Life Of Pi Multimedia Essay Part Three

Topic Sentence:

As Pi continues his timeless journey across the Pacific Ocean he begins daily rituals that provide him comfort and restores faith in him as he strengthens his will to survive. At this point, Pi had three regular rituals in which he took part in: practicing religion and prayer, stimulating his mind with writing and rest, and feeding himself and Richard Parker.

Point One:

Practicing religion helps restore faith in one.

Proof One:

“I practiced religious rituals that I adapted to the circumstances—solitary Masses without priests or consecrated Communion hosts, darshans without murtis, and pujas with turtle meat for Prasad, acts of devotion to Allah not knowing where Mecca was and getting my Arabic wrong. They brought me comfort, that’s certain.” (Life of Pi, pg. 231)

Comment One:

 From the time Pi has been stranded in the Pacific Ocean he is feeling anger, desolation and weariness. In an attempt of lifting his spirits and hope, he reunites himself with practicing religion. By practicing religion and having faith, Pi’s will to survive will strengthen and allow him to overcome his journey.

Point Two:

   Writing daily and keeping track of your experiences allows you to express your feelings and have it to look back on later.

Proof Two:

“I kept a diary. It’s hard to read. I wrote as small as I could. I was afraid I would run out of paper. There’s not much to it. Words scratched on a page trying to capture a reality that overwhelmed me.” (Life of Pi, pg. 230-231)

Comment Two:

With this in mind, he kept the journals undated and unnumbered as to forget about time. Keeping a journal allows Pi to communicate his emotions and experiences on the journey. By losing track of time, and communicating his feelings, Pi is able to maintain a level of sanity and is able to focus on the important things like his survival.

Point Three:

Keeping the tiger on the boat satisfied allowed Pi to be in the clear for being attacked.

Proof Three:

“Richard Parker licked his nose, groaned and turned away. He angrily batted a flying fish. I had won. I gasped with disbelief, heaved the Dorado into my hands and buried away to the raft. Shortly thereafter, I delivered to Richard Parker a fair chunk of the fish.” (Life of Pi, pg. 247)

Comment Three:

Fishing was considered the chore of rituals for each day. This kept Pi quite busy and kept his mind off of being stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a tiger. By Pi taking the time to feed Richard Parker, he was benefiting himself and increasing his rate of survival as he was lessening his chance of being attacked. Because of the rituals Pi partook in, he was able to maintain a level of sanity thus contributing to the theme of the will of survival.          

Conclusion:

Overall this novel takes you through an unimaginable journey where your strive for survival is all you have. This novel is an intriguing piece of work that keeps one guessing “What will happen next?” Without doubt, the reoccurring motifs of territorial dominance, hunger and thirst and ritual contribute to the theme of Pi’s will to survive.