to be put to work helping his family make money to survive.
When it comes to narratives, “Life of Pi” seems to be one of the most inspiring and clever I have ever had the absolute delight of indulging in. Piscine Molitor Patel is not only Yann Martel’s main character, but also the narrator. This caught my attention in a strange way because the fact that he is the narrator of the story really built a bond with me, and I assume the same of many other readers too. The bond is so easily formed because Pi is narrating the story, and he seems to be extra special if to say, and seems to mean more to me as a reader when he is more than your ordinary character. This is a spectacular example of mimesis, where the author hints and talks directly to the reader and lets us know things that would be hard to put into the story without this literary device. Another interesting thing about this book is that though other characters are heavily explained and described, Pi’s physical appearance seem to be a bit mysterious, which bothers me when I think about him as a main character because he is the only character most readers need to build an image of. However, we meet him personally through his writing and his personality throughout the entire book as it seems by the first section. Pi also practices three religions which include Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. I think this is symbolic for his sense for adventure even though he was likely not necessarily looking for the adventure he so accidently ended up in. When you use a psychoanalytical lens on the story, Pi could not just be in the three categories of his religions, but also those of his patience, cunning, and his determination to survive, which really tells a lot about his character. More lenses can be tested, such as archetypal, which is one of the most interesting in my opinion. This includes the many natural symbols that go seemingly unnoticed all too often, such as water. Water is talked about profusely throughout just the very first one hundred pages. Pi’s name involves water, his uncle who swam in every pool in Europe talked about water quality at all the pools in Europe, and of course the immense ocean in which Pi will inevitably become entrapped.
The beginning prelude to the the actual living and learning of Pi is an excellent preparation for us the readers to truly experience this spiritual journey by experiencing his thoughts and emotions and exploring his psyche through his tribulations and conformations. These one-hundred pages grasp the reader’s attention as Pi shares his many exotic beliefs and leaves very little to the imagination to wonder what more this open minded youth could possibly learn. Martel’s literary style transitions from reality which is contorted into fiction (which is how he describes fiction), and, in doing so, he creates Piscine in the most realistic fashion possible. Pi becomes a more relatable character because of this, since we all exist and we believe he actually exists too. We learn about Pi’s influences such as his parents, mentors, peers, and even animals and how much support he has gotten from them which will contrast with the rest of the book being mostly in isolation. With so much being dealt within such a small section of the book it will make Pi learn to take in much (with roughly 100 more pages than the first section) with very little being given since he will be abandoned at sea with his own devices. Martel does an excellent job of applying mimesis in order to congeal the half fiction interludes of the book and the whole fiction content all while expressing his knowledge of many cultures coming together. As for the archetypal symbols of the book, Pi’s character perceives almost everything as a lesson and therefore a mentor, there are no evils only differences and conceptions, and the only hero is one’s ability to achieve individual understanding. The final touch to this chapters are Martel’s own opinions on human behavior.
Sternburg 7
What I think makes Life of Pi‘s exposition stand out is its depth as well as length. The book is 319 pages long but the “action” does not even start until page 97. Because of this extended exposition Martel has plenty of time to build up Pi as a character. When I read this book it feels as if Martel constructs Pi with the character’s surroundings and circumstances a.k.a. milieu. For example take the story of how Pi got his name. We get all these descriptions of these wonderful pools his uncle has swum in and the swimming lessons Pi receives from his uncle. The way the pools are portrayed gives me a feeling of magic and serenity and because Pi is named after one of these pools, I sort of associate magic and serenity with the character Pi. Another example of this is the fact that he lives at the zoo. The zoo he lives at is probably the most important element of the exposition. Martel uses the zoo’s plants and animals to explore and enforce the theme of nature. When reading about the various animals I get a sense of peace but also a sense of extreme power. The animals are quite but strong, tamed but wild, alluring but dangerous. Because of Pi close connection with the zoo and its residents, the feeling of the zoo rubs off on Pi and I see him as a boy that is one with nature. I also sense a great power or strength in Pi. Just as a relatively small chimp can rip an arm off the meager Pi has a deep strength in his small frame. The animals also have another function. Through the animals the author constructs parallels with human nature with a sort of mimesis. Every description of a zoo animal is in some way reflecting an observation about people. The archetypal and Marxist lenses are also helpful in creating a convincing character. Martel makes Pi believable with the help of some archetypal situations and characters. We are more likely to like the character if we have something in common. Some examples are being bullied, having a stern father, having a sports obsessed brother and encountering teenage self discovery. Politics and social structure also are used to develop Pi’s character. He seems to be a mix of many cultures and the author plays with this idea. Pi is a member of three religions, and he has roots in India but has lived in the first world for a long time.
