Monday, July 09, 2012
Life of Pi: Chapters 59-61
I find it somewhat implausible that Pi can do all of the things he says he did in Chapter 59...but let's assume it's plausible. What would make it plausible? How might he know some of these things or figure them out?
How does Pi earn the hope he feels at the end of Chapter 59?
Explain the inner-turmoil Pi is experiencing in Chapter 60. Does it make sense to you?
A question for those of you who have fished: What is the strangest bait you have used that was successful? Tell the story.
Do you believe what Pi said about humans getting used to anything -- even killing? Do you have examples to support your belief? Do share.
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By the end of chapter 59 Pi is a bit more confident in himself. He has set up the solar stills and has also improved his raft to make it more habitable. This gives him hope that he is going about things that right way and increases his chance of survival.
In chapter 60 Pi is looking up at the stars and begins to feel small and significant compared to the size of the universe. He felt that no one else in the universe would really care whether he died or not. So why should he even try? But when daylight comes, Pi decides that he does matter. He wants to live and should let himself feel unimportant. I think this does make sense. When stranded out in the middle of the ocean, it seems all hope is lost. No one is looking for him and Pi takes that as being insignificant. I feel like being stranded would be a...humbling experience and would cause one to feel how small they really are in regards to the rest of the world. But at the same time, that's not reason to give up on life.
I agree with Pi when he says that humans can get used to anything. The fact that Pi was able to get over killing for food shows this. All the time humans adapt to things in life. From treacherous living conditions to life altering events, people still manage to continue living despite al the difficulties presented to them.
I think the only way that Pi could do the things he says he does is if he had some knowledge of survival skills before the shipwreck. Pi would have to have basic survival skills at the very least to be able to do all the things that he does, like the perfect knots that he manages to tie. Pi may have known some of these skills from being around the zoo and helping out some.
Pi earns hope by the end of chapter 59 by being successful in creating new additions and modifications to the raft. By creating these new additions, it provides a reassurance that he can survive this tragedy by being creative with his limited resources. Pi has very limited resources but is making very good use of what he has available, giving him a sense of pride I believe.
I don't think that Pi's turmoil he feels in chapter 60 makes much sense because by the end of chapter 59, he is feeling very confident in himself and reassured. He was feeling great about what he had done, then all of a sudden, he started doubting himself. For all that he has been through so far, he should be very happy. Pi continues to be successful and make improvements in his situation so I don't think his turmoil makes much sense.
I do believe what Pi says about how humans can adapt to anything, even killing. Things are constantly changing in life, and you eventually get used to the change. In Pi's situation, he has to get used to killing in order to survive, which he eventually does become accustomed to.
I agree with Hannah in saying that Pi became more confident. He even took the bold move of taking water from Richard Parker's stash. He even admitted to getting a little cocky about manipulating the tiger.
I think that the reason Pi was feeling so confident and good about himself in chapter 59 was because he was getting alot of work done and keeping his mind busy. However, in chapter 60, he starts to overthink and realize that there is not much hope.
Pi gains a newfound sense of hope at the end of chapter 59 because he is feeling comfortable with his new survival knowledge. After fixing the boat, beginning to train Richard Parker, and learning how to use a water still, Pi feels he might actually survive. He is proud of himself for being able to use his knowledge and the scarce amount of resources he has to increase his chances of survival.
Pi’s internal confusion in chapter 60 makes sense because even though he was just confident in his abilities to survive, he is trying to figure out if his survival would be worth the work. As he looks down into the ocean and up at all the stars in the sky, he feels insignificant and small. Pi doesn’t know if he wants to continue living because he is such a small part of such a big universe and at this point he has nothing to live for. It isn’t until daylight comes when he feels that his small “peephole” of a life is actually important and the will to survive is back in him. Even though feeling insignificant is not a viable reason to give up living, it makes sense that after all this time in the ocean his morale is low and he doesn’t know if survival will be worth anything in the end of his journey.
I think it is possible for humans to get used to anything under the right circumstances. Since Pi’s only options are kill the fish or die, he has to get used to it if he wants to live. Humans are forced to adjust to the situations that arise in their lives because it is impossible to run away from every situation, especially in Pi’s case. It is a necessity that Pi get used to killing, in the same way it would be necessary for someone to adjust to a new school, different living conditions, or any change in their daily routine.
