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Pi becomes a very reliable narrator here for me. He is very honest about his callousness towards the zebra's plight, even though he knows that what he's thinking might be abhorrent to some. Do you think he has the right attitude here, or does he seem like a heartless jerk?
In what way do you think the sea turtle will become a dear friend to Pi?
Extremely gruesome description of the hyena devouring the zebra. Why do you think Pi is so graphic here? Does it remind you of anything earlier in the novel?
Pi is finally grieving the loss of his family. Why do you think it took him this long to accept the fact that his family was dead?
21 comments:
To maintain hope in this dire situation I would probably try to envision my rescue, then I would occupy my mind by preparing for this eventual rescue. I do think Pi had the right attitude, he had more important things to worry about such as his own surivial. Self preservation defiantly takes priority.
I think that the sea turtle will become a highly reliable food source for Pi.
I think Pi is so vivid with his details here because he wants to show how brutal the hyena is. When Pi talks about the hyena he speaks about it with malice and disgust. All of the animals are a threat to Pi, but he especialy shows contempt for the hyena. This scene reminds of the tiger violently devouring the goat earlier in the story.
In a situation such as Pi's I would maintain hope by invisioning my rescue. I would think about seeing my family and realizing that I actually survived the horrendous situtaion. The thought of being on a solid surface and having food and water resources would keep me sane and optimistic.
I think the sea turtle will play an important part later on in being a leader for Pi. The sea turtle could lead him to something useful such as a food source or shelter.
Pi is so graphic in describing the hyena eating the zebra to show how gruesome and bloodthirsty the hyena truly is. This scene reminds me of the scene earlier in the novel when the tiger attacked the goat and devoured it in such a cruel and ruthless manor.
I think Pi is just now realizing that his family is dead and he will not see them again because he has been so focused on being rescued. The whole time he has been on the lifeboat he has been waiting to be saved and picturing his family waiting for him. Now he is realizing that he is not going to be saved as soon as he thinks and that his family has not made it. Pi is now realizing that besides the few animals along with him, he is the only survivor.
Each individual imagines hope in many different ways. Hope may come to others as what the future might bring; hope gives motivation to conquer what is most desired. In Pi’s situation the only way to maintain hope is to make reality a dream and look towards the possibility of reuniting with his family. Although this may give him false hopes it also creates a feeling of incentive to survive.
Pi releases his own emotions of the death of the zebra to help create a mental image to the reader. The graphic and insensitive descriptions lead to the broad emotions playing in Pi’s defenseless mind. Although the death of an innocent animal is tragic, Pi can only seem to grasp the harsh reality surrounding him that being callous towards the zebra is the least of his worries.
Humans often need companionship in stressful circumstances. The sea turtle to Pi is merely a sign of faith and friendship. The sea turtle brings light to the dark situation, as a great release for Pi.
Pi’s father earlier in the novel shows how gruesome an animal may be if hungry. Pi portrays a graphic description during the defeat of the zebra between the hyenas to show how the power of hunger can result as a danger to his future.
Family is a major aspect in Pi's life. Family is a support system that stands by your side through thick and thin. Pi finally comes to terms that his family may have not been as lucky to survive. He feels this way because he himself feels alone, this leads to the beginning of lack of hope. The atmosphere around Pi is futile, making his thoughts wander towards the worst possible outcomes.
-Liz Joyce
I would keep myself occupied as Pi does. In his specific situation i dont know if i would have much hope, but i would focus on not letting the lack of hope turn into something worse like despair. I think it took him this long because he was either busy worrying about the task at hand or he finally gave up at trying to deny the fact that his entire family is dead.
To keep hope I would try to think about positive things and try not to think about all of the bad things happening to me. I think Pi has the right attitude about the zebra because there is nothing he can do about the hyena killing the zebra and he just has to accept it and be lucky it isnt him.
I think the turtle will be a friend to Pi because it is not a threat to him. The turtle is a symbol of hope because it is one thing that will not hurt Pi.
