Please analyze two of the following passages and respond to one classmate's response. Responses are due October 26th.
Passages:
"I wish I could convey the perfection of a seal slipping into water or a spider monkey swinging from point to pint or a lion merely turning its head. But language founders in such seas. Better to picture it in your head if you want to feel it" (18)
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names” (25).
“And sometimes the class, as beaten down by the heat as he was, wouldn’t react either. Not a snicker or a smile. But I always heard the slur” (26-27).
"And so, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge" (30).
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
“When Mr. Kumar visited the zoo, it was to take the pulse of the universe, and his stethoscopic mind always confirmed to him that everything was in order, that everything was order. He left the zoo feeling scientifically refreshed”(32).
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34).
"It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them -- and then they leap" (35).
"The obituary of zoo animal that have died from being fed foreign bodies would include . . .
The cruelty is often more active and direct . . . And there are indecencies even more bizzare: . . ."(36-37).
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
"I learned the lesson that an animal is an animal, essentially and practically removed from us, twice: once with Father and once with Richard Parker" (39).
" I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
"I don't know if I saw blood before turning into Mother's arms or if I daubed it on later, in my memory with a big brush. But I heard. It was enough to scare the living vegetarian daylights of of me. Mother bundled us out. We were in hysterics. She was incensed" (45).
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you" (47).
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
"It's a complete lie." (53)
"Only the trainer bettermake sure he always remains super alpha. he will pay dearly if he unwittingly slips to beta . . . Social rant is central to how it leads its life" (54-55).
"It's a question of brain over brawn. The nature of the circus trainer's ascendancy is psychological" (55).
"Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers" (56).
"We are all born like Catholics aren't we -- in limbo without religion, until some figure introduces us to God?" (58).
"I am a Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow trmeric nuggets . . .The universe makes sense to me through Hindu eyes" (59-60).
The truth of life is that Bahman is no different from atman . . . is the same thing" (61).
"The paths to liberation are numersous, but the bank along the way is always the same, the Bank of Karma, where the liberation account of each of us is credited or debited depending on our actions" (61).
"When I corrected her, I told her that in fact she was not so wrong; that Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims" (62).
63 comments:
Andrew Kemble ENG 4U1 02
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
To me, this relates back to Thomas Hobbes theory on politics and the state of man. Man is happy living in a confined society that controls and limits what we are able to do because it gives and supplies us safety and stability with a contained environment that allows for growth. The same is in zoos, the zoo sets up a contained environment that allows the animals to fully function and grow. The zoo provides safety for the animals. In the modern world with animals dying out, for some the last refuge are in zoos.
"I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
Anthropomorphized according to dictionary.com is to ascribe human form or attributes to (an animal, plant, material object, etc.). This is what Pi is doing by making the monkeys seem like people. If Pi is able to make animals seem like people, it is a logical “small leap” forward to assume the process can work in reverse, that Pi can make people seem like animals. Based on the front cover alone and assuming that Pi becomes stuck on a boat with a tiger, and noting at how improbable his survival is, it is possible that he may be imagining someone else to be the tiger (a giant leap I know), this person could perhaps be his brother. Ravi has been shown to be vicious by saying that Pi will be the next goat, Ravi is always there to take Pi down a notch with the “Lemon Pie” comment. We know at the end of part one that the Patel’s are travelling to Canada which further lends proof that whatever is about to happen will happen as a family. With this in my mind and knowing that in Pi’s right of mind, he does not delude himself to the nature of his playmates, lends reason to that when placed in an unnatural circumstance, such as being stuck in a boat, could lead him to question the nature of his playmates.
" I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
In this quotation, I see Pi looking to defend himself as to knowing the nature of his playmates. Many children tend to take things that would scare them, and turn them into something less fearsome and frightening for them. With Pi, he knew he would always be around the animals, and to be afraid of them would not be an option, and so he "dressed wild animals in tame costumes", a method used by children and even adults. To make a phesant have a British accent or baboons planning a bank robbery, are all clever imaginative ideas. However, Pi makes it clear that he is not delusional to what the animals are capable of even when he dresses them to be tame. Pi has come off as a very bright human being from the first pages of the novel "Academic study and the steady, mindful practise of religion slowly brough me back to life..." With Pi's academic knowledge and level of experiance with animals, it would be a suprise if he did not know the nature of his playmates. He understands that they are still animals with instinct, and will do whatever means nessesary to survive. He admitts to having anthropomorphized the animals, but notes his ability to tell illusion apart from reality. Pi was very clear of what he was guilty of and what he was not.
"And so, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge" (30).
Pi Patel is portrayed to be a very independent person. The fact that he did not give in to the name calling and break down is a battle hard enough, but to find the courage to stand up and make a change, is legendary for him. Pi, is the mathamatical term to find the distance of a circle, it is a universal symbol. Looking like a "shack with a corrugated tin roof" also fits the description of shelter and salvatoin. This being something that the symbol gave him. With all of the name calling that Pi recieved, it would come as no surprise that he wanted to be something that everyone could grasp, something universal. Although, as universal as the symbol is, it is also what sets him apart. He now rubs against the grain in life, and for that can never fully be defined. With never being fully defined, he once again is like the symbol Pi. This symbol gives Pi the respect he was looking for, the refuge.
Sydney Clackett
ENG4U1-02
My responses:
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
I think this is significant because it is describing our race, Humans in all sense. We are the ultimate predator. All animals fear us and we have the capacity and cruelty within ourselves to do terrible things to animals if we so choose. Most animals are defenseless against humans thus we are the most dangerous animals to walk this earth. Even those with defenses can fail when trying to injure us as a race, we have guns and sprays that will blind them and other objects that can ultimately harm every animal on this planet.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you" (47).
Life will defend itself, we all have a survival instinct in us, even the smallest of spiders has the instinct as it flees when you draw near. Though every animal on this world is dangerous, when it feels threatened it will strike out to prevent you from getting nearer or to stop you in your tracks. Some may not kill you, some can but all will injure you until it stops the advance and protects itself. Mothers of any species are especially defensive. This is because her babies do not have the survival instinct as strong, if even they have it at all. So the mother must make up for the fact by being overly protective until they develop the instinct or are old enough to care for themselves.
Response to others:
" I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
Sydney Clackett said:
In this quotation, I see Pi looking to defend himself as to knowing the nature of his playmates. Many children tend to take things that would scare them, and turn them into something less fearsome and frightening for them. With Pi, he knew he would always be around the animals, and to be afraid of them would not be an option, and so he "dressed wild animals in tame costumes", a method used by children and even adults. To make a pheasant have a British accent or baboons planning a bank robbery, are all clever imaginative ideas. However, Pi makes it clear that he is not delusional to what the animals are capable of even when he dresses them to be tame. Pi has come off as a very bright human being from the first pages of the novel "Academic study and the steady, mindful practise of religion slowly brought me back to life..." With Pi's academic knowledge and level of experience with animals, it would be a surprise if he did not know the nature of his playmates. He understands that they are still animals with instinct, and will do whatever means necessary to survive. He admits to having anthropomorphized the animals, but notes his ability to tell illusion apart from reality. Pi was very clear of what he was guilty of and what he was not.
I say:
I agree with what Sydney says because he does see that animals no matter how tame they may seem have instincts and Pi recognizes this. I also agree that Pi is defending himself because he could not be afraid of the animals he will be growing up with.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you." (47)
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is." This quotation reminds of how all animals and humans, no matter how large or small they are they will defend themselves no matter what. Just a mother lion a human mother will go to amazing feats to protect her young. Even when Pi was a young boy he was always defending himself, whether he was defending himself over how many religions he believed in, or whether he was being judged for where he was born or the sounding of his name. It also seemed (when he was much older) that every book that he tried to write was never quite good enough and he always felt like he was defending himself for what he wrote. However, Pi never gave up even when there was no hope he always keep fighting forward.