I think it is very plausable that humans can get used to anything, even killing. The first time of anything is the hardest, but once you do it over and over, it gets to be routine. You especially see this with soldiers. I always hear that the first kill is the hardest, but after that, they get used to it. Sure, it may cause trauma in some people's minds, but they still got used to it. Pi's theory is very believable.
I d believe what Pi says about humans getting used to anything. Humans will do what they have to in order to survive. A person could swear up and down that they will never kill an animal or they will never eat meat, but if the person is in a situation where he or she will die if they don't kill and eat an animal, that person will more than likely change their mind. Doing something on a daily basis make getting used to the action easier. While doing something for the first time is the hardest, especially something as traumatizing as killing, doing more than once just makes the action a routine.
I believe that humans can become use to anything even killing. Especially if killing is the only way of survival. Okay, the strangest bait that I have ever used that work was a Gummy Worm. I was out trolling on Nettle Lake with my Mom and Dad and was eating Gummy worms. I got tired of not catching anything and decided to try a Gummy Worm. Not 5 minutes after I put the hook in the water I caught an 18" Catfish. This was one of the largest Catfish that i have ever caught.
I have gone fishing countless times, but the strangest thing i have ever used as bait was a shoelace. My cousins and I had run out of worms, so we began to use grass and shoelaces from an old boot. Only my cousin could get fish to bite on the grass, but I actually managed to catch fish with a shoelace. Now these were not large fish. We were actually catching bait fish for other, larger fish. We were so proud of ourselves. Looking back now, I can remember times when the bluegill and sunfish would bite on an empty hook. This makes me realize that my shoelace bait was not as miraculous as it seemed.
Pi had found hope and confidence in himself by this time. I believe that the way he was raised, without many luxuries, helped him immensely in this journey on the little boat. He was a quick observer and learner too, which also helped.
Pi found hope in Richard Parker’s prusten, his safe raft, and his full belly. The bountiful and colorful sea life under his raft also made him happy and let him fall into a content sleep.
Pi could not decide if his suffering mattered. He believed that in such a grand setting, his suffering was insignificant. At the same time, he believed his suffering did matter because he wanted to survive. It all makes sense to me.
I only use worms and shiners, and sometimes artificial bait when I fish.
Pi is correct when he says humans can get used to anything. I used to not be able to worm my own hook, but now it comes easy and I do it without thinking.
I think as Pi started formulating a plan he became more confident. He first had many different plans and could not decide wich plan to take. After Richard Parker made the pursten sound, Pi became more confident.
Pi constantly mentions that there must be one superior animal. When he realizes there is a chance for him to become this Alpha he finally gets motivated. This motication brought him to do more bold things like takeing water from Richard Parker, and claiming his territory.
Pi completing all of these tasks as effectively as he has to this point seemed rather implausible to me as well, his odd upbringing and strange environment may have fostered these abilities to a certain point however being as Pi is the one telling of this ordeal the details could be exaggerated a bit.
Pi earns the hope he feels at the end of chapter 59 through the hard work of making the raft more habitable, through the mast and the water stills and training Richard Parker.
In chapter 60 Pi feels that his suffering is insignificant in the grand scheme of things and the collective suffering of the universe I am almost certain everyone has felt as if what they are going through is not important in the grand scheme of things so I feel this response is normal.
The inner turmoil Pi is experiencing in Chapter 60 is the thought that his suffering is insignificant and doesn’t mean anything. It does make sense to me. I think if I were in his position and I had lost my family and was slowly dying in the middle of the ocean, I would feel pretty insignificant too. I would feel like I didn’t have anyone to live for so it wouldn’t matter how much I suffered or whether or not I survived.
I do believe what Pi said about humans being able to get used to anything, including killing. Many humans have had to become used to killing some being in order to get the food they need to survive, just like Pi did in the novel. I think almost anyone would go against any morals they had against killing and would get used to it in order to survive.
