Saturday, June 30, 2012

Life of Pi: Chapter 33

http://do512family.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/zoo.jpeg
Why is it that there are no photographs to speak of to document Pi's childhood?

Pi seems sad that he can't remember what his mother looks like. It's clear that she has passed away. What about his father? Is he still alive? Or is he dead, too, and Pi can remember what he looks like...or maybe he just doesn't care that he can't remember his father...

Still unclear who Richard Parker is...

10 comments:

sami.blosser said...

I don’t believe Pi is diminishing the memory (or possible livelihood) of his father by bemoaning the fact that he can’t remember his mother’s appearance or voice. Instead, I think he’s starting to develop a motif of the saving grace of a motherly image. Earlier on, in Chapter 20, Pi talks about the two times he felt extremely close to God; one of them being a time when he saw a vision of Mary in the snow. I think the fact that he cannot remember his mother’s face is extremely painful to him because he feels this image is sacred. I also think that this image is going to come back sometime in the novel- seems like a minor detail that could become very pivotal to the plot!

Liz Joyce said...

Photographs are merely a token of precious times from the past. When the ship sand Pi was unable to salvage the photographs from his childhood memories. Pi states that he cannot remember the face of his mother. Could this lead to the idea that Pi repressed the memory of his mother? Looking back in the novel Pi expresses the love he had for his mother, so why now does he refuse to remember her?

Unknown said...

Most of the photographs containing his childhood memories were lost when the ship sank. I think the reason he finds it so hard to remember how his mother looks is because he doesn't want to remember. He doesn't want to remember the ship sinking or what he went through. He simply doesn't want to remember,even though it saddens him to forget his mother.

twirl4life said...

There are no photographs to speak of to document Pi's childhood because he was limited to what he could take with him over seas to Canada. Even what Pi did bring with him during the move sank with the ship on the way to Canada, leaving no remains of his childhood but memories. I believe his father may also have passes away, but it doesn't leave such an impression as not being able to remember his mother. Pi seemed to have been closer with his mother than his father, so he is very concerned with not being able to remember much about her. I believe Pi looked at his father as an authority figure, where his mother served as someone he could always count on. Because he could always count on his mother, he feels a sort of shame not being able to remember her.

ellenehays said...

There are no photographs because when Pi and his family immigrated to Canada their cargo was mostly necessities and animals. Pictures were not as important for memory sake back then as they are now. Pi is sad because he can't remember what his mother looks like, this is because I don't think that his parents were as great of an influence on him as he wanted. It bothers him that he can not remember his mother because she was the one always sticking up for him from his father, and honestly he "loved" more. He loved both parents but his mother was more of an influence in his life and someone to care for which is why it hurt so much when he couldn't remember her. His father is also dead, but Pi and his father didn't get along as well because he restricted his religious abilities. I think Pi was ready to move on with his life and not as sad to see his father go. He still loved him very much, but his father brought him down in many ways and didn't allow Pi to be the son he wanted to be.

Kelso Stark said...

Of course Pi wouldn't have any photographs of his childhood. Regrettably, they all were lost when the ship sank. The only possible way there could be some would be if relatives had copies.

It could be possible that Pi cannot remember what his mother looked like because human memories do fade over time. I am pretty sure that his father must be dead, too, because there is no way anyone else got off the ship, and Pi mentions that his family was asleep when he realized that the ship was sinking and there was water in the compartments where his family was. Pi might not have had as close a relationship with his father, but perhaps he and his father look similar and he can see his father while looking in the mirror... just a possibility.

Sean.Bacon said...

Pi would obviously have no photos of his family because his family had to immigrate to Canada on a tee and furthermore the ship that Pi's family sunk and being as he was thrown into a lifeboat he had no time to grab any photos. Both of his parents are dead because as seen in a later chapter the cargo ship his family boards sinks and he appears to be the only human survivor. Pi's mother was supportive of Pi throughout his entire childhood life and all his memories of her are good, however one of Pi's most memorable memories was his father's lesson on animal safety to him and his brother if that didn't stick permanently in ones brain I don't know what would also just because he said he cannot recall his mother's face or voice doesn't mean he can't remember his father, his mother always seemed more supportive in him in all his endeavors.

Gabby Parisi said...

Though iv'e read past the chapters before this comment, I will say what I thought before I read ahead.

I think Pi has moved away from his family or somehow was separated from them. For some reason if not political strife or some other disaster his family is unreachable. I think there are no pictures because he lost them in some disaster, I thought it would of been during the sinking of the cargo ship.

Richard Parker is a old family companion I think. Maybe a friend of his father's. I almost felt as if he may have made a great significance in Pi's life, thought I'm not sure what this significance is. I also thought he was somehow involved in the zoo business.

Tessa Savino said...

Of course Pi wouldn't have any photographs of his family, they were lost when the ship sank. I think Pi cant remember what his mother looked like because you can only remember things for so long, sure you may remember something's but all of the details will fade over time. I am assuming his father is dead because Pi never saw a sign of any survivors when he was in the water. I think Pi is more upset about not being able to remember his mother because she always supported him more and his dad seemed disappointed in him at times.

larchmeany said...

The end.