life of pi theme thesis

<- Previous Page | First Page | Next Page -> Free Study Guide for Life of Pi by Yann Martel-Book Notes/Summary Table of Contents | Message Board | Downloadable/Printable Version THEMES ANALYSIS The Better Story The major theme is the value of the “better story.” As Pi puts it, “The world isn’t just the way it is. It is how we understand it, no?” How we interpret reality can be, as it is for Pi, our faith. We need to believe in something beyond the seen. It helps us deal with fear. It helps us find a “better story.” Everything about life is a story and we can choose our own story. Martel’s point is that the story that is more imaginative is the better story. The reader can choose whether Pi’s life is real-life fiction or imaginative fiction. Pi presents the Japanese men (and the reader) with two stories, one inspired and one crude reality. The men prefer the better story and in the end accept it. Pi feels that God prefers the better story as well, “And so it goes with God.” Science and Religion A theme, and also a recurring motif, is the bringing together of science and religion as equal ways of understanding the world. Pi’s zoo upbringing and his relationship to the animals provide a scientific understanding of the world. His multiple religious philosophies and relationship with God provide a spiritual understanding of the world. He must combine his knowledge of science with his faith in order to survive on the lifeboat. Your browser does not support the IFRAME tag. Pi’s inspiration came from his childhood “prophets,” Mr. and Mr. Kumar. In Chapter 31, where the two Kumars meet and enjoy the zoo with Pi there is a comfortable intermingling and even a crossing over of the biology teacher’s knowledge and logic with the Sufi’s spiritual understanding. These two seemingly opposite men move Pi to a double major, one zoology and one religious studies. Pi accepts both.
Of central importance to this novel is the theme of survival, even in seemingly impossible and adverse conditions. For Pi, the challenge of surviving operates on several levels. First, there is the necessity of physical survival: he must keep his body alive. This requires food and water, both in short supply, as well as protection from the elements. Pi knows he must defend himself from the immediate threat, Richard Parker, but he is also aware that there is a whole host of dangers waiting to do him in. Ocean storms, huge waves, sharks, sunstroke, dehydration, drowning—any and all of these things pose a risk to his life. Pi’s inventiveness and resourcefulness (he covers himself with wet clothes to protect his skin from the sun and builds a raft from oars and lifejackets to keep him at a safe distance from both the tiger and sharks) enable him to remain physically safe. Second, and more difficult, is the necessity of emotional or spiritual survival—the fact that Pi must keep his spirits up or else succumb to despair. Pi says at several points that Richard Parker helped him endure; the presence of a companion (even an imagined one, in the non-animal version of the story) gives Pi mental strength, and the requirements of caring for a tiger keep him occupied, preventing him from thinking too much about his fate. Biological survival—living a long life, raising a family, and passing ones genes down through the generations—represents the third level. Pi is the sole member of his family to survive the sinking of the Tsimtsum, and he is able to do so largely because he has inherited (from Mamaji) strong swimming skills and an affinity for water. Now Pi must propagate the Patel line. When we learn that Pi is a father, the author tells us, “This story has a happy ending.” Ultimately, Pi achieves survival in every sense. The animals in the lifeboat embody qualities that represent.
Below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel can be used as essay starters. All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in “Life of Pi” and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of “Life of Pi” in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of important quotes from “Life of Pi” on our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay. Topic 1: The tiger’s name The author supposedly drew from historical instances of multiple men by the name of Richard Parker who were known to have either become cannibals at sea or been cannibalized at sea. How is it significant that the name is given to the tiger? What does he represent for Pi? When Pi re-tells the story with humans, the tiger is left out. There is the possibility that Pi and Richard Parker are one and the same. Research the real life Richard Parker and examine how Pi, and the tiger fit in the story. Topic 2: Eat or be eaten Pi claims that Richard Parker does not eat him because Richard recognizes Pi as the alpha male. Having grown up around many zoo animals and having been educated by his father on the danger and strength of them, Pi is equipped with a wealth of knowledge on animal behavior. He uses this knowledge to survive on the lifeboat surrounded by animals that would eat him. He fishes in the sea and feeds fish to Richard Parker to avoid being eaten after it is down to the two of them. He claims that he also wants the companionship. Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They.
please suggest me thesis statement on the novel life of pi, the topic is Religion is very important in this novel discuss the role of religion in Pi's life and how it helps him survive his ordeal Are you sure you want to delete this answer? Sorry, something has gone wrong. Answers Please suggest me thesis statement on the novel life of pi, the topic discuss the role of religion in Pi's.? please suggest me thesis statement on the novel life of pi, the topic is Religion is very important in this novel discuss the role of religion in Pi's life and how it helps him survive his ordeal Add your answer.
This sounds like an interesting essay to attempt.  Considering that the main character, Pi Patel, has an interesting belief system combining the world's three main religions, how about focusing your thesis statement on those three?  That way, your five-paragraph essay will have a perfect format of introduction, body paragraph one, body paragraph two, body paragraph three, and conclusion.  For example, your thesis could read something like this:  Pi tries to find the meaning of life by combining the world's three major religions:  Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. Your introduction should lead to this thesis (or an alternate one that you create).  The first body paragraph should focus on Pi's experience with Islam and the topic sentence should reflect that.  The second body paragraph should focus on Pi's experience with Hinduism and the topic sentence should reflect that.  The third body paragraph should focus on Pi's experience with Christianity and the topic sentence should reflect that. It is the conclusion of your essay where I think you could present a new idea for the reader to consider.  After beginning with a restated thesis, how about suggesting that Pi has created a belief system mirroring the current New Age idea of All One ?  The following would be a perfect quotation to use in your conclusion: Pi Patel:  So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you cant' prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with the animals or the story without animals? Mr. Okamoto:  That is an interesting question. Mr. Chiba: The story with the animals. Mr. Okamoto:  Yes.  The story with animals is the better story. Pi Patel:  Thank you.  And so it goes with God. In other words, no matter how one tells the story of God (through Islam, Hinduism, or Catholicism), God remains the same.  God simply changes the.