Many of the things Pi was successful at do seem a bit farfetched, but what else is there to do on a life boat besides get good at surviving? He has all the time in the world to master and perfect his ways of getting food, water and shelter. Is that not how other people figured things out? People do catch fish with their bare hands. Someone had to have tried and failed several times before figuring out little techniques and exactly how to succeed in catching the fish. It’s all about trial and error.
Pi feels hopeful because of all the pretty, colorful fish he saw racing around him. He realized how inhabited the ocean was, despite his current circumstances, and he could appreciate the beauty of it.
I think Pi feels that compared to the universe, him and his suffering is so miniscule, so insignificant that it really doesn’t matter. But he wants to matter. He wants to enjoy life and take part in it, as little as he is.
I am not a fan of fishing. At all. I just like to accompany my brother and father on trips to the lake and look out over the water and read. But I couldn’t help notice that they more often than not use night crawlers as bait- live worms! That seemed a bit twisted and sadistic to me. I researched these little creature’s and learned about their nervous systems, wondering if they felt being pulled apart to get more bait out of them, or the hook being woven in and out of their bodies, mangling them, or if they felt the fish taking little bites out of their flesh. (They do, by the way) I was appalled at first; I tried my very best to persuade my dad into an alternative form of bait. My efforts proved fruitless. But after a few trips, I got used to the torturing of worms. They’re just worms, right? We humans can get used to things quite easily. When coming into high school or junior high, I doubt the majority of us were used to the drugs, sex and alcohol that came with it. But now, save for the select few, who have not yet been completely corrupted, you don’t even blink when you hear that so-and-so got completely wasted and started hallucinating off of shrooms that previous night. We adapt. It’s what we’re meant to do.
Pi grew up in a zoo! Right there he already has a leg up on nature and surviving. He has examined how animals live and adapt his whole life, subconsciously learning from the animals. That combined with his own natural and animalistic instinct, I think, calls for a very plausible case for him knowing how to survive,
As for humans getting used to things such a killing. Yes!! It is happening everyday! It's called desensitization. Lets take the marijuana issue. Everyday more and more people are accepting the drug and endorsing it and supporting it. Yes there will always be those who disagree with the drug, I being one of them, but our youth see so many people doing this drug and saying it's OK, they are being desensitized into believing that. And one day kids will be raised to accept the fact that at said age you can purchase weed and smoke it "responsibly" just as happened with alcohol and tobacco and pornography. The list goes on. I think deep down we all have our basic instinct of right and wrong. But pleasure and enjoyment can override this instinct and cause humans to accept things that are wrong.
Pi Earns the Hope he feels at the end of chapter 59 by learning the new survival skills, and having some power over Richard Parker. The turmoil that Pi feels in chapter 60 doesn't make much sense because he was feeling very confident at the end of chapter 59. I guess I can't really relate to that since I've never been stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. In that situation I guess your emotions might be a bit haywire.
I love fishing and have to say the weirdest bait I have ever used was fettuccine noodles. I was out of worms and figured I might as well use my dinner. I think I caught about ten fish in five minutes. Best bait I have ever used.
I think humans can get used to anything if their lives are at stake, even killing. I was raised as a hunter and think it is human nature to hunt, so I don't think it would be hard for a person to learn to kill an animal.
I think the main thing that makes any of these things plausible is the fact that his survival instincts kicked in. Anyone when put to the test is going to do everything in their power to survive in such a situation. Your instincts are going to be stronger, your senses, even your adrenaline will kick in. So Pi is most likely just doing what he has to do and being as smart as possible to just stay alive. I think it is also likely that since he studies animals, he used some of the ways that they survive in their environments and applies that knowledge to his own predicament.
Pi earns hope by accomplishing the set up of the solar stills and using the life vest the improve the raft. He carves an oar and creates a mast for the raft as well which is impressive.
Pi's turmoil is definitly understandable. Anyone who has gone through such a tramatic even is bound to feel some sort of turmoil if not more than that.
It isn't exactly bait, but I was fishing with my cousin and he couldn't catch a fish all day and I just jokingly threw the clear line with just a hook on it, no rod or bait, and seconds later I pulled up a fish!