Many people make the mistake in thinking that all animals are " ferocious and dangerous" which cause both sides, human and wild animal to have fear and feel threatened cause one of the sides top attack and most often that is the wild animal who attacks and is made to look like the the "bad guy" in the situation. usually animals only attack when a person or another animal comes in there personal space and just like people if you get to close and they feel threatened they lash out. We are not much different from a wild animal other then we are domesticated and wild animals are not domesticated. Humans have a major down fall, we prejudge situations and animals/humans people fully understanding the situation and thus leads to not such a great result. We should think about how we judge people and think of how we are judged and how it may make us feel.
"Do you know which is the most dangerous animal in the zoo?" (39)
In this section of the book Pi's father is specking to Pi and his older brother and is showing them around the zoo and showing them how dangerous each and every animal is. After the experience with the goat and the tiger their father asks them what animal they think is the most dangerous in the zoo and of course there response is the tiger. However, the father reveals a very great point and wise one in my opinion. he tells his sons that the most dangerous animal in the zoo is "us", humans we are the major threat and are the dangerous ones not any of the animals that are locked in cages. It is the free ones the ones who have power and control. What can you expect when you take an animal from its home and put it in a totally new place, in a cage and expect it to be happy and friendly. Just like an animal a human would not react very well either. We are not pets so why do we treat animals from the wild as our own pets.How greatly we misread and understand animals. We too would be dangerous if we were locked up in cages so why is it wrong when an animal is mean. Most times out of none humans are attacked because they push their boundaries with animals and then punish them for attacking. When Pi's father showed him and Pi's older brother what a staved tiger is like when a helpless goat is put in the same cage she is showing them how dangerous an animal is and not to misunderstand an animal and to show them that humans are more dangerous then a staved tiger. They call us the most intelligent species.....yet we are the ones who misinterpret everything and everyone around us.
To kaitlyn Bullard quotations it is obvious that we did the same two quotations and share the same views (but in different words) and understand these two quotes and I think she did a great job stating her opinion.
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
This quote by Martel illustrates how deep Pi’s past really goes. Memory is an extremely powerful thing; intricate details woven together to form pictures and stories. As Pi begins to tell his story, he starts off at the surface, bobbing there like a buoy floating on the ocean. He has yet to dive into the depths and brave whatever scary things are waiting there for him. Pi knows that what lies at the bottom of the ocean far beneath the surface, what sits in the back of his memory waiting to be spoken of, needs to come out. Pi needs to dive in and face the monsters of his past. Martel realizes Pi’s hesitation and seems to understand that although Pi is slightly reluctant, he wants his story told and is preparing himself to do so. The author’s use of metaphors allows the reader to visualize Pi’s inner struggle and helps to develop his character.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Pi acknowledges the negative views most people have on both zoos and religion, yet this does not deter him from keeping faith in both. Pi feels very strongly about both issues and while he tries to present the reader with information supporting his views, his opinion is never forced. Zoos, which rely on science, and religion, which relies on faith, seem like opposites. Pi finds a way to connect the two which allows the reader to open his/her mind for further connections. Unity and connections are a theme of the novel and this quote reiterates that.
Response to Andrew Kemble’s Reply:
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
To me, this relates back to Thomas Hobbes theory on politics and the state of man. Man is happy living in a confined society that controls and limits what we are able to do because it gives and supplies us safety and stability with a contained environment that allows for growth. The same is in zoos, the zoo sets up a contained environment that allows the animals to fully function and grow. The zoo provides safety for the animals. In the modern world with animals dying out, for some the last refuge are in zoos.
**
I agree with Andrew and his interpretation of the quote. There are many misconceptions on what makes animals, and similarly humans, happy. Many equate freedom to happiness. But what is freedom without the rest of humanity’s needs? Humans and animals need structure. They need to feel safe and well protected. If a human were ‘running free’ in the jungle, it is doubtful that they would feel safe. I think that the purpose of this quote is to reinforce a common theme in literature: everything is not as it seems. Freedom may appear to provide happiness, but in reality it won’t.
Sophia Roth
Eng 4U1-03
In response to Andrew Kemble ENG 4U1 02
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
To me, this relates back to Thomas Hobbes theory on politics and the state of man. Man is happy living in a confined society that controls and limits what we are able to do because it gives and supplies us safety and stability with a contained environment that allows for growth. The same is in zoos, the zoo sets up a contained environment that allows the animals to fully function and grow. The zoo provides safety for the animals. In the modern world with animals dying out, for some the last refuge are in zoos.
Andrew's interpretation of this quotation is creditable in my opinion, as it is evident that he had researched the subject for further interpreting. It is understandable that animals may be just as happy in a zoo, as in the wild. This can even be related to people as some people need to be taken away from freedom and be guided in life, as a last refuge as Andrew stated.
Joshua Winters
ENG – 4U1
Period 2
Section 2
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34)
God does not exist. What simple and concise statement, statements that are found all about scientific papers and research documents. But as we know only too well in life there are very sure things. As my grandmother said to me many times “The only things you're guaranteed in life are taxes and death”. Still to this day I have yet to disprove her, and I shan't even try. So it is also proven that in life things are rarely black and white, we are merely lost in a sea of gray. Setting aside the issue of God, let us examine the progression of science. Scientific theories can change virtually daily. What at one moment seems a hard fact that is impossible to disprove, the next moment might find itself as childish rubbish. Where once the world was flat, with a little time and thinking became round Oso suddenly. Where the very notion that the earth revolved around the sun was full of stock, has passed into the vernacular as common knowledge. My point being to jump to a conclusion so quickly as to say something does or does not exist sounds a little bit like childish superstitious bosh to me. Also to believe that nothing but a scientific explanation holds any ground would be equally as foolish. I draw on George Orwell's theories of reality, truths, and lies. Whereas to say I hold up four fingers, and you see five, you believe there are five fingers and everyone else around me and you believe there are also five fingers, am I not holding up five fingers? Everything that we know and can't know lies only in perception. So perhaps it is equally concise as to say this. Absolute Truth does not exist.
"It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them -- and then they leap" (35)
I find it ironic and somewhat humorous, Yann Martell referred to atheists as brothers and sisters of different faith. He categorizes the faith less as a faith in and of themselves. I mean atheism can be considered a religion, which is established upon a basic principle that basic truth that lies, and Central ideology to which all members subscribe. So isn't atheism as much religion as any other? Just as any other believer does, they go as far as the legs of reason -- and then they leap. One might even say that they take a leap of faith. How ironic that those whose ideology is to believe in nothing, must believe in something, or to provoke strong. And at the end of the day though is it not what we believe, but the fact that we believe that keeps us alive. It's not the fact that we have hope and faith that which keeps waking up in the morning and going on day after day. More tragic are those who have nothing to believe in, because in essence they have no hope. You could say that atheists unscrew the proverbial light bulb at the end of the tunnel. For some religion provides help, for others it provides fun, and for some it's a topic to be debated that provides a simple pastime.
