Discrimination In Life Of Pi And A Raisin In The Sun

All stories, whether a novel or a film, have deeper meanings than what meets the eye. Discrimination is an issue which continues to affect many people today. Individuals are judged based on their social class and economical status. Also, a human having different beliefs than others is a rising conflict, as individuals react opposingly to situations depending on their belief system. Throughout the novel, Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel three major points are discussed, that being, social status, economical status, and the idea of faith and hope. These ideas relate to two other sources: Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood and A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry.

Hope and faith play a significant role in Life of Pi, A Raisin

Pi says, “The lower you are, the higher your mind will want to soar. It was natural that, bereft and desperate as I was, in the throes of unremitting suffering, I should turn to God” (Martel 314-315). Although Pi is at his lowest point while at sea, he still remembers God and continues to have faith in the Almighty. Furthermore, in the play, A Raisin in the Sun, the main character, Walter Lee Younger is excessively hopeful that he will become rich. Walter says, “‘’cause sometimes it is hard to let the future begin!’” (Hansberry 559). Walter believes that his dreams are about to come true. He expects to hear good news about the liquor store, but he only receives bad news. Moreover, in the film, Gran Torino, a Hmong teenager, Thao is hopeful that Walt, a Korean War Veteran will help him protect his family from the Hmong gang which is terrorizing them. After Thao’s house is destroyed in a drive-by shooting and Sue, Thao's sister, is raped, he goes to Walt’s home to

The Muslims and Christians are marginalized by the Hindus in Life of Pi. The Pundit says, “‘The real question is; why is Piscine dallying with these foreign religions’” (Martel 75). The Pundit is not pleased with the other two religions being in Pondicherry and does not think of them in a respectful manner. The marginalization that took place in Life of Pi can relate to the notorious incident that happened to a 14-year-old American boy named Ahmed Mohamed. The boy built a clock and took it to school to show his class, but the teacher mistook it as a bomb. Mohamed was not given a chance to explain himself, and he was immediately placed under arrest and suspended from school. After an investigation, it was revealed that it was a clock and not a bomb. Therefore, Ahmed was discriminated against because he was Muslim. Ahmed's situation relates to Life of Pi since Muslims and Christians were marginalized by Hindus. In A Raisin in the Sun, the African-Americans are marginalized by Caucasians. A man from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, Karl Lindner approaches the Younger family and explains to them that the residents of Clybourne Park do not want a black family to move to the neighbourhood. Linder says, “‘Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities’” (Hansberry 553). It is undoubtedly visible that residents of Clybourne Park are not fond of