Hindbjorgen 1
(Sorry, I could not figure out how to bold...)
Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, is a very powerful novel to read as the line between reality and fiction is blurred. Marel’s author’s note at the beginning of the novel is without a doubt very real, but it is left open ended as he thanks people that are not real. Memisis is demonstrated very effectively as as the fictional book begins with an author that may or may not be fictional. The history and culture put into this book also demonstrates memisis, as the reader is pulled into the very concrete and nonfictional world that Pi (fictional) lives in. Because of the religious, cultural, and Indian elements in Martel’s novel, Life of Pi is filled with culture. Not only is the book telling the story of a boy that practices three religions, but the audience is most likely learning new things about the Indian culture, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam as they are being taught to Pi. Martel’s culture definitely influenced the book as his knowledge of India and religion is immense. The culture in the book also builds significant symbolism, as religious figures are a key analytic comparison point for literature.
Viewing the book with an archetypal lens is an interesting task, as there are most likely many religious symbols that we do not realize because most readers, including myself, are extraordinarily monotheistic and do not understand figures beyond their own religious realm. Pi encompaces many archtypal characters, as he is such a diverse and complex character. He is the innocent, as we see him as a child yearning to learn. He is also the hero, as he manages to stay alive for months on sea with a tiger (this might also make him the wise man). From a religious viewpoint, Pi could be a Christ figure, as he is caring, and a savior to Richard Parker. There are three wise men in the novel (ironic, no?) that are equally wise in their separate religions. I am barely scraping the top of the many possible archetypal characters and symbols in the story.
The Marxist theory is easily interpreted in this book, as Pi lies it out fairly clearly for us. While discussing the animals and their attributes and characteristics, Pi explains to us how animals only know what they know, and don’t know the unknown. This is a direct correlation to society, as the people in India do not know how to live in the far off land of Canada. The rich cannot comprehend the mindset of the poor and vise versa. Because of this same viewpoint, people cannot understand why Pi can practice three religions at once--they fear what is different.
This narrative , although not yet in a canon , is instantly unique because of its exposition. I have never read a story that used 93 pages to introduce the character and his background. He starts with the origin of Pi’s name, which is definitely important. We witness the teasing that young Piscine had to endure, and his will and cleverness he uses to change his reputation. Pi is seen as vulnerable but also as persevering. His schooling introduces him to a soon-to-be major figure in his life, Mr. Kumar. Mr. Kumar is highly intelligent and Pi is captivated by him. Mr. Kumar not only teaches him schoolwork but also his lack of belief in a religion. Kumar firmly believes in science and that there is no god. When Pi is wandering the streets, he also finds the other Mr. Kumar. One of his first experiences with this Kumar is his praying towards Mecca. Pi is fascinated and soon after decides to join the Islamic faith. So now Pi has a strong belief in science, is Islamic, and also is a member of the Hindu and Catholic religions. He is wildly accepting and has a childlike faith. He makes a statement that keeps the various religious leaders silent. Pi states that he “just wants to love God.” I think this is all highly symbolic of the struggle and conflict in the world between different religions. Through a feminist lens, it could be argued that women are being slighted in this book. Even though we see a love interest in the movie, Pi neglects to mention hardly any women, except his own mother. A clear archetype for this book is his name. He is named after a magnificent swimming pool. The joke is on him, for he is about to be stranded in the largest swimming pool on earth when he gets lost at sea.