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
This is a sign in the Pondicherry zoo that Piscine’s father has painted on the wall. This sign caught the attention of many people and so many curious people wanted to find out the answer. Then they found themselves looking into a mirror as their answer. The “animal” is not the most dangerous animal in the zoo, although many people think they are the most dangerous, vicious and ferocious creatures. Animals are caged and detained from the public so that they cannot get a hold of people and for the biggest reason, so people do not get close to the animal. The animals are trained and taught to be able to handle the presence of humans. But the animals aren’t the species causing harm, it is the human being. Humans throw things at the animals, feed them unhealthy food, taunt the animals, and agitate them. Animals have a “flight distance” which gives it a wall of security. Animals do not attack because they are crazed and vicious. Animals will only attack or escape their habitat in order to preserve their “flight distance” and to protect themselves. Humans think that the animals cause all the attacks by themselves but in reality the human causes the animal’s danger, as well as their own danger. The human is portrayed as an animal in the quote because when they agitate and taunt the animals and attempt to touch them or scale the fences of the animals habitat the human is the one that acts like an animal while the true animal acts calm and relaxed until it feels the need to protect itself and get rid of what they feel is a threat. There is not many zoos a person can go to where the animals are attacking people or their cage in an attempt to escape. In most zoos the animals are docile because they are used to the presence of humans. But as soon as the human causes a threat, the animal turns on its instinct and considers it an enemy. An old saying states that “it takes two to tango.” So the human must do something to the animal in order for the animal to do something in return. The “animal” is the least dangerous animal in the zoo
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
Yann Martel is speaking about Piscine Patel in this quote. I believe this means that memory is vast and wide like an ocean. When you are sitting in a boat on the ocean you can see for miles, which is similar to memory because it can bring you all the way back to your childhood. And when you are sitting on the ocean you imagine the skies blue, with the sun beaming off the water. And it portrays how memory is vivid and colourful. But you can also be in a boat on the ocean and there are storm clouds and huge choppy waves. This portrays how memory is also dull, unhappy, and frightful. This quote shows how the ocean can be interconnected with memory because like life and memory the ocean also brings good and bad times. The ocean has an abundance of water. A persons mind also has an abundance of memories and just like the earth can hold a lot of water; your mind can hold a lot of memory. I picture Pi sitting in a lifeboat and looking around at the water and what it holds and as he looks into the water he sees his past as if it were happening at that moment. It is almost like Pi is floating atop his memories rather than water. Just like the ocean is vast and wide, it also holds many depths. Your mind is like the depth of the ocean, it can only remember certain things to a certain point and then it’s like the “tape” runs out much like a motion picture. Also since Pi is sitting on a “memory ocean” he has so many different memories: good, bad, exciting, terrifying. And with all these memories he does not know where to start his story and which part will come next, which is why I think his own story frustrates him.
Repsonse to Sophia Roth:
Her blog:
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Pi acknowledges the negative views most people have on both zoos and religion, yet this does not deter him from keeping faith in both. Pi feels very strongly about both issues and while he tries to present the reader with information supporting his views, his opinion is never forced. Zoos, which rely on science, and religion, which relies on faith, seem like opposites. Pi finds a way to connect the two which allows the reader to open his/her mind for further connections. Unity and connections are a theme of the novel and this quote reiterates that.
My response:
I agree with Sophia because most people are not “fans” of zoos. They think that the animals are vicious, or they have their thoughts on how zoos captivate most animals and treat them poorly. The reality is that animals are better off in zoos because they would not get the attention, nutrition, and perfect habitats, not to mention a safe place to live like they would in the wild. Also people do not like religion or they think there is only one way to go in religion and for most people it would be their religion or none at all. I also agree how Sophia states that zoos and religion do not have anything in common. Although Pi interconnects the two and shows how animals portray types of religions, much like the sloth being like the religion of the Yogis. Pi can open people’s minds on how religion and zoos aren’t as bad as they are put out to be. There is no correct religion and in the zoo there is no dangerous animal, other than the human.
Eric Vande Velde
ENG 4U1-03
Quote 1
"When Mr. Kumar visited the zoo, it was to take the pulse of the universe, and his stethoscopic mind always confirmed to him that everything was in order, that everything was order. He left the zoo feeling scientifically refreshed” (32).
Response
It is evident that Mr. Kumar is a very analytical character. He sees the world from a scientific perspective, reading between the lines, with a colourful view of his surroundings. Mr. Kumar does not view a zoo as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures. To him, a zoo is not a breeding location or merely a place for animals to be on public display. A zoo to Mr. Kumar is a “scientific wonder.” What I find most interesting about Mr. Kumar is that he analyzes the logic behind a zoo, as opposed to its simple purpose. In addition, he absorbs the sights and the sounds of the zoo.
Mr. Kumar develops associations to the zoo with Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, along with Charles Darwin, the father of natural selection. By developing these connections, Kumar is able to further instil his profound thoughts. Through this quote, we see that Mr. Kumar is indeed a critical thinker.
Eric Vande Velde
ENG 4U1-03
Quote 2
“I know zoos are no longer in people’s good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both” (24).
Response
This quote is by Pi early in Part One, at the end of chapter 4. It follows a lengthy discussion of zoo enclosures. Pi outlines that many people have negative views in regards to zoos in that they deprive gracious, wild creatures of their freedom. To many, zoo creatures are trapped in boring lives that have become domesticated in order to provide entertainment to society. Pi disagrees with this view, though. He believes that wild animals, in their natural habitat, encounter displeasure on a regular basis: fear, a lack of food, and fighting. Based on these biological facts, he views that wild animals are not free at all. Instead, they are subject to a severe array of social and natural laws. These animals then are faced with two choices: to comply and live, or die. Animals are creatures of habit, and in many ways, so are humans. When given zoo enclosures featuring an abundant supply of food and water, a clean environment, and a specific routine, Pi believes this is how wild animals thrive. According to Pi, zoo animals will only attempt an escape if there is something in their cage that is creating a sense of fear and endangerment.
As we are aware, Pi studied zoology and religious studies at the University of Toronto. In his thoughts, it is evident how deeply associated these two subjects are. This is shown when he transitions a discussion of animal freedom into a metaphor for one’s religious preferences. As we, as a society, misinterpret the nature of animals in the wild, we also misunderstand what being “free” of a religious system entails. This is where the idea of agnostic belief comes into play; where someone is uncertain about a god’s existence, and as a result, does not pledge to any faith. An agnostic may feel that he/she is able to believe or disbelieve anything he chooses. In reality, though, he/she is unable to utilize their imagination to broaden their belief spectrum. This results in the attempt to overcome life’s challenges the way that an animal does: because they are forced to. Pi feels that a person of faith, however, is comparable to an enclosed animal. They are enveloped in four walls comprised of a reality that is far kinder than reality itself.
Eric Vande Velde
ENG 4U1-03
Response to Kaitlyn Bullard
Quote
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
Kaitlyn’s Response
"I think this is significant because it is describing our race: humans in all sense. We are the ultimate predator. All animals fear us and we have the capacity and cruelty within ourselves to do terrible things to animals if we so choose. Most animals are defenceless against humans thus we are the most dangerous animals to walk this earth. Even those with defences can fail when trying to injure us as a race; we have guns and sprays that will blind them and other objects that can ultimately harm every animal on this planet."
My Response
I agree with Kaitlyn in that we, as humans, are the greatest predators that animals face. It is unfortunate, though, that some humans utilize their alpha behaviour to harm an animal. However, I feel that humans possess far more than “guns and sprays” to harm an animal. Humans possess the ability harm the environment that surrounds us. When we utilize procedures that increase our biological footprint, we are, in turn harming animals. Even something as minute as not throwing a wrapper out can harm an animal, but we do not realize this. We think that someone will just pick it up for us. Emissions from our vehicles, primarily CO2, is also extremely damaging to not only humans, but animals as well. Poaching and uncontrolled deforestation are also two very significant ways in which humans harm an animal’s environment. Humans are indeed the greatest predators that animals face, but there are far more ways that we harm our environment besides guns and pesticides.
I seem to have stumbled across an english class. Needless to say, my interest has been peaked.
In response to Mr Kemble's second quote.
