Survival of Pi

In the novel Life of Pi, Pi goes through an unexpected journey for 227 days that adjusts his morals and needs to survive. Pi depends on his survival by over looking his morals, having faith, and creating his own version of the situation rather than facing reality. The human mind will go to great lengths to escape itself out of traumatic real life situations. Survival is the state of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. Pi is faced with a serious situation involving death of loved ones, and the need to survive.

The actions humans do to survive seem extraordinary and unimaginable. Pi’s needs to survive alter his life style. To begin with, Pi grew up a vegetarian as well as his brother Ravi, and his mother. The whole journey, Pi was surrounded by food and water but unfortunately the water was salt water so it was undrinkable and Pi could not apprehend any fish nor wanted to eat any. Pi had to depend on fish and turtles to give him some nutrients for survival. Pi believed eating meat was morally wrong. In Pi’s second story, he was surviving on the boat with a young sailor, a cook, and his mother.

The cook could no longer sustain his humanity and he turns to cannibalism because he considers it the last option. The whole journey, before Pi was stranded on the lifeboat he was given food, water, love, and all the essentials to survive. On the lifeboat Pi fended for himself and had to change his morals and lifestyle to survive. Once Pi survived his journey and was interviewed by Mr. Chiba and Mr. Okamoto, Pi informs them, with: “I know my survival is hard to believe. When I think back, I can hardly believe it myself. ” (223) Pi was against all odds of his journey to live, and survived.

Faith is an important factor of Pi’s survival. Furthermore, faith is a significant factor in Pi’s survival. Pi should have passed away several times but faith kept him remaining on his journey. Pi is unsure of what religion he believes in. He is Hinduism, Islam, and Christian. Pi believes all religions lead to the same God. Without faith, Pi would have given up multiple times but Pi knows his life has a meaning. Pi understands out loud, “Only fear can defeat life. ” (161) This quote explains how Pi believes faith can keep you surviving as long as you have faith in yourself.

After the ship sank, and Pi remarkably survived he verbally realized, “Every single thing I value in life has been destroyed. ” (108) The trauma Pi is going through is fierce and too much to tolerate. Pi lost all of his family, left his home and friends, and is now gone astray out at sea. He has lost everything and anything close to him. By believing in the three different religions, Pi shows that he is strong with a high spirit, which helps him survive out at sea. Pi had knowledge from three different religious groups, so he always had help and a solution to all of his problems.

Faith is powerful. Faith gave Pi a reason to keep going and not to give up. Lastly, Pi created a ‘second story’ so he didn’t have to face the reality. People can often prepare a story to convince people and themselves that it actually happened, so they can escape reality and believe in this fantasy. Pi created Richard Parker so he didn’t feel alone; Richard Parker was a figment of Pi’s imagination. Richard Parker is the will inside Pi for survival. Richard Parker was Pi’s fighting source. Richard Parker killed the hyena after the hyena killed the zebra and orangutan in the second story.

Richard Parker only comes out of hiding when Pi becomes angry after seeing his Mother (orangutan) and young sailor (zebra) be killed by the Chef (hyena), I think when Richard Parker comes out of hiding that demonstrates Pi’s fighting source coming out of his personality. Throughout the book, aspects of Richard Parker come out in Pi. For example, Pi starts eating meat even though it is against his morals and beliefs, his personality becomes strong like a tiger because he becomes in charge and doesn’t let Richard Parker take control.

Pi created the second story and Richard Parker so he could escape reality. Pi would not have been able to survive without Richard Parker. Richard Parker killed the chef for Pi. Without each other, Pi and Richard Parker would have died. In retrospect, Pi survived under adverse and unusual circumstances. Pi would have not survived without overlooking his morals, having faith, and creating his own version of the daunting situation. The actions humans do to survive seem extraordinary and unimaginable. Pi’s needs to survive alter his life style.