In any survival event, humans can adapt and do what they need to do to stay alive. In those weird stories you hear of people being stranded with no food and one person dies and they even eat the human body is a prime example of doing what they have to do to live. Gross, but true.
I had a friend who could reach into a lake and just pull fish out of the water with her bare hands. One time, she caught about a dozen fish in half an hour, one after the other. I don't know if that qualifies as "bait", but it was certainly strange.
I do believe that humans can get used to anything. In wartime, for instance, men and women that would never even consider harming someone are brought to kill.
I think, also, on the whole, people are getting more desensitized to murder, though not necessarily committing it. Two years ago, I took Law and Society and we took a field trip to the Monroe County Jail and Courthouse. One of the county prosecutors showed us the presentation he made at a murder trial.
Part of this presentation included a photograph of the victim, a middle-aged man shot through the forehead. He warned us that we could turn away if we wanted to, but no one did and it didn't even appear to disturb anyone. I think as more and more murder and violence is shown in the media, we are getting more and more used to it.
There was a University of Michigan study that said that the average American will see 16,000 murders on television by the time they turn 18. I think it's truly disturbing how much murder has become our entertainment.
Pi earns hope at the end of Chapter 59, because he now has security in his chances of survival. Pi was able to get supplies he needed from the locker, improve the raft, establish a sort-of mutual friendship with Richard Parker, and find entertainment in the night-time sea life.
The first time I went fishing I was at a KOA campground around a small pond in Ohio. We were using raw hotdogs as bait. I caught a few blue gills, sunfish, and one catfish.
When Pi say humans get used to anything, I think it’s true. Humans are creatures of habit therefore as long as the habit is routinely applied/used you could get used to it. No matter how absurd, disgusting, or morally disturbing the situation may be.
By the end of chapter 59 Pi gains some hope and confidence about his survival. It is largely due to all of the improvements and accomplishments he has made on his raft. Also, his new relationship with Richard Parker after hearing the prusten probably plays a great role in these feelings. If a 450-pound Tiger made a sound to show friendliness to me, I would definitely be a little bit more confident.
One time when I was little, me and my cousin decided as a complete joke to use gummy worms instead of real worms as bait. It was a big surprise when we caught numerous fish that day. The gummy worms were so successful, that we used them the next day even.
I agree with Pi when he says the Humans can adapt to anything. In my opinion this is largely due to our survival instinct. If we must adapt to survive, we are going to do it. If we need to hunt for food to survive we will hunt. It may be a little tough at first but eventually one will get used to it in order to live.
When you're at risk of death, you're survival insticts will start to kick in. With his background of running a zoo he knew how to take care of the tiger while still knowing what to provide for himself. With the manuals he had, and reading them carefully created a system to keep him busy. Pi hopes to feel more calm, satisfied.
It is completely possible for humans to get used to anything. If you can convince yourself that it's okay, and do it regularly than I'm sure you'll be used to it. Kinda like routine, for killing, just look at serial killers. They started out killing at a young age by killing animals. Over time they have just accustomed to it and started to try and kill more thrilling things, like people. You never really hear about serial killers killing and raping just one, unless they're caught in the midst of planning the next one.
People can get used to pretty much anything. Someone can lose their arm in an accident and learn to do everything they'd done before just as efficiently despite the handicap. Pi's survival at sea for 227 days is enough example, really. He fell into his daily routine of praying, checking the boats, and obtaining more food and water. However, for some things, I wouldn't quite use those words. I'd say instead that someone could grow to tolerate something, but not get so familiar with it as to say that they're used to it. I don't know much about what war veterens go through, but I wouldn't doubt that there are some who went through things so horrible that they get flashbacks and nightmares constantly. I'm sure that they get those same feelings of fear and pain every time it occurs. They may discover what triggers them or when they usually happen, what they'll see in a flashback, or the sensations that will accompany it, but they probably can't get so accustomed to them that they feel nothing when it happens.