I think Pi is so graphic when the hyena is eating the zebra because it was something he remembered very cleary and it was a horrible thing for Pi to watch. I also think that it is so graphic because it shows how hunger can affect an animal and what an animal can do to another animal when it is hungry just like Pi's father showed him with the tiger in the begining of the novel.
I think it took Pi so long to accept the fact that his family is dead because it was something he didnt want to believe. He had that one hope that if he ever gets to safty and survives that his family will be there. That hope is gone when he accepts that fact that his family is dead and leaves him with little hope at all.
I think that the sea turtle gives Pi hope. Of course the turtle doesn't understand when Pi asks it to tell a ship where he is but Pi might believe that he might see it again. Also it gives him a hope of survival, the turtle lives in an ocean of predators and yet has lived long enough to grow up. Pi might look at that as a symbol of longevity.
I think Pi is so graphic in his description of the death of the zebra because as time goes by he changed from being an optimist to a realist. If the zebra had died on the first day, Pi probably would have passed it off as survival of the fittest. But as he realizes the implications of the boat sinking, his idealistic persona is replaced by cynicism. He was optimistic about his parents and brother finding him but by the end of chapter 46 Pi realises they are most likely dead. This caused Pi to describe the death of the zebra holding nothing back.
It took Pi so long to finally accept his family's death because that was a little piece of hope he was holding onto. As the hours pass by after the ship sinking the chance of their survival goes from slim to nonexistent, especially since none of them can swim. The hope of his family's survival was a bright light in the middle of his gloomy situation.
To cling to hope in Pi's situation was the only left for him to do. He knew he didn't want to die and his will to live was making that possible. Pi's attitude toward the zebra is realistic and honest. He is recounting exactly what happened. The sea turtle may prove to be a trustworthy and loyal friend to Pi if help is found as the turtle was told. His description of the dying zebra is reminiscent of Pi's father taking Ravi and him to see the tiger devour the goat. Having seen this before, what the hyena did to the zebra may have been less of a surprise for Pi. After seeing Orange Juice searching the horizon for her family, Pi knows that searching for his own is useless. He held on to the thought of his family because he didn't want to accept the fact that they are gone.
In this situation, I would cling to the hope that someone will come, whether it be in boat, submarine, or any other way. I would also thing about how stations everywhere were informed of the ship sinking. As lights went off at different stations throughout the world, the search for survivors would begin, leaving me a little bit of hope to cling to.
I believe that Pi does have the right attitude here because he is trying to save his own life. When put in that situation, I believe it is okay to not feel sorry for an animal that is already injured. I think that he needed to focus on saving himself rather than the animals around him due to the fact that he was still healthy where the zebra was not.
I think Pi is so detailed in his description of the hyena eating the zebra because the event stuck so clearly in his mind just as when the goat was fed to the tiger.
I think it took Pi so long to start grieving about his family because he didn't was to believe they had died. He tried to focus his mind on other things, such as the hyena on the lifeboat with him. By focusing his mind on other things, it caused a distraction from the fact that he didn't see any other lifeboats that his family could be on.
I would maintain hope if I were in Pi’s situation by continuing to think positively and trying to make myself believe that I was going to survive and make it to land.
I believe that Pi is so gruesome with his description of the zebra being eaten in order to show how vicious a hyena can get, especially when it is hungry. It reminds me of earlier in the book when Pi’s father took him and Ravi to the tiger exhibit in the zoo and fed the live goat to the tiger.
I think right after the shipwreck, Pi was in denial that his family had died and the thought of seeing them again gave him some hope. After being stuck at sea for a while, it had finally sunk in that their likeliness of surviving was very slim.
Hope in this situation would be hard to find and maintain. A positive attitude would be necessary and you would need to have a goal. Giving myself a goal would give me hope and a reason to survive. I would tell myself to do it for my family who sacrificed their lives. To fight through the tough times for them and to show the strength of the family name.
