Life Of Pi And Savagery Essay

In 2002 The New York Times wrote an article about the controversy over the similarities between Yann Martel's Life of Pi and "Max and the Cats". "Max and the Cats", published 20 years prior to Life of Pi has a similar story with a man being lost at sea with a jaguar. In the novel Max, the main character, clashes with the jaguar, who represents his animalistic shadow. This clash between man and animal is also a central point in Life of Pi. While on his journey, Pi gains the characteristics of his shadow, savagery and a strong will to live, however, in the end, he still maintains and gains religious and faithful qualities. Pi spends his time in India learning about the ideas of science and religion, his faith in God still untested. In his annotative article Gregory Stephens, a professor, says, "Pi's belief in God is framed within the context of having to balance science and religion" (Stephens). This balance is evident in Pi's admiration of Mr.

When he lands on the beach Pi says, "I thought, of God. Of course, I wasn't. This beach, so soft, firm and vast, was like the cheek of God, and somewhere two eyes were glittering with pleasure and a mouth was smiling at having me there" (Patel 285). Abandoned by even his shadow, Pi shifts his focus back to God. The way he speaks is much less vivid than before and quite simpler. When talking to the Japanese men Pi says, "Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe" (Patel 297). Pi reflects that "God is hard to believe", something he struggles with while on the boat with Richard Parker. Now that Pi has returned to civilization he realizes how strangely he acted. After returning to civilization Pi regains his humanity and also gains a faith deeper than just practices and