I disgree entirely. Pi anthropomorphized the animals in his zoo simply as a way to amuse himself. Their manorisms simply reminded himself of what they looked like. If the same were to happen on the boat, I highly doubt Pi retell the story claiming the animals were the manorisms that they possesed.
Also, dictionary.com defines "psychosis" as a mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality. Now, in a long water deprived, food deprived journey that Pi is on, psychosis would probably be common. This COULD account for seeing the tiger as a tiger. However, it is from the moment he is on the boat, after being in good health on the larger boat. This means that either Pi has deeper mental disability that would have been present during his whole life, or that the tiger is a tiger.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
--Oh, spoilers!--
No, not by me.
Lily Wang
ENG4U1-02
"I wish I could convey the perfection of a seal slipping into water or a spider monkey swinging from point to pint or a lion merely turning its head. But language founders in such seas. Better to picture it in your head if you want to feel it" (18)
This quote is significant because it shows Pi’s love of animals and appreciation of their beauty. When he says that language falters in such seas, it reminded me of the quote we had a while ago, about the slipperiness of language and how inadequate it was. In this class, we have talked about the importance of imagination. With this quote and his acceptance of multiple faiths, we can see that he uses his imagination both in the spiritual, and in the scientific. This is further augmented by his anthropomorphism of the zoo animals. Pi says, “Better to picture it in your head if you want to feel it”, instead of see it, which is what I would have put in there. Feeling is usually attributed to emotion or tactile textures. Pi is saying that we should feel the perfection, instead of seeing it, because feeling means empathy, while seeing is understanding something. Again, this illustrates the difference between “dry yeastless factuality” and “the better story”.
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
The siege of Leningrad lasted about 3 years. It was important in two ways: it was the city named the founder of the Russian revolution, and it barred passage to Moscow. There weren’t enough supplies sent to Leningrad during the siege, and so many people starved to death. Food is necessary to survival, and Pi’s suffering must have had something to do with the lack of food, since he hoards it so intently. It is, indeed a reserve of food, to be used in emergencies. This comes from Pi’s experiences. The significance can be that the stacks of food are to prevent something like Leningrad happening to his house, or to himself. It’s a safety net, a reassurance that everything is okay, and if it isn’t, he can deal with it.
Sophia said:
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
This quote by Martel illustrates how deep Pi’s past really goes. Memory is an extremely powerful thing; intricate details woven together to form pictures and stories. As Pi begins to tell his story, he starts off at the surface, bobbing there like a buoy floating on the ocean. He has yet to dive into the depths and brave whatever scary things are waiting there for him. Pi knows that what lies at the bottom of the ocean far beneath the surface, what sits in the back of his memory waiting to be spoken of, needs to come out. Pi needs to dive in and face the monsters of his past. Martel realizes Pi’s hesitation and seems to understand that although Pi is slightly reluctant, he wants his story told and is preparing himself to do so. The author’s use of metaphors allows the reader to visualize Pi’s inner struggle and helps to develop his character.
I agree with what Sophia wrote, and I would like to add that oceans are rarely calm, and probably Pi will take his story wherever the waves of his ocean take him to. An example of this happening is when he beaks off the story to say: “And they expected to find-ha! In the middle of a Mexican tropical jungle, imagine! Ha! Ha! What were they thinking? (53).” And the note by Martel the directly precedes the quote about the ocean of memory. The vastness of the ocean makes the events Pi are experiencing now seem miniscule by comparison, and also, the ocean, just like memory, is unpredictable.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Zoos are not in people’s good graces because they hypothetically take away the animals freedom. A perfectly happy, well kept jaguar is free in a zoo where he would be shot down in the wild, killing off all of his kind. This relates to today’s situation housing only 14 black leopards, all in captivity and all adults. If they were released or if they had grown up in the wild, the black gene would die off and the animals would not be free. This notion also plagues religion because the tenets are apparently archaic and strip people of their freedom. Tenets are ‘an opinion, doctrine, or principle held as being true by a person or especially by an organization’. (dictionary.com) They are seen as archaic because of the fact that it can become dangerous, socially or physically, to disagree with the majority in power. The word plague in this quotation in reminds me of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, one of them being the death of the first born son, similar to Ravi’s situation farther along in the book. Biologically speaking plagues are very destructive yet both religion and zoos manage to survive, so this seems to overstate the severity of the illusion.
“The obituary of zoo animals that have died from being fed foreign bodies would include gorillas, bison, storks, rheas, ostriches, seals, sea lions, big cats, bears, camels, elephants, monkeys, and most every variety of deer, ruminant and songbird. Among zookeepers, Goliath’s death is famous; he was a bull elephant seal, a great big venerable beast of two tons, star of his European zoo, loved by all visitors. He died of internal bleeding after someone fed him a broken beer bottle.
The cruelty is often more active and direct. The literature contains reports on the many torments inflicted upon zoo animal: a shoebill dying of shock after having its beak smashed with a hammer; a moose stag losing its beard, along with a strip of flesh the size of an index finger, to a visitor’s knife (this same moose was poisoned six months later); a monkey’s arm broken after reaching out for proffered nuts; a deer’s antlers attacked with a hacksaw; a zebra stabbed with a sword; and other assaults on other animals, with walking sticks, umbrellas, hairpins, knitting needles, scissors and whatnot, often with an aim to taking an eye out or to injuring sexual parts. Animals are also poisoned. And there are indecencies even more bizarre..”
This section is long to seemingly just explain a simple concept; how stupid some humans can be. Look at the case of Goliath, a name that creates the illusion to Hebrew Scriptures with the story being of David and Goliath, one of trusting God to defeat the giant. The bull elephant Goliath trusted his zoo keeper completely. Most of the duties falling on the “alpha” bull at the top of the social ladder, which lead me to believe that Goliath was most likely the alpha bull. Bull elephant seals rang around 2-21/2 tons in size, Goliath was stated to be a venerable beast of two tons, making him an average size. Chapter 14, page 56 speaks about the alpha leader having the “most to gain from a close relationship with the super-alpha trainer… A closest relationship will also mean protection from the other members of the pride. It is this compliant animal, to the public no different from the others in size and apparent ferocity, that will be the star of the show.” This would prove why Goliath was loved by all visitors; he was the star of the show and the first to be attacked when a predator comes. Even a predator named man. ‘The cruelty is often more active and direct.’ This shows that most of the time the attack is planned, and done to intentionally cause trouble. By working at a large cat zoo I am able to attest to this; the attack on the foxes, lynx and wolves at Guha’s Tiger and Lion Farm, was planned from a wildlife organization trying to gain a profit for their situation. The moose stag was attacked and then later poisoned. What many people don’t realize is the animal’s natural ability to comeback from an illness or injury and will end up having to attack more than once. The attacker would have most likely had to try different poisons as the animal's immune system can handle a lot more than expected. For example a lion can eat a rabid llama without being affected for even a day, while a songbird may eat to much salt and keel over.
In Response to Kaitlyn Bullard’s response about the quote; "DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
She stated; “I think this is significant because it is describing our race, Humans in all sense. We are the ultimate predator. All animals fear us and we have the capacity and cruelty within ourselves to do terrible things to animals if we so choose. Most animals are defenseless against humans thus we are the most dangerous animals to walk this earth. Even those with defenses can fail when trying to injure us as a race, we have guns and sprays that will blind them and other objects that can ultimately harm every animal on this planet.”