In the future I believe that the sea turtle will be what gives Pi hope. It is a friendship and bond that will keep Pi going. Maybe the sea turtle will even lead him in the right direction of shore or something similiar to that.
Pi is very graphic in the book about how the hyena killed and ate the zebra. This is because it shows emphasis on the anicipation of Pi. Pi knew it was coming so in the book he described the situation bite by bite. It symbolizes that one can be helpless and can only hold on for so long until something stronger and greater will conquer and take over.
I was astounded on how long it took Pi to be sad about losing his family. It just shows how he wasn't close to his family. When Pi finally grieves the loss of his family this shows how deep down he did love them and appreciate them, it just took him a while to realize this. He was probably in denial and when he started to get lonely he realized he missed their company dearly.
Pi's lack of sympathy towards the zebra reflects a newfound sense of pragmatism - a methodology that greatly benefits Pi throughout the novel. Although Pi knows he should feel sorry for the zebra, it is not pragmatic in his situation; he has greater things to worry about, such as food, safety, etc. This thought process allowed him to avoid thinking about things that put too much emotional stress on him until he was in a more stable situation, e.g. the death of his parents. Grieving is not conducive to survival. Pragmatism aides in the reader's trust in the reliability of Pi's narration: Pi has no reason to lie about his situation, so everything is accepted as the truth. It also aided in his survival. Often, later on in the novel, Pi chooses the most pragmatic option which always led to the continuation of his life. Example: turtles. As Pi put it (I am paraphrasing, of course) turtles are incredibly easy to catch and very nutritious. He eats a very large number of turtles throughout the novel. Perhaps that’s the more morbid version of why turtles were his friends.
If I were in Pi's situation I would cling to survival and the possibility of rescue. Having hope in something would keep me from giving up. I think the sea turtle gave Pi hope for food or rescue. It meant him no harm and I think he took comfort in that.
Pi's description of the hyena eating the zebra was so detailed because I think he was just being realistic. It helped to convey the helplessness of the situation that Pi was stuck in. I think he would have wasted energy caring about the zebra because it would have died anyway due to its leg, and he had his own survival to be concerned about. This scene reminds me of earlier in the novel when the goat was fed to the tiger.
It took Pi so long to accept the death of his family because he just didn't want to believe they were dead. Surviving on the boat for so long and being exposed to horrors, like the hyena devouring the zebra, took a toll on his thoughts. I think this wear and tear made him lose hope and come to terms with the reality that his family was dead.
To maintain hope I would not dwell on a recue. Thinking of rescue and not survival would drive me insane every second that there wasn't a boat in sight.
I think the sea turtle will be a source of sanity for pi. Being on a boat with a hyena that wants to eat you would be nerveracking and a friendly sea turtle would be a nice escape from the troubles.
I think pi is so graphic with his discription of the hyena eating the zebra because, like me, I think it remi ds him of the goat and tiger scene back at the zoo.
If i was in Pi's situation, in order to maintain my hope i would just think about the reasons i want to survive. I would think about surviving to honor my family, knowing thats what they would want to happen. I would think about all the things i can accomplish with my life if I just hold on and struggle through.
The sea turtle might represent hope for Pi. He may look at the Turtle as a message or symbol from the heavens to not give up.
Pi may now be mentioning his families demise because he may be beginning to lose hope of him being rescued and making it out of this situation.
How would I maintain hope in this situation? Well, I would just fight for survival and hope that I would someday (hopefully sooner than later) reach safety again. My mindset for barely comparable situations; everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was just a way to show me I am stronger than what I think I am. If it wasn’t possible for me to overcome the situation I wouldn’t presently be alive. Something good always comes out of the bad.
Pi has a very relatable attitude here. He has sympathetic feelings towards the zebra but he can’t show it or do anything about it, because he has to be concerned about his own life. He is not heartless, because he expresses sympathy for the zebra. He even shows hatred towards the hyena for putting the zebra in this horrible crucifying position. If he was heartless, he would enjoy watching what he has seen, and enjoyment was probably the very last thing on his mind.