I think that Pi's accomplishements are plausible. Pi found all the equipment he needed to make a raft, he did not simply make them appear with magic. Also Pi is an intelligent kid. I believe that he came up with the idea of making a raft. Pi earns more hope at the end of chapter 59 because he now has a "get-away" spot, if he needs to make space between him and richard parker. This increases Pi's chance of survival,which increases his hopes. In chapter 60, Pi was afraid of suffering. This makes sense because no one wants to suffer.I do believe Pi is right that humans can get used to anything, even killing. If people do something over and over, it becomes habit. Whether it is bad or good, people do it so many times they stop caring. There are many examples that people get used to anything, but one example is cracking fingers. It is bad for your bones but people become used to it that they do it without even thinking.
Pi earns the sense of hope he feels by finding a way to fix the raft and make his life better and more relaxing. He makes the raft more suitable for his life aboard it which can make his life a lot less stressful. He becomes a happier person when he no longer has to care about every aspect of survival, since now he has a shelter and better access to food and water. This allows him to relax and enjoy the little things in life such as the ocean life. He is able to compare that to life in the forest which keeps him thinking about happy and relaxing thoughts that will give him hope in his survival.
I don't find anything Pi does implausible, unlikely for city folk maybe, but not implausible. I've taken many classes on surviving in the open waters, and in 80% of the classes they teach you simple survival skills such as knots, water acquisition, fishing,and not to drink your pee.
Pi has regained his sense of hope because even though he is stranded and his situation is strange and difficult to deal with it's getting easier. He's getting a handle on things. He's surviving. There's a slow ease moving through the rhythm of his days gradually of course. He is no longer completely helpless and now he has a purpose:self-preservation.
His turmoil in chapter 60 makes complete sense to me. He is feeling insignificant and lonely. Before he questioned whether he could akeep himself alive;now the question is should he. Is he worth it. Everyone asks themselves how much they're worth at some point in their lives, why not now? Wheneverything depends on that decision.
I do believe what Pi said about humans getting used to anything, they do. They'll grow accustomed to it and a routine can develop. Now, that does not mean that it won't affect you. Every murder can eat you from the inside but a person can still do it. Tgis is with the worst of actions, but if course when a person is getting used to something smaller it's easier to get used and not care about later.
I fish quite a bit, so I could come up with several examples of odd bait I have used. The first example that comes to mind happened when I was little. I remember not being able to catch anything, so I put a leech and a minnow on the same hook. I, by some miracle, caught the biggest catfish I have ever seen. Another time I remember casting without realizing I did not have bait on my hook and caught a Bluegill. I then realized that there was no worm on my hook and continued to catch fish with nothing but a hook and sinker. Although it is not strange bait, I once caught a pike on a flimsy rod with a small hook tied on to thin line with a worm on the end. I was trying to catch much smaller fish at the time.
I do think that people can get used to almost anything they do. The human mind is amazingly adaptable. If something causes stress, the brain finds a way to cope. People get over terrible fears by being exposed to those fears. Soldiers often stop feeling the same amount of regret after multiple battles, some even becoming fond of fighting. I do not believe that we can get used to certain things without being harmed in some way. A person who relishes the next opportunity to kill is certainly unstable, but he or she did become used to the idea of killing.
I suppose its plausible that Pi could have been able to do those things. With the right motivation, you could probably Macgyver just about anything. Pi felt that he earned or deseerved hope because he worked hard for the feelinng of security and "safety".
I think the wierdest thing I've ever used as bait was corn. During family reunions when I was a kid, we would go fishing at the pond in the back of the barn and the bluegill would go nuts for the corn. It was awesome.
The hope Pi earns at the end of 59 is because of the sense of calmness he feels. He has successfully built a raft and uses it as a getaway from Richard Parker and the life boat. He is pleasantly surprised at the abundance of marine life living under him and finds it entertaining.
The most interesting bait I've used is hotdogs. I was camping with my family and after trying to dig up worms for most of the morning with no avail, we decided to use the last night's leftovers instead. The fish seemed to enjoy it!
I do believe that Pi was right when he said humans can get used to anything. If killing is your only chance of survival, what would you do in his situation?
The strangest thing I have used as bait was a gummy bear.. I ran out of worms and thought I would give it s try and surprisingly the fish ate it.
I think everything Pi did was plausible, his life is a risk and he needed to do whatever it took to survive. I'm sure growing up in a zoo helped Pi because he was used to watching animals survive and adapt to their surroundings.
The End.
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