Kramer 2
Throughout the exposition of Life of Pi Yann Martel employs multiple methods to bring Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) alive. Although Martel takes more time to describe other characters than Pi physically he still manages to use impeccable imagery . Martel characterizes Pi through multiple metaphors such as “his memory is an ocean and he bobs on the surface.” We begin receive insight to Pi’s strenuous past. I loved how we see Pi as an adult in addition to being taken on a journey through his childhood. Throughout the book there are many flashbacks ; this helps to show the end product of a person as well as the foundation of who Pi is--while leaving his life’s struggles yet to come. Pi is described throughout his childhood as what seems to be a typical Indian boy--loving spicy food and being interested in Hinduism. Like many other stereotypical Indians families, the children attend a christian school while the parents are heavily influenced by Indian Politics. This suggests that Martel “did his homework” on Indian culture . Martel includes multiple religious symbols originating from multiple religions. We will continue to learn about Pi throughout the book--suggested by the multitude surprises of insights to Pi’s wife, kids and pets.
I particularly enjoyed how Martel proved to the mimesis maestro. Pi often steps back and inadvertently talks to the reader. His asides about the zoo and its relationship to life and religion struck me as amusing. I realized we are all merely caged up animals in a makeshift “wild” habitat. We trick ourselves into believing we are independent and civilized when in reality we all have our own cages--we rarely break routine--even in the opportunity to break free we run back to our familiar homes.
Without a doubt Life of Pi will and should be honored as classic .
1st period
Piscine Molitor Patel for most of the novel the narrator. In the chapters that frame the main story, Pi, as a shy, graying, middle-aged man, tells the author about his early childhood and the shipwreck.. This narrative device distances the reader from the truth. We don’t know whether Pi’s story is accurate or what pieces to believe. This effect is intentional; throughout Pi emphasizes the importance of choosing the better story, believing that imagination trumps cold, hard facts. As a child, he reads widely and embraces many religions. The structure of the novel both illustrates Pi’s defining characteristic, his dependence on and love of stories, and highlights the inherent difficulties in trusting his version of events. Pi is an eager, outgoing, and excitable child, dependent on his family for protection and guidance. In school, his primary concerns involve preventing his schoolmates from mispronouncing his name and learning as much as he can about religion and zoology. But when the ship sinks, Pi is torn from his family and left alone on a lifeboat with wild animals. Pi internalizes his country of India. A character could very well react differently to India: it could overwhelm him, the poverty could instill deep depression and hopelessness. Pi doesn't focus on these things. He's so positive! Instead, the abundance of the world entrances him and perhaps the reader along with him.
Onnen 7
I really enjoyed that the first 93 pages of this book is all an exposition to the story. Martel took all that time to let us learn more about the character we were going to be following for the rest of the novel. We were able to learn a wide variety of details about Pi before the main plot of this narrative even begins to unfold.
Because the exposition of this novel is so long we get to learn a lot of culture from Pi. We learn that the majority of Pi's culture believes in the Hindu religion. Pi, on the other hand, wants to be able to be a part of multiple religions. He feels that “If there's only one nation in the sky, shouldn't all passports be valid for it?”. This quote really stuck with me. It's amazing to see that even at a young age Pi was able to think about something most adults in his life wouldn't even consider.
If we look at Life of Pi with an archetypal lense we see Pi as a hero because of his very open-minded way of looking at the world. Pi seems to be much more expecting of the beliefs of other people then any other adults. This makes Pi a very likable character, i don't think there is anyway you could dislike Pi at this point in the novel.
If we look at Life of Pi from a feminist lens, we see that the only significant female figure so far has been Pi's mother. His mother seems to be very subservient to Pi's father, which is common in India culture. Pi's mother is also a very loving character, she is there to comfort Pi when he is showed the goat being eaten by the tiger. It is also easy to see that she wants what is right for her sons. Her husband does seem to appreciate his wife's opinion too though. This is seen when Pi asked to be baptized and to have a prayer rug. Pi brings the question to his father and his father sends him off to his mother. This also could be a sign of the father not wanting to deal with arguing with Pi or/telling him no so then sends Pi to his mother so she has to. We also meet Pi's wife and daughter through the authors chapters. Neither of this woman have had a significant role in the novel, they seem to hold a pretty normal feminine role in their family.