I would agree that it is describing our race but disagree when she stated that we the ultimate predator. There may be select people that could be the ultimate predator in one animal’s life but statistically speaking health is the major rate of death. Zoo animals only make up a small percentage of the world of animals. There are house dogs, cats, rabbits or fish that are not attacked by humans but protected from them. Many humans will nurture a sick dog, bring a little boy’s hamster to the vet or feed a stray cat for the sake of that animal’s life. I think it is too general of an assumption to say that humans are the ultimate predator to animals. This quote refers to only the animals in the zoo, where many humans may be the worst predator but you must take into account disease or sickness and natural causes into effect. It seems like Pi’s Father is trying to reach out to the stuck up people that don’t recognize the animal’s safety and appease the people who recognize why the animals are in the zoo.
Rachael Loney
Period Two
BLOG RESPONSE
Kelsey Cunningham Section 03
"The obituary of zoo animal that have died from being fed foreign bodies would include . . .
The cruelty is often more active and direct . . . And there are indecencies even more bizarre: . . ."(36-37).
This comes at the part in the book where Pi is talking about the most dangerous animal in the zoo who is the Human. This describes how dangerous they are to the animals because the obituary list goes on for miles. This is where Pi describes the incompetence of humans how they think that animals just because they are a different species are able to do these magnificent things when the truth is that they can’t. Animals are just like humans in more ways then I think most people realize. Here Pi also describes the cruelty involved in these bizarre incidences that cause the obituary of zoo animals to increase. This where you also truly see Pi’s love of the animals how he feels for them and cares for them, how he is compassionate and loving. I think that Pi truly wishes that no one would ever harm animals because he loves them.
“I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
This comes at the part in the book when Pi’s father shows them a traumatic experience by making them watch a goat get eaten by an angry Bengal tiger. I believe that this is foreshadowing and is a very important message that will need to be remembered later on in the book. At the time Pi’s mother thinks that they are too young but Pi’s father believes that Pi has been sticking his nose everywhere and needs to learn a lesson on why he should no longer be doing that. I think that Pi’s father was right to show them what can possibly happen if they were to get near the tiger but I think that the lesson was a little intense. When I was reading it even I shuddered at the thought. The lesson did work though because when Pi is telling his story later in life he still remembers the lesson.
In Response to:
Eric Vande Velde
ENG 4U1-03
Quote 1
"When Mr. Kumar visited the zoo, it was to take the pulse of the universe, and his stethoscopic mind always confirmed to him that everything was in order, that everything was order. He left the zoo feeling scientifically refreshed” (32).
Response
It is evident that Mr. Kumar is a very analytical character. He sees the world from a scientific perspective, reading between the lines, with a colourful view of his surroundings. Mr. Kumar does not view a zoo as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures. To him, a zoo is not a breeding location or merely a place for animals to be on public display. A zoo to Mr. Kumar is a “scientific wonder.” What I find most interesting about Mr. Kumar is that he analyzes the logic behind a zoo, as opposed to its simple purpose. In addition, he absorbs the sights and the sounds of the zoo.
Mr. Kumar develops associations to the zoo with Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, along with Charles Darwin, the father of natural selection. By developing these connections, Kumar is able to further instil his profound thoughts. Through this quote, we see that Mr. Kumar is indeed a critical thinker.
My Response
I agree with Eric’s thoughts on this quotation, this is one of my favorite quotations in the book because growing up around animals my entire life I have found it to be very true. Animals can detect better than anything or anyone when the world is not in working order. They can detect when something is wrong before humans and most of the time even computers. I liked Eric’s thoughts on Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel as well.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
I find this quote interesting, because of the fact that it is true. Not even a hundred years ago, did almost everybody have their own religion they beleived in. Today, there are more and more people refusing to follow any religion at all. I think it's because people have been rearranging the meaning of religion so much, that no one knows what to believe.I also do believe that "freedom" has a part in this too, (just as Pi has mentioned). He describes freedom as being an illusion. In most cases, freedom is an illusion. No one is ENTIRELLY free. We all have our duties and our places that we have to live by. Most of us can't just get up and leave without saying a word, which takes away a peice of freedom. In religion, you have to believe what you are told to bleieve, which also takes away your own freedom to think and believe what you want. This comes up in part one, where Pi decides he wants to be a part of every religion he comes across, but he's told he can't. This is also an illusion of freedom. People tell you to believe in what you want, and that you can choose whatever religion you want to live by, but you can't believe in everything at once.
Zoos give off a certain illusion of freedom too. Technically an animal in the zoo is free to walk and eat and do whatever it pleases, untill it can't walk no more and runs into a wall. They are on a schedual, where in the wild, an animal can do what it pleases whenever in the day. Both religion and zoos give off an illusion of freedom, but if you think about it, freedom is really an illusion no matter where it is.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you" (47).
I find this quote to be very important. People kill animals every single day, because they are afraid they're too dangerous to be around. Pi's father says every animal is dangerous, and I think it's completely true. Every living thing on earth is dangerous. They all have a way to protect themselves. Humans are EXACTLY the same way. If somebody came up to you and told you they were going to kill you, or simply just walked into your house, you would do whatever you can to protect yourself, even if it means injuring the other person. Animals do the same thing. If you get too close to it, the animal will hurt you, because it doesn't feel comfortable and it feels threatened. I think humans take advantage of animals. We are the most dangerous animals on the planet. We kill other animals just because we think we can, and we look down on animals because they try and protect themselves. If an animal is too dangerous to be around, and we kill it, we might as well start killing off the human race, because we commit more murders than ANY other living thing on this earth.
ENG4U-03
Taylor Armstrong
Kelsey Allen
ENG4U-02
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
This quotation holds so much importance for both characterization and textual meaning it’s nearly unbelievable. For starters, Pi’s tolerance and acceptance of all people is reverberated in this quote when he references them as “well-meaning but misinformed”. He is not taking anything away from them, as he realizes that even those who criticize and hold opposing views still, in a very strange way, share a strange connection. He recognizes the fact that both he and his critics are struggling to make sense of the world. What a beautiful testament to Pi’s maturity and ability to critically think. Moreover, we as readers are indirectly asked to apply our critical thinking to this passage. Personally, I had always held the exact belief that Pi is disproving here. I had assumed that taking an animal out of its natural environment would undoubtedly meaning taking away its happiness. However, Pi presents the readers with an opposite viewpoint which we must take into consideration. His statement is supported by much evidence, and this fact alone makes it nearly a necessity for the reader to step back and reexamine what they had always thought to be an absolute truth. This is an important trait of Life of Pi that will continue to frustrate and astound readers throughout the reading. Pi’s narration thus far has provided countless opportunities for reexamination and critical thinking. This will continue, and will be crucial to the themes and messages the reader takes away when the pages have finished turning.
"Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers" (56).
It is difficult not to apply this same concept to human nature. In fact, when applying it to people rather than animals it makes the entire concept more relatable and memorable. This is significant, as the relationship between animals and their keepers is important throughout the novel.
The first time I read this passage I immediately related it to the social hierarchy of highschool. It may seem cliché, but socially inferior teenagers and their alpha counterparts (think the blonde-haired, blue-eyed cheerleading captain) hold a scarily similar relationship to the socially inferior lion and its keeper. The alpha holds all the power, while those with less power are all at his/her disposal. In order to stay alive within the hierarchy, they each yearn to please and placate the alpha in hopes of establishing a relationship. This relationship is a statement of the alpha’s protection against all others in the hierarchy. In both animal and human cases, the individual with the least power is the most likely to be desperate for protection, and consequently the most likely to vie for alpha attention.
As a result of this realization, I think it is necessary that we reevaluate our understanding of our social hierarchy. If we are able to view the relationship between animal and keeper as one of necessity, then we must also be able to understand that the undeserving victims of a cruel highschool environment who try desperately to fit in do not behave this way out of superficiality, but rather out of the need to survive.
Kelsey Allen
ENG4U-02
Response to another student:
Sophia Roth said...
