Preview

New Essay Discovery

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
959 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
New Essay Discovery
The comparison of Ang Lee‘s film Life of Pi and William Ernest Henley’s poem Invictus presents the reconciliation of contemporary concepts in which conflict arises along the way. Thanks to composers’ skilful manipulation of various literary devices, audience are made aware of the profound impact of dissmilar contexts on the discoveries being made. However, these two texts embody that the ramifications of one’s discovery is capable of …
The film Life of Pi explores the concept that discoveries allow man to access to a higher plane of spiritual and self-understanding. Through Pi’s strong connection with his multi-religious and cultural background, Ang Lee demonstrates his struggle between pragmatism and faith when he is stranded at the Pacific. For instance, Pi is enforced to disobey a tenet of his Hindu faith and hammer the dorado to death so that his predatory companion has something to sustain on. Yet his childhood sincerity that animals have souls and his exceptional sympathy for them bring about a sense of remorse .The saturated green colour and the accompanying diegetic sound portrays fish’s vicious slaughter and his pained expression having to disregard his culture - the Indian vegetarianism. To overcome this trauma, Pi associates the sacrifice of the fish as a mean of saviour using the symbolism of the legends about the Vishnu god in Hinduism “Thank you Vishnu for coming in the form of a fish and saving our lives”. Evidently, Pi’s childhood exploration of divinity alters when he finds himself in the middle of the ocean. Ingenuity and tolerance lies beneath his attempt to balance the reality and faith rather than primarily favour one side or the other .This change indicates that he becomes increasingly aware of his capability from co-existing with Richard Parker, facing starvation and near extinction. Insightfully, the film proposes that religion or reality is not entirely contrasting through his successful manipulation of the twos to stay consistently

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Life Of Pi Banned Essay

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages

    First off, Life of Pi teaches that anything is possible with God and constant perseverance. Pi manages to live on a twenty-six foot lifeboat with a 450 pound Bengal tiger for a stunning 227 days! He can only do this by keeping the constant belief that God is present. While in India, Pi states, “Religion will save us” (Martel 27). He keeps this belief the entire voyage. For example, Pi states, “I practised religious rituals that I adapted to the circumstances. They brought me comfort; that is certain. But it was hard, oh, it was hard. Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love – but sometimes it was so hard to love” (Martel 208). Despite Pi’s low spirits, he continues to trust that God has a plan and will get him out of the current situation. Not only is Pi one with God, but also one with nature. He is deeply thankful for every sea animal he kills, using every part of the animal’s dead body. He even goes as far as drinking a dead sea turtle’s blood. Life of Pi is a passionate story that strongly reaffirms the existence of a God and for this reason, should not be…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, is an inspirational story of a young boy fighting for his life as a castaway with the company of a Bengal tiger. Through his religious beliefs and perseverance he is able to survive, but with great difficulty. In an allegorical sense, this story is brilliant. Pi recreates his story using animals to metaphorically represent the humans who were in his treacherous, archetypal journey because it appeals to everyone more than the frank and straightforward story. Attraction to this allegory proves the deeper point that life is meaningless without believing in the beauty and art of the quest at hand.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The second reason for The Life of PI on religion/spiritual. Patel learns to become very spiritual during his 227 days of being stranded on a lifeboat. He starts to understand of how this world understands by learning through just one animal the bengal tiger. Even though it didn’t talk to him personally like a human would. But it showed him through the most effective way of showing a human being and that is through action. He learned that everything has a place in this world. When he delivers food and water to the tiger he learns to coexist with the tiger and begin to start a relationship with the…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Siddhartha and Life of Pi

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Siddhartha tells the story of a man searching for peace; Life of Pi captivates the life of a boy trying to comprehend the world around him. Both protagonists, Siddhartha and Piscine Patel, use a type of “guess-and-check” system while venturing through the world. Throughout his lifetime, Siddhartha is a Brahmin, Samana, businessman, and ferryman. Meanwhile Piscine as a young boy tries to follow three different religions at the same time. Looking at the world through different perspectives taught both Siddhartha and Pi how to live and understand life.…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Everyone can pick an animal that they believe describes themselves or symbolizes themselves, but in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi he takes those characteristics to a new level. The symbolism of a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a tiger all contribute to the characteristics of Pi and his journey through the sea, together, on a life boat.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Piscine Molitor Patel says it himself that his survival is “hard to believe” and can hardly comprehend it looking back. Yet, the readers are promised with a happy ending, and a happy ending with Pi’s survival is what we get. However, it raises the incredible question of just how Pi managed to survive the hardships, loss, pain and suffering, all in the Pacific Ocean’s harsh, unforgiving environment. The first explanation involves Pi’s inborn desire to survive at all cost and to resist giving up. Also, Pi’s versatility to change from a life-long vegetarian to a meat eater and his creativeness in making the best out of a horrible situation are some of the key factors that contribute to his survival. Furthermore, the role of Richard Parker in keeping Pi motivated to survive cannot be overstated enough because even Pi mentions that he would have died without his sole companion at sea. In addition to that, Pi’s prior knowledge of animals serves him well. Coupled with the information and facts gained from the boat’s survival manual, Pi becomes well equipped to survive. Lastly, with faith as a central theme of this text, readers can see how Pi owes his ultimate survival to his steadfast faith in religion and God.…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Most people believe that we originated on Earth millions of years ago, but I believe this is our second home. I know it may sound a little crazy, but I have put together a few points that some find interesting. First, recently NASA has been conducting several missions to get a better look at Mars. On these missions they have found evidence suggesting that the planet was once rich in water, but no longer. This shows one fact that it had the resources to sustain life. Furthermore, I watched a program a few years back that showed hylogryphics in underground tombs of planes, computers, and cars, dated thousands of years old. These carvings happened years before these were even invented on earth. I believe these items were in existence at that time, but because of the lack of resources on the new planet, the people had to start over. In the same area is where most Indian tribes originated from. Most if not all Indian tribes believe that the ancestors live in the stars, and that when you die your spirit goes to the sky. My belief is that we originally came from mars after destroying the planet with years of neglect, and landed on earth. The reason the Indians pray to the stars, and believe they go to the stars, is because we originated from Mars, and came on a space ship. After generations of telling the story, it changed to the spirits in the…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion can be a welcoming force to its loyal followers, providing comfort, support, and hope amid the darkest of times or a merciless power, refraining from pity and stripping its protection over those who do not abide by its customs and traditions. In Life of Pi, the peculiar island which Pi Patel and Richard Parker discover symbolizes religion. Just as religion, Richard Parker and Pi must perceive the island with an equilibrium of doubt and faith for it to be beneficial. The blessings the island provides for Pi and Richard Parker is a metaphor for religion and the comfort and support it bestows upon its loyal followers. Consequently, the discovery of the island to be “carnivorous, feasting upon anything on the ground at night,” demonstrates the power of religion to take away all its protection over followers whom do not abide by customs and traditions. Lastly, the island exhibits the perils associated with undeniable…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Discovery Essay