Pruett pd. 5
The first 93 pages of the book, while slow to begin with, are crucial to help set up the true story that is about to begin. The precision and skill he uses to develop this narrative , really amazes me. He illustrates Pi as an incredibly progressive character in an area that is still relatively conservative in thoughts and beliefs. By showing Pi's involvment in three different religions (Hindu, Muslim, and Christain) and his claim to believe in all three, we see that Martel himself is a progressive person who strives for a more harmonious world. Mimesis is emplored incredibly well here, as the reader struggles to differentiate this book from fiction and nonfiction. His ability to persuade the reader into both different realms (fictional and non-fictional) show that his writing style is nearly without flaw. Through a feminist lens , we see that this story somewhat downgrades women (at least in what is displayed so far). Pi's mother, nearly the only woman in the story so far, is rather obedient to Pi's father. This is both surprising and expected. While India was and is still in a large part today a man's society, Martel's writing style suggested that he would make her a more independent woman. Through an archetypal lens we see the signifigance of water. Pi's name, derived from a swimming pool itself, forshadows numerous trials to come within the ocean. I believe, however, that the ocean is not the ultimate problem, however. While it sinks the ship his family is on and leaves him floating in the open ocean with a tiger, it also feeds him (knowledge through the movie) and teaches him invaluable lessons that he will carry over with him for the rest of his life.
Spurlin 5
With such an extravagantly long exposition Narrates a story to us. Authorial parts within the beginning of the book provides an interesting element. Not only do we hear the epic experiences of Pi recorded by the writer, but we also get a taste of the writer’s observations not told by Pi. Tidbits Pi doesn’t have to tell the writer.
Martel uses Ambiguous phrases to make readers reflect about life. One of these examples is from page 42; if Tokyo was suspended upside down you would find more than just cats and dogs--boys and girls, brain and bronze--we would find a plethora of life. Practically every species would be hidden within the city and we would not have ever noticed before. Is he saying we are all wild creatures just trying to fit in? Life of Pi should be considered a Mimesis as the story of a man stranded to an emergency raft has happened many times just read a chapter of Dr. Kenneth Kamler’s “Surviving the Extremes” and your body will crave hydration. The second story is more so the mimesis because it is not embellished Euphemisms of animals on the boat but rather family members who undergo extreme psychological tests.
View the beginning through a Psychoanalytical approach and you can observe Pi’s motives to reveal his story are for his god and family. Family and religion are priorities in his life. His entire house is surrounded with religious affiliation and he has strong relationships with his wife and children. Covertly the author may be portending the loss of Pi’s family in the ocean being a reason he holds on closely to his family in Canada. Another perspective to consider is a Marxist lens Pi uses comparisons of animals and circus trainers to convey a message of social hierarchies among us. Animal trainers may establish an alpha reputation despite the animal without suppression is much stronger than any human. Is is just a figment or indisputable? In India he had a disadvantage of social class he was a middle or lower class family, but he knew that in Canada they would be very low class. India’s wealth does not transport with them.
Mr. Martel does an amazing job developing Pi in just 93 pages. Every word has been thought out, every period is precise, every movement and every story shows another level of Pi's character. The narrative Mr. Martel uses is engaging, making Pi a relatable character, his development almost like a personal journey. Pi doesn't accept things as they are right away. He doubts Christianity at first. He questions everything he had ever been taught. He accurately describes the almost tangible feeling of learning something new, and the wonder behind it. Culture is another developmental tool Mr. Martel utilizes in a most astounding way. It is quite obvious he has done his research, on India, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. At first glance, Pi's mother seems subservient to his father. But, taking a closer look through the feminist lens we see that she is independent, if ever so slightly. When Pi's father wants to teach him and Ravi a "lesson to remember" Gita protests, thinking the "lesson plan" is far too harsh for an eight year old.
Tellinghuisen 5
At first glance of this past week’s reading assignment I questioned why we needed that many pages just for an exposition. Now that I have read it, I actually wanted more story, more of Pi. I believe I can truly say that I know Pi personally, as more than just a character. Martel makes the character tangible, he is a real person, but the character that Martel creates out of the tale, transforms Pi into someone marvelous. The Mimesis of the exposition is a mystery. The book is both fiction and non-fiction, how much of which is for us to determine and deduce. Already I believe this book is a classic, if not, at least different and bold.