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
This quote by Martel illustrates how deep Pi’s past really goes. Memory is an extremely powerful thing; intricate details woven together to form pictures and stories. As Pi begins to tell his story, he starts off at the surface, bobbing there like a buoy floating on the ocean. He has yet to dive into the depths and brave whatever scary things are waiting there for him. Pi knows that what lies at the bottom of the ocean far beneath the surface, what sits in the back of his memory waiting to be spoken of, needs to come out. Pi needs to dive in and face the monsters of his past. Martel realizes Pi’s hesitation and seems to understand that although Pi is slightly reluctant, he wants his story told and is preparing himself to do so. The author’s use of metaphors allows the reader to visualize Pi’s inner struggle and helps to develop his character.
This was beautifully articulated. I was pleased that someone else noticed the benefits of using a metaphor to describe how Pi’s memories plague him. Using a physical representation to illustrate and intangible concept like memory is a perfect method to better our understanding and obtain a grasp on its machinations.
Darcy Derbecker
ENG 4U1 - 02
"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
Pi’s father is the one who delivers this quote just before he shows how dangerous a tiger is to Ravi and Pi. As a parent it is your duty to teach your children the necessary lessons they will need to get by in this world. When a parent teaches their children these lessons it is hoped that the lessons will stick in their children’s head forever. That way if the same situation would occur for their children, without the presence of their parents, they would know how to react or how to avoid the situation. For Pi’s father, teaching his boys this lesson was very important because it would protect and keep them safe not only from the tigers but all the animals in the world that could cause harm to Pi and Ravi.
“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names” (25).
When Pi delivers this quote, it was when he was being bullied because of his name. Everyone you meet in this world has an effect on you, whether it is someone who bumps into you on the street and makes you annoyed or angry, or whether it’s a family member that has a positive effect on you, they all make a difference. Some of these effects may last a few minutes or they may last for the rest of your life. For Pi, the students that bullied him ended up making him come to the conclusion that changing his name was his best option. Pi who was called “Pissing” because Piscine and Pissing sound somewhat similar, decided by making everyone call him “Pi”, the bullying he was getting because of his name, would go away. The effect these students had was so great that they made Pi make a decision that he may not have made had they not bullied him. This quote is important because it shows the reason why Piscine made people call him Pi.
Sophia Roth wrote:
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Pi acknowledges the negative views most people have on both zoos and religion, yet this does not deter him from keeping faith in both. Pi feels very strongly about both issues and while he tries to present the reader with information supporting his views, his opinion is never forced. Zoos, which rely on science, and religion, which relies on faith, seem like opposites. Pi finds a way to connect the two which allows the reader to open his/her mind for further connections. Unity and connections are a theme of the novel and this quote reiterates that.
My Response: I agree with Sophia’s interpretation of this quote because it is clear that he isn’t trying to force his opinions or beliefs on anyone, Pi is very passionate about his religions and the zoo. I also agree that Pi finds a way to connect the two because both religion and the zoo are important parts of his life.
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
This is a very vague quote; there are plenty of animals that live in the zoo who could potentially harm others, themselves or humans for that matter. For example Pi tells his children in Chapter 8 pg. 44,45, and 46 that “the Himalayan bears and sloth bears, one strike of the claws from these cuddly creatures and your innards will be scooped out and splattered all over the ground. The Hippos, with those soft, flabby mouths of theirs they’ll crush your body to a bloody pulp. On land they can outrun you. The hyenas, the strongest jaws in nature… they’ll start eating you while you are still alive. The orang-utans, as strong as ten men, they’ll break your bones as if they were twigs. The ostrich, looks flustered and silly but just one kick and your back is broken or your torso is crushed. The spotted deer, if a male feels he has to, he’ll charge you and those short little antlers will pierce you like daggers.” There are plenty more dangerous animals in the zoo that Pi has mentioned to his children but from this quote we only think of the animals as the furry ones or those who can be locked away in a zoo. Humans are also an animal, which no one thinks about as being harmful or dangerous. To me this quote is not referring to any animal that lives in a zoo, but those who own them; humans. Humans to me are dangerous animals, there are humans in the world who kill other humans for example, murder in general, or the war, humans kill animals, humans lock animals up in zoos, they can verbally assault people, and they kidnap other humans and hold them hostage. All animals fear us and we have the capacity and cruelty within ourselves to do terrible things to animals if we so choose. Humans have changed the world into a destructive place, meaning we are all dangerous inside and looking at the way the world is today it seems we will never go back to the way it was. Some people are sensitive and seems like they could never hurt a fly but never underestimate someone because of their looks. Humans are capable of a lot of things, and even though we have laws to obey it doesn’t always mean that some people follow them, and mostly those are they ones that we need to be careful of, because no one wants to get killed unless its their time to leave this earth. Therefore that is why I believe humans are they most dangerous animal in the zoo, we as humans are capable of a lot more things than any other animals in the zoo.
"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
In everyone’s lives there is a lesson or two that someone is trying to teach us whether it’s something as small as cover your mouth when you cough, or something as large as the one that Pi’s father was trying to teach his children. This was to show them how dangerous tigers are. I know Santosh meant well by this lesson, which he took a living goat and let the tiger get at it. Pi and Ravi watched as the tiger ate the goat alive, I thought this was a pretty gruesome lesson to be learning when they were young kids but that’s the way that Santosh wanted them to learn how dangerous the tiger was that way they did not get injured. I just think there could have been better ways of showing them instead of witnessing a tiger eat an innocent goat. Santosh knew a lot about animals and we know that Pi liked to be around animals as well, so it was a good lesson for him to learn because he needs to know all that he can about animals. I also find that the most important lessons you will learn are those from your parents, I think that is because you actually take those lessons to heart. Your parents are the ones who know you best and you trust them that is why I think you learn the best lessons from your parents.
Our lives are filled with learning lessons from the day we are born till the day we die. You will never know too much and we will always learn new things everyday even if we realize it or not.
Samantha Louzon
Response to classmates:
Diamond Campbell:
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you." (47)
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is." This quotation reminds of how all animals and humans, no matter how large or small they are they will defend themselves no matter what. Just a mother lion a human mother will go to amazing feats to protect her young. Even when Pi was a young boy he was always defending himself, whether he was defending himself over how many religions he believed in, or whether he was being judged for where he was born or the sounding of his name. It also seemed (when he was much older) that every book that he tried to write was never quite good enough and he always felt like he was defending himself for what he wrote. However, Pi never gave up even when there was no hope he always keep fighting forward.
Many people make the mistake in thinking that all animals are " ferocious and dangerous" which cause both sides, human and wild animal to have fear and feel threatened cause one of the sides top attack and most often that is the wild animal who attacks and is made to look like the the "bad guy" in the situation. usually animals only attack when a person or another animal comes in there personal space and just like people if you get to close and they feel threatened they lash out. We are not much different from a wild animal other then we are domesticated and wild animals are not domesticated. Humans have a major down fall, we prejudge situations and animals/humans people fully understanding the situation and thus leads to not such a great result. We should think about how we judge people and think of how we are judged and how it may make us feel.
I think what she wrote was completely true but there is one fact that didnt get touched on, humans are animals too, and no matter how ferocious and dangerous we are, we will always defend ourselves if someone were to hurt us or make fun of us, its just our natural instinct. As humans we are very rude, and can be mean people. For example we have a way of when someone says something about someone that person will stick up for themselves and verbally insult the other. Its our way of life, therefore we may never hurt but we can emotionally harm them. Humans are just as bad as animals when it comes to hurting something.
Samantha Louzon
Abdrew Kemble
ENG 4U1-02
Respone to Kaitlyns comment "DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
Yes, man is dangerous, yes we are the super alpha, yes we shoot and spray animals, yes we make animals defenceless and yes humans are indeed our race. We are not a predator. A predator can be defined as being an organism that lives by preying on other organisms. Originally I believe we were indeed predators, currently however we are not predators we are a virus. A virus is an organism that rapidly reproduces, slowly takes control of its host and begins to manipulate and destroy it. Humans do more damage to nature unintentionally, by simply living. We change the land to fit our need, change the climate, change the animal’s habitat and ultimately force nature to endure us rather for us to endure it. Animals in the wild that are killed by man are a very small percentage compared to those raised, breed and farmed for the simple ease and constant supply of food. A virus cannot harm its entire host; humans will not kill every animal on the planet intentionally for it would lead to the death of the virus. Humans are not predatory, we do not get a thrill of the hunt when going to the grocery store, and we are viral. A massive amount of almost identical carbon copied organism that are living the best way known, by controlling everything that we touch and come into contact with. Humans do not intend to kill animals, we just do for we are a sickness that plagues everything we touch.
Kiersten Gillam
“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names” (25).
I believe this quote is simply stating that every person we come in contact with, has some sort of impact on us. We may not realize the effect that an individual makes and it may either be irrelevant of could be significant down the road. We have different types of meetings with different people. We may meet someone, or at least cross paths with, someone in the grocery store, that we will never see again, who will not have changed our life in anyway. Then there may be those who could have a small or a little larger impact in your life. Say for instance, you were going on a walk for a charity and someone you didn't know gave you money to support the cause. This would touch you deeply but may not really change your life personally all that much. But then finally we meet those few, significant people, who change us completely out of character. They may be inspirational and be changing our lives for the better, or they may be a charasmatic person and be sending us into the wrong direction. The part of the quote, "even unto our names", means that we may be acting like something other than ourselves. I know our names don't seem like they would have such an impact as to who we are, but the person "everyone knows" defines our name. If someone we know changes in some way, we may use the phrase such as "that's not the same sally I know." Our name defines who we are and who we are defines our name.
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53)
This quote is a metaphor for the memories Pi Patel has of Richard Parker. I believe the part "memory is an ocean" is stating the depths of the water and the different types of creatures in the ocean. This would be referring to Pi having a filled memory of Richard Parker. That he has so many thoughs about Richard that it fills up all the space in his memory, and there is no room for anything else. All the different memories could be represented by the variety of animals and creatures living in the waters. I also believe that this part of the quotation could be foreshadowing some hurdles or bad times Pi had with this character. The reason I interpet this is, although the ocean is beautiful, magnificant, and filled with all sorts of different coulours and images, the ocean is also dark and gloomy. The ocean has unknown charters and there are hidden dangers inside including certain animals that live in the water. This meaning that Pi Patel may have memories of the two of them going through some hard times or having to deal with some dangerous situations. The part "he bobs on its surface" means to me that he is always stuck on those memories and that he can't seem to get the memories out of his head. When I hear the word 'bobbing' I think of something floating in the surface but every so often gets pushed under the water. This may be reference to how sometimes the memories go away, that they come and go. Also this may mean that the memories are akways there but sometimes he cant quite remember every detail. This could mean that his memories are fading.
Michael Deryck
ENG4U-02
Period 2
"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
This quote reminded me of my father when he tells me that this is a life lesson and it should stick with you for the rest of your life. This is exactly what Pi’s father did to him and Ravi when he was showing them the Bengal Tiger that they had gotten. He made it stick really well by showing them what happens to a goat when it is in the same cage. For me I have seen many nature videos on animals killing and eating each other, but if it was in real life I think that it would stick to me a lot better because I am right there and I can see everything with my own two eyes. I also think that this shows how much their father cares about them because he took the goat that was keeping the Rhinoceros’ alive and healthy and fed it to the Tiger to teach them a lesson.
"It's a question of brain over brawn. The nature of the circus trainer's ascendancy is psychological" (55).
I like this quote very much because it is telling us that you can have a very big animal controlled by you by just getting into their mind. “Foreign surroundings, the trainer’s erect posture, calm demeanour, steady gaze, fearless step forward, strange roar…”(p. 55) These all are things that help get one step psychologically ahead of the animal so that you can control what they do. Also this can happen with people and not just animals. If you show someone that you are superior to them and you prove it, you will have superiority over them. This can be related to many communist/socialist leaders. This reminded me most of Hitler and how he had many rallies just so that he could prove to the country that he was the best leader for them and that he could lead Germany to victory.
Response to classmates:
Samantha Louzon:
"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives" (43).
Her response:
In everyone’s lives there is a lesson or two that someone is trying to teach us whether it’s something as small as cover your mouth when you cough, or something as large as the one that Pi’s father was trying to teach his children. This was to show them how dangerous tigers are. I know Santosh meant well by this lesson, which he took a living goat and let the tiger get at it. Pi and Ravi watched as the tiger ate the goat alive, I thought this was a pretty gruesome lesson to be learning when they were young kids but that’s the way that Santosh wanted them to learn how dangerous the tiger was that way they did not get injured. I just think there could have been better ways of showing them instead of witnessing a tiger eat an innocent goat. Santosh knew a lot about animals and we know that Pi liked to be around animals as well, so it was a good lesson for him to learn because he needs to know all that he can about animals. I also find that the most important lessons you will learn are those from your parents, I think that is because you actually take those lessons to heart. Your parents are the ones who know you best and you trust them that is why I think you learn the best lessons from your parents.
Our lives are filled with learning lessons from the day we are born till the day we die. You will never know too much and we will always learn new things everyday even if we realize it or not.
My Response:
I agree with Sam about the lesson that Santosh made for his two boys. This lesson had a very distinct point, and that is if you go near a tiger it will hurt you. I think he had very good intentions but maybe the extent of the experiment was a little too harsh for such young boys to experience. I also believe that you learn all of your best lessons from your parents. Your parents, or guardians or your family in general, are the people you live with and spend a lot of time with. If you did not learn any lessons from them, and you didn't incorporate those lessons in with your everyday life, you would not be who you are. When you are taught a lesson or a specific way of life, thats who you beome and how you expand your learning. We all need to learn lessons but not just be told the lesson, we must also screw up to actually learn and fully understand the main intent of the lesson.
ENG4U - period 2
"Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers" (56).
I think that this quote relates to the theme of survival because the lion that has the lowest social standing sucks up to the person or animal of the highest social standing to try and prove itself to the other lions. It does this for it's own safety, so it will not become prey for later on. I think that this also relates to society because humans will do the exact same thing. For example in a social environment where someone is not fitting in often times that person will suck up to the person that is most "popular." They do this hoping to prove to everyone else that they are just as cool and that they can fit in. The trainer also uses this animal to do all the tricks because it will be the one that will be the most loyal and trustworthy. If the trainer used another superior lion they are putting themselves at risk because that lion has no reason to keep that trainer alive because that lion doesn't feel obligated to prove anything to anyone. I find it interesting that the word "strenuous" was in the quote because it enhances the theme of survival and the difficulties that word comes with.
"I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
I think that this is interesting how Pi characterizes these groups of animals. It is weird that he choses to relate the delicate, flying, beautiful birds with high class individuals and he relates the ugly, rowdy, noisy baboons with lower class individuals. He judges them based upon their appearance. I think that this relates to society in itself because society is based on stereotyping. If you fit the accepted stereotype of society you are labelled as "sane." If you don't fir the accepted stereotype of society you are labelled as "mad." This relates to Emily Dickinson's poem called "much madness is divinest sense," and also the quote from page 51 from "Life of Pi: All living things contain a measure of madness that moves in strange sometimes inexplicable ways." People always judge others by their appearance. People basically decide what madness is based upon their own opinions, which is what Pi is doing in this quote. This type of judging also happens in animals because we know that they develop a social rank which is what ultimately starts the food chain. We know that Pi likes to judge animals by their appearance but later on in the novel he states that he doesn't usually judge animals by their appearance. "I am not one to hold prejudice against any animal, but it is a plain fact that the spotted hyena is not well served by its appearance" (145). This proves that Pi is contradicting himself but perhaps he does it subconsciously. I don't think that we can do much about the judgment and madness of people because it is human nature to constantly do it.
