Life Of Pi

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Recommended: Symbolism of animals in life of a pi

Juwairiya Muneem Mrs. Milam December 16, 2014 Humans VS Animals’ Story in Life of Pi Pablo Picasso once said "We all know that art is not truth, art is a lie that makes us realize the truth." Throughout Life of Pi, The author, Yann Martel follows the protagonist, Piscine ‘Pi’ Molitor Patel during his disconsolate journey trapped in the Pacific Ocean with wild animals after the Tsimtsum sinks. Pi struggles to survive at sea in treacherous conditions and succumbs to savagery in order to do so. Once Pi is saved, he offers the question of whether or not he was truly trapped on a boat with wild animals or if it was a figment of his imagination used to cover up the awful things that occurred with his human companions on the lifeboat. Readers may believe that the animals’ involvement provides more of a religious experience and is implied as the truth …show more content…

In reality, the animals serve as an allegory to the human’s mortality and are used as a coping method to create familiarity for Pi in foreign surroundings. Thus, the story Pi story about being stranded in the Pacific Ocean with wild animals is not true, but the story with humans is. Some people may argue the interpretation of The Life of Pi involving animals is the truth, but such claims are simply not correct. Mistakenly, people may believe the animals’ involvement creates a vision of life that has a transcendental element which is not accentuated in the human’s story. This is inaccurate considering it takes a leap of faith to believe either story due to the unlikelihood of Pi surviving at sea for 227 days with abating supplies and savage beasts willing to do anything necessary for self-preservation. The principle aspect of belief is reinforced as long as the reader is able to make a decision as to what story they believe and refuse

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