If you want to be a pure Marxist Critic, it is almost impossible with a main character like Pi. Marxist criticism tends to purposefully ignore anything that has to do with religion because Carl Marx himself was well, an atheist. The same as his million followers to come. This religious paradox that Pi lives contains 3 different religions! All of them that in theory, should conflict with each other. At first I did not want to read that or do anything but believe that It is wrong, however Martel somehow made something I would consider blasphemous both seem righteous and make sense. Martel focuses on what the three religions have in common, and how they are all interconnected. The revelation that I came to see surprised me on just how much they DO have in common, and we are only 93 pages into the book!
There are even some archetypes I have taken notice to already. As a whole, Pi’s family is the archetypal family from the information we get. There is the parents who are just your stereotypical parents, and the bullish older brother that picks on Pi. Then you have Pi the youngest child observing and soaking in everything from afar, learning, studying, and applying, like many young children.
Baum 5
93 pages. 93 PAGES. This is by far the most extensive exposition I have ever encountered in my literary journey. Although lengthy, I enjoyed thoroughly getting to know young Pi Patel. I know little about India’s culture and even less when it comes to the religious understanding of Hinduism and Islam, yet Martel’s narrative writing has intrigued me and pulled me into his twisting plotline.
After 93 pages I feel as if I know Pi well. His name, originating from a picturesque pool Mamaji swam in, develops Pi in more ways than one. Overtly, it is a symbol for the mathematical symbol pi (3.14), but it is more than just a never ending numerical number that mathematicians discovered many years ago. Throughout the book we will see numerous references to this symbol, even the amount of days Pi spends on the lifeboat can be related back to this symbol. Covertly, Pi is developed in his interactions with loved ones, his naïve friendships with the animals, and his ongoing practice in three separate religions. Being raised in a family owned zoo has had its toll on him. He develops relationships with the animals and mistakenly trusts them at times. To prove that wild animals are not your friend, Pi’s father teaches him a valuable lesson. Watching the goat die a harsh death to the tiger not only scars Pi for life, but also opens his eyes. In a Marxist lens Pi is held at a lower standard than his multitalented brother Ravi. Ravi excels in sports while Pi excels in being bullied and keeping to himself. Looking through an Archetypal lens, you can see the typical family unit. You have a happily married couple, with two young children, doing well in their animal filled world. Father protects the boys by teaching them valuable lessons, and financially making sound decisions (moving to Canada), and mother is there to watch over them as they grow up and mature. She supports Pi’s decision to explore three religions.
Overall this exposition has made me excited to find out more about Pi Patel and his beloved friend Richard Parker. I cannot wait to see what Martel has in store for us.
Swanson 7
Throughout the 93 page excerpt, we learn a lot about Piscine Molitar Patel. Named because of a famous swimming pool his uncle swam in while in France, Patel was made fun of frequently in school. There he gives himself the name Pi, which is the two first letters of his first name. That name has many references throughout this book. For example, there are exactly 100 chhapters in this novel and there are 314 pages in the book. 314/100 is 3.14, or pi. Also, the number of days he spends on the boat deals with pi. In this book Pi's father teaches him and his brother Ravi a valuable lesson with a goat and a tiger. This is a foreshadow to our narrator Pi as he will later be the goat on the boat with Richard Parker in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In this book, we cam use the Marxist Lens and look art Pi. Ravi, his older brother, excells at all he does. He's smart and is atheletic as he is vert good at sports. More people notice Ravi instead of Pi because Pi isn't as good at sports like Ravi is. Pi lost the lottery of athleticism and being good at cricket.Though this exposition wasn't the most eye catching, I still learned plenty about Pi and cannot wait to see what happens throughout the rest of the novel.
