Identifying Self - Life of Pi

Question

Life of Pi

Identifying Self - Life of Pi

I've got an exam next week with the main theme pertaining to the identification of one's self-- how identity is defined. In the exam I'll have to compare Life of Pi, Wife of Bath and Great Expectations. Now, GE and WoB I can link together comparatively through class, social constructs, etc. With Life of Pi however I can't think of a solid link.

So ultimately, my question is; does Life of Pi allude to any class/societal themes, and if so, can someone explain where, what and how?

Journey for a sense of self quotes would also be appreciated if anyone knows any good'nes. The only one I have at the moment is "descended to a level of savagery I'd never imagined" (or words to that extent). Any help would be great, thanks!

Asked by chloe f #373761 on 5/25/2014 3:55 PM

Last updated by jill d #170087 on 5/26/2014 6:55 AM

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Answered by jill d #170087 on 5/25/2014 4:52 PM

"Life of Pi" is a journey of self-discovery. As far as social class, Pi's parents own a zoo, thus, their reasons for relocating in Canada during a time of economic crisis are financially motivated.

Pi's sense of self is discovered only after a harrowing fight for survival, but this is a story of faith and a quest for truth above all else. Pi studies religions and searches for God, who he finds never leaves him, not even in his struggle to live. Faith brings him through his experiences and challenges define the man he will become.

Source(s): Life of Pi

Answered by tracey c #171707 on 5/25/2014 4:34 PM

Pi doesn’t have to face the true cruelty human beings are actually capable of. He does this by giving the animals human names and relating to them as human beings.by doing this he can take away the fears of surviving on the ocean.he sees both himself and Richard as both enemies and allies.

Source(s)

Life of pi

Answered by jill d #170087 on 5/25/2014 4:50 PM

Pi on his own mortality:

"The matter is difficult to put into words. For fear, real fear, such as shakes you to your foundation, such as you feel when you are brought face to face with your mortal end, nestles in your memory like a gangrene; it seeks to rot everything, even the words with which to speak of it. You must fight hard to shine the light of words upon it. Because if you don't, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you." (Chapter 2)

Faith:

“If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?”

“If Christ spent an anguished night in prayer, if He burst out from the Cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' then surely we are also permitted doubt. But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”