    • 1290 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Discoveries have the opportunity to cause a domino effect, where that one event sets off a chain of similar events and effects each individual that it impacts and eventually a broader society. This notion of a domino effect is evident in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest which is a magical play about people being lost and found and what they find is who they were all along and Bernhard Schlink’s semi-autobiographical novel The Reader a poignant meditation on love, loss, guilt, human frailty and making peace with the past. Through texts authors can project an idea that can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others. Through discovery individuals can achieve metamorphosis which can impact those around them.…

    • 1290 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Life of Pi Rough Draft

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, there are three themes that seem to overpower throughout; religion, fear, and hope. When the main character in the novel, Pi, is forced to move the family's zoo from Pondicherry India to Canada in search for a better life, their boat suddenly begins to sink in the middle of the pacific ocean. Miraculously Pi is the only human that survives. But unfortunately for this poor boy he is stuck on a 26 foot lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a three year old bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The themes religion, fear, and hope are repeatedly stressed to try to get the reader to greater grasp the concepts of what Pi was going through while stranded on a lifeboat for 227 days. These three themes are also the driving forces that strive and help Pi to fight for his survival even when there are no signs of success..…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The lessons of faith and religion are shared with the readers in this story in a better way as they witness Pi going through his hardships yet holding on to his religion and will to live. Facing the journey alone with only a Bengal tiger as company would have called for an immense faith in God and his love, teaching readers the idea…

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Life of Pi by Yann Martel is an incredible novel about the will to survive, the importance of storytelling and religious belief. The novel travels back in time to chronicle the journey of a teenaged, Indian boy named Piscine (Pi) Patel, as he embarks on an involuntary venture across the Pacific ocean. Struggling to survive, Pi must use his own knowledge to remain alive and sane, while sharing a small life raft with a fearsome 450 lbs Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Joseph Pulitzer once said, “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” The novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel exemplifies three of the…

    • 1909 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Life of Pi

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel is one of Canada"'"s most acclaimed books. It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Pi Patel"'"s journey while he discovers religion and his own determination and strength. This book is highly recommended for many reasons including the insightful views expressed on religion and life, the interesting facts on zoology, and the author"'"s unique talent in making something that at first glance seemed totally unrealistic become reality – humour inserted along the way! First of all, it is obvious that Pi Patel learns to have a very open mind when it comes to religion as he has embraced three of them, resulting in a unique Hindu-Christian-Muslim boy. His interesting views on the different religions lead the readers to broaden their horizons and have an open mind to different religions. His analogies were also quite humorous, for example, when comparing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to his father feeding him to the lions because the latter killed two llamas, a black buck, a camel, painted storks, grey herons, and '"'who"'"s to say for sure who snacked on our golden agouti?'"'. In addition, Pi Patel"'"s journey helped him have a great view on life and its value, allowing him to give many anecdotes that make the reader stop and think. For example: '"'I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he"'"s not careful.'"' Secondly, this book is packed with zoological information including mating, hunting, and sleeping habits of a variety of animals from hippopotamuses to '"'meerkats'"' (small African carnivorous burrowing mammals). Also, it includes many circus trainer tactics for lions and tigers, such as using foreign surroundings, having an erect posture, a calm demeanour, a steady gaze, a fearless step forward, a strange roar, etc. Also, Pi Patel"'"s very original view on how animals are indeed happy in a zoo was very enlightening for anyone who has…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Life Of Pi Religion Essay

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Life of Pi is a story that it can be translated in completely opposing ways. While one reader might find it deeply religious, another may find Pi's story as atheistic. However, there is a common theme that the book urges to all readers, which is to have faith in your beliefs. Through the character Pi, Yann Martel proves how hard yet ultimately rewarding, it can be to have faith.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel ‘The life of Pi’, the author Yann Martel takes readers on an extraordinary adventure through the protagonist Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel. He describes the journey of Pi, a sixteen year old boy who survived 227 days on a lifeboat with an adult Bengal tiger as a result of their Japanese ship sinking. Pi displays the strengths he gained through his religious beliefs, knowledge of animals and zoology. These skills he learnt during his childhood in Pondicherry. Pi’s father demonstrates the importance of protection from animals.…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays