Life of pi analysis essay: 1 how does the organizational structure of life of pi affect the meaning of the overall work? the author of life of pi, yann martel, uses a lucid and vibrant language to tell his gripping tale of the survival of a young, shipwrecked boy. This allegoric story is split up into three distinct parts, each with its own purpose. At first, these parts just seem to be a way to spilt up the book: the first tells of pi’s background, the second tells the story of his survival, and the last explains pi’s rescue and includes a recount of interviews with pi on the cause of the shipwreck. It is not until the very end that the reader finally notices how the parts interrelate and tie the whole book together.

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Once the reader is aware of the book’s delicate balance the true meaning of the work is revealed: is there such thing as truth? does our unique way of viewing the world affect what we believe to be the truth?

piscine molitor patel

piscine molitor patel is the protagonist and, 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 that changed his life. We don rsquo t know whether pi rsquo 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 and their rich narratives that provide meaning and dimension to life. In his interviews with the japanese investigators after his rescue, he offers first the more fanciful version of his time at sea.

But, at their behest, he then provides an alternative version that is more realistic but ultimately less appealing to both himself and his questioners. The structure of the novel both illustrates pi rsquo s defining characteristic, his dependence on and love of stories, and highlights the inherent difficulties in trusting his version of events. Though the narrative jumps back and forth in time, the novel traces pi rsquo s development and maturation in a traditional bildungsroman, or coming of age story. 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. The disaster serves as the catalyst in his emotional growth he must now become self sufficient. Though he mourns the loss of his family and fears for his life, he rises to the challenge. Questioning his own values, he decides that his vegetarianism is a luxury under the conditions and learns to fish. He capably protects himself from richard parker and even assumes a parental relationship with the tiger, providing him with food and keeping him in line. The devastating shipwreck turns pi into an adult, able to fend for himself out in the world alone.

Pi rsquo s belief in god inspires him as a child and helps sustain him while at sea. In pondicherry, his atheistic biology teacher challenges his hindu faith in god, making him realize the positive power of belief, the need to overcome the otherwise bleakness of the universe. Motivated to learn more, pi starts practicing christianity and islam, realizing these religions all share the same foundation: belief in a loving higher power. In his first days on the lifeboat, he almost gives up, unable to bear the loss of his family and unwilling to face the difficulties that still await him. At that point, however, he realizes that the fact he is still alive means that god is with him he has been given a miracle. Throughout his adventure, he prays regularly, which provides him with solace, a sense of connection to something greater, and a way to pass the time.

richard parker

pi rsquo s companion throughout his ordeal at sea is richard parker, a 450 pound royal bengal tiger. Unlike many novels in which animals speak or act like humans, richard parker is portrayed as a real animal that acts in ways true to his species. It can be difficult to accept that a tiger and a boy could exist on a lifeboat alone, however, in the context of the novel, it seems plausible. Captured as a cub, parker grew up in the zoo and is accustomed to a life in captivity. He is used to zookeepers training and providing for him, so he is able to respond to cues from pi and submit to his dominance.

He has been tamed, but he still acts instinctually, swimming for the lifeboat in search of shelter and killing the hyena and the blind castaway for food. When the two wash up on the shore of mexico, richard parker doesn rsquo t draw out his parting with pi, he simply runs off into the jungle, never to be seen again. Though richard parker is quite fearsome, ironically his presence helps pi stay alive.

Alone on the lifeboat, pi has many issues to face in addition to the tiger onboard: lack of food and water, predatory marine life, treacherous sea currents, and exposure to the elements. Overwhelmed by the circumstances and terrified of dying, pi becomes distraught and unable to take action. His other problems now temporarily forgotten, pi manages, through several training exercises, to dominate parker. This success gives him confidence, making his other obstacles seem less insurmountable. Renewed, pi is able to take concrete steps toward ensuring his continued existence: searching for food and keeping himself motivated.

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Without richard parker to challenge and distract him, pi might have given up on life. Out on the lifeboat, pi must perform many actions to stay alive that he would have found unimaginable in his normal life. As time progresses, he becomes more brutish about it, tearing apart birds and greedily stuffing them in his mouth, the way richard parker does. After richard parker mauls the blind frenchman, pi uses the man rsquo s flesh for bait and even eats some of it, becoming cannibalistic in his unrelenting hunger. Parker is the version of himself that pi has invented to make his story more palatable, both to himself and to his audience.

The brutality of his mother rsquo s death and his own shocking act of revenge are too much for pi to deal with, and he finds it easier to imagine a tiger as the killer, rather than himself in that role. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of life of pi written by yann martel. Gradesaver provides access to 678 study guide pdfs and quizzes, 3587 literature essays, 1197 sample college application essays, 118 lesson plans, and ad free surfing in this premium content, ldquo members only rdquo section of the site! membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders. Piscine molitor patel, the protagonist of yann martel’s acclaimed novel life of pi, survives a horrific 227 day ordeal trapped aboard a directionless lifeboat with only a 450 pound bengal tiger, named richard parker, for company. In yann martel’s novel life of pi, piscine pi patel is forced to relay his life story to condescending japanese skeptics who refuse to believe his tale they refer to it as nothing more than a fictional invention. Our writers can help get your essay back on track, take a look at our services to learn more about how we can help.

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Essay writing service essay marking service place an order though the narrative jumps back and forth in time, the novel traces pi's development and maturation in a traditional bildungsroman, or coming of age story. Pi's companion throughout his ordeal at sea is richard parker, a 450 pound royal bengal tiger. When the two wash up on the shore of mexico, richard parker doesn't draw out his parting with pi, he simply runs off into the jungle, never to be seen again. Who wrote this essay request removal example essays richard parker symbolizes pi's most animalistic instincts.

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After richard parker mauls the blind frenchman, pi uses the man's flesh for bait and even eats some of it, becoming cannibalistic in his unrelenting hunger. The brutality of his mother's death and his own shocking act of revenge are too much for pi to deal with, and he finds it easier to imagine a tiger as the killer, rather than himself in that role. Piscine is the narrator for most of the novel, and his account of his seven months at sea forms the bulk of the story. He gets his unusual name from the french word for pool and, more specifically, from a pool in paris in which a close family friend, francis adirubasamy, loved to swim. A student of zoology and religion, pi is deeply intrigued by the habits and characteristics of animals and people. Richard parkerâ â the royal bengal tiger with whom pi shares his lifeboat.