Life of Pi
16 October 2013
In this passage from “Life of Pi”, Yann Martel contrasts the popular belief of how to defend religion to how it should be defended. Stemming from this contrast, he is able to punctuate the public misconception of many believers.
Yann Martel discriminates the mainstream belief concerning religion to its actual demands. First, Martel reminds the reader that God does not require defense outside, but inside. By using the contrasting words “outside” and “inside,” Martel is able to call attention to people’s misconception of defending religion. He stresses the importance of self-belief instead of evangelism and attacks towards other faiths. He continues to conclude that evil shown is evil let out from within. Through the usage of the words “within” and “let out,” he adds to his argument that the battle within weighs more than the battle outside.
Later in the passage, Martel, in a satirical manner, concludes that the “small-mindedness did [not do] God any good”. Small-mindedness, by definition, means shallow, a lack of depth, or narrow-minded. Through his use of the adjective, he showcases how shallow the human condition has become. Martel punctuates the need to appreciate those who love God, instead of chastising them. He reveals the true shallowness of this inner/outer relationship by alluding to those who act the part of a believer, yet lack the faith within.
By his use of diction, Martel explains the misconception of Pi’s desire to love God. He describes that Pi’s parents received the news of his doings in “hushed, urgent tones of treason revealed.” Martel’s use of “treason” creates an implication that Pi’s family and friends perceive his love for God as an act of treason; an act of betrayal. This sense of betrayal is applied to Pi’s betrayal of his own beliefs; two monotheistic religions and one polytheistic religion. The teachings of Hinduism break a myriad of rules in Islam and Christianity, while Islam and Christianity have a long and
In this passage from “Life of Pi”, Yann Martel contrasts the popular belief of how to defend religion to how it should be defended. Stemming from this contrast, he is able to punctuate the public misconception of many believers.
Yann Martel discriminates the mainstream belief concerning religion to its actual demands. First, Martel reminds the reader that God does not require defense outside, but inside. By using the contrasting words “outside” and “inside,” Martel is able to call attention to people’s misconception of defending religion. He stresses the importance of self-belief instead of evangelism and attacks towards other faiths. He continues to conclude that evil shown is evil let out from within. Through the usage of the words “within” and “let out,” he adds to his argument that the battle within weighs more than the battle outside.
Later in the passage, Martel, in a satirical manner, concludes that the “small-mindedness did [not do] God any good”. Small-mindedness, by definition, means shallow, a lack of depth, or narrow-minded. Through his use of the adjective, he showcases how shallow the human condition has become. Martel punctuates the need to appreciate those who love God, instead of chastising them. He reveals the true shallowness of this inner/outer relationship by alluding to those who act the part of a believer, yet lack the faith within.
By his use of diction, Martel explains the misconception of Pi’s desire to love God. He describes that Pi’s parents received the news of his doings in “hushed, urgent tones of treason revealed.” Martel’s use of “treason” creates an implication that Pi’s family and friends perceive his love for God as an act of treason; an act of betrayal. This sense of betrayal is applied to Pi’s betrayal of his own beliefs; two monotheistic religions and one polytheistic religion. The teachings of Hinduism break a myriad of rules in Islam and Christianity, while Islam and Christianity have a long and