The sea turtle is merely a gesture of optimism. If the turtle can survive so can I. To Pi, the sea turtle could be a sign from God; I am here, and will help you make it through this journey. You will receive help.
Why is Pi graphic when describing the hyena feasting on the zebra? Why not? I mean if you had seen this and were writing a novel about this misfortune, why in the world would you leave out any details??? In this situation, Pi wants you to feel what he had to endure. Some might say that Pi could’ve reserved some of the morbid details, but truly the fact that you did not have to see this event you only read about it, that makes it plenty reserved. I feel sympathetic towards this character after an event like this. It does remind me about the tiger attacking the goat, earlier in the novel. Except that scene managed to remain reserved from, what I would assume to be, graphic details.
Why did it take Pi this long to accept the fact his family was dead? Pi may not even truly believe it at this point. At this point, seeing as no one has been around to potentially save Pi, he starts to think that no one made it out alive; therefore no one will be searching for him. A lot of people claim to have internal instincts where they can feel the truth of whether a family member is alive or not. It’s possible Pi played the situation over and over again in his head to the point where he had no choice but to accept the inevitable.
At this point, I think the only way to maintain hope is religion. Pi should be able to persevere based on the simple act of prayer. When all seems lost, Pi should be able to at least know that he will have life after death if it should come to that.
I once read a short story where sea turtles were helpful as food. Their blood could be used for hydration and they could be found often enough to stay alive. If the sea turtles do not act as sustenance, then they will probably either lead him somewhere useful or he will remember something about sea turtles that he can apply in order to survive.
Pi is graphic in his description of the hyena eating the zebra to reinforce the feeling of hopelessness that the reader should feel in Pi.
I think that during this section pi has the attitude he needs to survive. Yes, the fact that he has no sympathy for the zebra is sad, but it can be seen as a good thing through Pi's eyes. Because of this the hyena can fill itself on the zebra and not go after Pi. So, in the aspect of safety and survival Pi definetly has the right way of thinking about the situation.
I would maintain hope by thinking “okay, I’ve made it this far, I can keep going.” I would cling to hope by thinking that other people knew the ship went down and there would be search parties looking for survivors, as Pi thought.
I think Pi has the right attitude. This is life, and there’s nothing he could change about his situation and he tells it how it is.
The sea turtle could lead Pi to land.
I think Pi was descriptive about the hyena eating the zebra because it was a very up-close and personal experience, and thinking that he was going to be next.
It probably took him so long to accept that his family was dead because no one was coming for him and he had to face reality.
In all seriousness, in a situation similar to Pi's I would immediately turn to my faith. I'm not trying to press my beliefs on anybody, it's just that God has never forsaken me and I know he never will forsake me. my faith has been, is, and always will be my guiding light even in the thickest darkness.
I could see the Sea Turtle becoming useful to Pi in a number of ways.
A. He becomes food.
B. He becomes a weapon.
C. He becomes Pi's equivalent of Wilson.
D. Pi rides majestically into the sunset on the back of his Sea turtle.
I think Pi's description of the Hyeana is so gruesome due to it having an extremely intense effect on Pi. I feel like witnessing an event like that in person in such a hopeless situation could easily traumatize a person.
Pi did not want to accept that, besides the animals, he was completely and utterly alone on that ship. That's why he hasn't grieved up until this point.
After having to leave his home in India and everything that is familiar to him, watching the ship with his family aboard sink, and being the only survivor besides a few extrememly dangerous animals, I think Pi is a little bit overwhelmed. In his situation, it is only natural to deny the death of his family. If I were Pi, I would feel so helpless and lost that I would probably just give up. I'm sure Pi feels like he doesn't stand a chance at first, but he snaps out of it fast enough to gain the hope that he needs to survive. It isn't until then that he accepts the fact that his family is dead, and that he must only rely on himself. Taking time to grieve over his family was the smartest thing that Pi could have done at that point, because in order to stay alive, he had to accept all of the terrible things that had happened and move on.
The end.
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