My mom's apple pie is better

Spencer Tolson

Katherine Cowley

Writing 150 Honors: Writing and Rhetoric

5 October 2010

The life of Piscine Patel is one of the most unique and interesting ever read, on both a shallow and allegorical levels. As a reader, I felt intrigued, sickened, and incredulous all while reading the same page. Such a book has great effects on the world of the reader. This effect is made greater by knowledge beyond the book, analysis of the book, and understanding the changes taking place in the reader. All have had a great effect on my understanding and reflection of the Life of Pi.

Personal reflection- I was very interested in this book that was assigned as a textbook. The cover revealed it was a novel, and a fictional one at that! I opened and read with great interest. I read the authors note first. Towards the end, it explained it was a book telling a story that would make the listener believe in God. After reading that line, the way I read the rest of the book was changed. Constantly I was looking for ways that the book proved this statement. At first, it seemed obvious that religion was important. Pi is invited and takes an active part in three separate religions, all with millions of believers. Personally, I was inclined to sympathize with the Christian minister first. Then the book began to open my eyes. All religions portrayed in the book have one thing in common- a belief in a higher being. They might differ in how this and that happened, but Pi understands that simple truth, and uses it to combine all the religions in his beliefs. As a reader, what can be learned? Pi is a shining example in a day and age where people have killed others for having different beliefs. Instead of asking ourselves what differences we have, we can ask ourselves what do we have in common. Pi’s simple innocence when the three separate religions confront him is a touching lesson that I constantly reflected on while reading the story of his amazing feat. He constantly turns to this idea of religion in his thoughts while trying to survive. When he had nothing else to turn to, he turned to God. In my life, I need to realize that God is always there, and it needs to be recognized not only in times in hardship but in times of prosperity. Also, several times I had to lay my head back in disbelief at the brutality of this young boy. This brutality comes from his need to survive. While reading this book, I felt naïve. Questions often arose, such as, ‘did he just do that?’ Much was learned about human nature while I read this story of Pi. What would I do in that situation? Would I be able to survive? Could I do what it takes? It is a question few could answer till the situation presented itself.

Critical analysis- Life of Pi is a unique book that explores many areas of human nature. Namely, religion and survival. These two instincts have been around since the beginning of man. Survival is an instinct. Every person feels the need to survive. Whether it be going to a restaurant to eat, or eating a rotten dead fish, people are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to provide the basic needs of life for themselves. The Life of Pi explores this in a unique and vivid, if not gruesome, way. Pi, a vegetarian, finds himself stuffing raw bird and fish and at one point human flesh to survive. Society’s boundaries are destroyed in a case of life and death. The Life of Pi suggests that a man will do anything if presented with dire circumstances. This is seen in real life as well. Humans cut off their own limbs to survive. People will lift gigantic boulders or cars that are crushing them to death. The human body is an amazing thing that will do what it has to do. Life of Pi does an amazing job of explaining that to the reader. Religion is also something people have questions since the beginning of time. Where have we come from? What is the point of this life? Wars and started because people have felt differently- but religions have been born also. In the book, Pi find three major religions that all have many differences. However, he incorporates them all. While this at first seems unrealistic, the innocence of Pi at this time allows the reader to believe this. Pi is interested in God. Any religion that believes in a higher being is a good enough religion for him. Love allows Pi to do this in his life, while others could not. Why did the author put this in? I believe he is trying to make the reader understand that the world does not deal in truths. Most of the book portrays a shocking and unbelievable story. Pi goes back and changes much of his beliefs, as he is forced to choose between survival or death. While there are many themes, two of the most stressed are that of religion and survival.