Ryan Rykhus 1
Martel is very good at developing Pi’s character. He does this masterfully through the use of metaphors and similes to draw Pi’s life to be similar to things that we as the reader may know. He attains this vivid imagery by describing Pi’s life through the religions that he has come to believe and follow. He is a hindu because that is what is normal for an small Indian boy, so he followed the cultural norms and took up Hinduism and its polytheistic views that it holds. This is obvious or overt characterization. Ironically, Pi is also a christian, a very monotheistic religion that is mostly present in the west. His reason for going and exploring the christian faith is that of the wondrous schools that they have provided India with. He felt that he needed to be a part of the faith to keep going to this school and started learning the faith on a trip his family took out to the countryside where there was a church near by. He is also a muslim because he saw a beauty to the faith and the brotherhood that this religion had after seeing one of the members of the islamic faith pray in front of him. Pi is a combination of these three religions, and takes advantage of this. He saw life in ways that others only dreamed of. Martel characterized Pi very overtly through his religious practices and the Ironic harmony that exists within him.
Martel used Pi’s parents to characterize Pi a little less overtly, more covertly so to speak. He did this by showing us the way he was raised by his parents and the family structure that existed in Pi’s life. His dad was clearly the one who demonstrated Marxist criticism by the constant financial concerns and the displays of power he exposed his children too through the animals. His mother took up a more feminist critique in his life. She was very nurturing and showed what a good mother would be. Pi’ misses her dearly after the boat wreck.
Yann Martel chose to take the first 93 pages of his book and make them an explanation. He is using the narrative technique by focusing on how he is writing his novel. It is necessary to provide the reader with background so we feel connected to Pi Molitor Patel. Pi is a very attention-grabbing character. He is developed in multiple ways throughout the 93 page selection. Pi’s character is developed overtly and covertly through his name. Pi is short for the swimming pool he is named after—the Piscine Molitor. In a way it is an ironic situation because Pi actually ends up experiencing the largest swimming pool of his life – the ocean. Pi can also be referred to as the irrational number, 3.1415926.
Pi is the son of a zookeeper and he grew up at a zoo. Which means lots of routines and chores. Almost as if he has become a creature of habit. Martel wants the reader to feel sympathy for Pi and his brother after his father forces both of them to watch a cruel shamble between a Bengal Tiger and a helpless goat.
Yann Martel also uses mimesis by talking to the reader. He adds his own entries within the novel which gives us pieces of information like his home and family. Yann develops Pi overtly by showing his beliefs and by later expressing it to his family and the priests. Through the Psychoanalytic lens, three religions can be seen as a way for him to satisfy each of the three aspects of his mind, the Id, Ego, and Superego. To most people in his culture, practicing multiple religions would be very bizarre and outlandish. Pi to an extent can be seen as an explorer. He doesn’t want to be held down by the social norms of society.
With the way this book is written, even though I have only read to page 93, there is a huge chance that this could come to be considered a classic.
In the beginning of this narrative, imagery novel you meet on of three Pi’s. This first Pi is not our archetypal hero yet. This Pi, forty some odd years old, is our retired hero. He’s studied science and religion, exceeding in both, and it isn’t till further in the book till we figure out why. Pi has this life set up in Canada, he has a wife, and two children, and probably no desire to travel outside of the providence unless it’s a family vacation. We learn, a few pages in that Pi went through something. If someone hadn’t read the back of the book they wouldn’t know what, only that it’s something worth telling a story.
The next Pi we meet is young naïve, Piscine actually. Named after the greatest swimming pool Mamaji has ever swam in. Pi is the guinea pig for Mamaji. At the age of seven he is pulled to the ocean to learn how to swim, without questioning anything. The only thing this young naïve Pi knows is the swimming Mamaji has taught him, and the Pondicherry Zoo; so large in his mind, but actually somewhat tiny in real life.
It isn’t till we meet our hero. Pi. ‘My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, know to all as Pi.’ Pi finally puts his fot down, and fights at his new school to not be called Pissing. Throughout this new school year Pi finds his own culture. Pi finds three different religions. All very different. Christianity, on a family vacation where he questions why God would send his only son to die for everyone’s sins. After all a good is supposed to be respected and ever living. He begins to be a practicing Muslim because of the believer, Mr. Kumar. Mr. Kumar, like the priest shares the stories from the religion and Pi becomes enchanted. He’s always been a Hindu because his mother was one, but eventually he finds it on his own, and how to practice all three; loving all three.
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