In Response to Lily:
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
Lily said: The siege of Leningrad lasted about 3 years. It was important in two ways: it was the city named the founder of the Russian revolution, and it barred passage to Moscow. There weren’t enough supplies sent to Leningrad during the siege, and so many people starved to death. Food is necessary to survival, and Pi’s suffering must have had something to do with the lack of food, since he hoards it so intently. It is, indeed a reserve of food, to be used in emergencies. This comes from Pi’s experiences. The significance can be that the stacks of food are to prevent something like Leningrad happening to his house, or to himself. It’s a safety net, a reassurance that everything is okay, and if it isn’t, he can deal with it.
My Response: I enjoyed reading this post because I gained knowledge about the siege of Leningrad. Maybe Pi hoards all the food because we know that he almost starved in the middle of the Pacific ocean. He has learned to take precautions to everything he does. While he was on the boat he took precautions in every single move he made because there were constant pressures around him. I am sure that having to live this way for a long time you develop habits that are quite hard to break after you reach safety. Pi has also learned not to flaunt the things that are most important to him which could also have come from the struggles of survival.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
This quote takes place when Pi is describing and talking about his father’s zoo but before we learn a lot of Pi’s religious views. Once readying this quote I found it to be very interesting, when analyzing the quote I think of a zoo first and how it is no longer being in anyone’s good graces. I think this is because of the many cages with animals locked up in captivity. I think animals are supposed to be free from danger of the wild but in captivity they can not hunt and be free to live life in a natural way (like we humans do).
When I look at the second part of the quote I think that in religion the right to believe in a higher power is freedom for some people, how ever with a religion there are certain restrictions for believing in a faith. An example of this would be “a right to life” or “same sex marriages frowned upon.” So sometimes the very freedom that you believe can be what perhaps holds you back creating the illusion of freedom. Truth versus reality, two important themes in this novel.
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
Before I looked any farther into this quote I first looked up Leningrad which is a seaport in NW Russian Federation in Europe, in the Gulf of Finland, off the Baltic Sea. This not helping me much I looked deeper and still not finding much to help me, I looked more into the quote and for others responses, thank you Lilly for your back ground information. Knowing this new information helped me, I already knew that by Pi stacking food and having jam-packed cupboards may have had something to do with fear, which is a common theme in this novel. When the quote describes “neatly stacked cans and packages” I believe this comes from Pi’s father owning a zoo, everything must be organized and have a place. Overall Pi’s stack of food in his cupboards is to protect him self and his family from facing something like Leningrad.
In response to Bryce’s response…
I agree totally humans taunt and agitate animals all the time, anyone going to a zoo can see this, kids screaming at animals, banging on the class. How ever I slightly disagree with Bryce’s explanation on flight distance, I do agree with humans causing some of the vicious out breaks animals have but I think there are more then just human factors that can cause this. I believe other animals in the zoo can have a participating factor is the flight distance of an animal.
Oh and i was responding to the quote "DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
Bryce's responce..
This is a sign in the Pondicherry zoo that Piscine’s father has painted on the wall. This sign caught the attention of many people and so many curious people wanted to find out the answer. Then they found themselves looking into a mirror as their answer. The “animal” is not the most dangerous animal in the zoo, although many people think they are the most dangerous, vicious and ferocious creatures. Animals are caged and detained from the public so that they cannot get a hold of people and for the biggest reason, so people do not get close to the animal. The animals are trained and taught to be able to handle the presence of humans. But the animals aren’t the species causing harm, it is the human being. Humans throw things at the animals, feed them unhealthy food, taunt the animals, and agitate them. Animals have a “flight distance” which gives it a wall of security. Animals do not attack because they are crazed and vicious. Animals will only attack or escape their habitat in order to preserve their “flight distance” and to protect themselves. Humans think that the animals cause all the attacks by themselves but in reality the human causes the animal’s danger, as well as their own danger. The human is portrayed as an animal in the quote because when they agitate and taunt the animals and attempt to touch them or scale the fences of the animals habitat the human is the one that acts like an animal while the true animal acts calm and relaxed until it feels the need to protect itself and get rid of what they feel is a threat. There is not many zoos a person can go to where the animals are attacking people or their cage in an attempt to escape. In most zoos the animals are docile because they are used to the presence of humans. But as soon as the human causes a threat, the animal turns on its instinct and considers it an enemy. An old saying states that “it takes two to tango.” So the human must do something to the animal in order for the animal to do something in return. The “animal” is the least dangerous animal in the zoo
Mercedes Hardy Writes:
“The paths to liberation are numerous, but the bank along the way is always the same, the Bank of Karma, where the liberation account of each of us is credited or debited depending on our actions" (61).
This quotation has a very deep meaning that can be interpreted in many different ways. The paths that Pi is talking about are perhaps the journeys that everyone takes in their own individual life. Everyone’s path is different, due to the simple fact that we are not all the same person; we all have different experiences in our lives. I think that the “Karma Bank’s” meaning is that karma is always receiving or giving out, much like how a bank works with money. No matter what path you take to liberation, there is always going to be the karma bank in the way. Karma has to balance out in the world, so no one, no matter who you are, can escape it. Liberation is the act or process of trying to achieve equal rights and status. I’m not trying to say that liberation and karma are the same thing, but I feel they share the same characteristics. They both are trying to achieve equality and balance. Since this is true, it makes sense that they would both meet on any given path. When Pi mentions “debited” and “credited” I believe it describes the two types of people in the world, as a general statement. The “debited” people are the ones who know what they have and know their limits. This is much like an account at a bank, of which you can use debit. The money that you debit is your own money and has been taken from your own self. People like these are the ones where karma is hard to take from, as they are good people. “Credited” people are the ones who take things for granted, but you have to pay back. Much like a credit card, it is not your own money. Credit cards can become dangerous because it is like free money; this is when the irresponsible people pay for their actions. These people are the ones who receive the most bad karma. Perhaps the “credited people are the ones who need to learn a lesson, and it is life’s way of teaching them it. However, these things can go both ways. Credit can be looked upon as a good thing, as something given to you because you deserved it or earned it; where as debited can be looked as taking a way from the something undeservingly or deservingly. It is complicated to understand, but complicated for a good reason; to make the reader think, and interpret in more than one way. This quotation is a metaphor; it is comparing to unlike things with out using like or as. The two unlike things are being compared are the road to liberation and a bank. The identity of the bank is not related to the road of liberation yet are compared as both crossing the path of karma. This quotation develops the plot in the sense that the reader learns that there will always be the path with karma, and eventually Pi will have to reach it, if he has not already.
" I would like to say in my own defense that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
Pi states that he has anthropomorphized the animals and applied human characteristics to the animals. Metacognition is the ability to think about one’s own thinking; to think about the fact that you are thinking. This is what Pi is doing when he states that he is anthropomorphized the animals as well as giving them characteristics at the same time. He is thinking about giving them human characteristics while he is in the process of doing it. The common conception of particular animals portrays the traits of certain human figures such as a baboon being a bank robber in menacing tones of American gangsters. When Pi states that “the fancy was always conscious,” he means that his fantasies were not always one hundred percent true because he was still conscious of his thinking. He never got to the full level of believing something that he was fantasizing about. When he states that he “quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination,” he is saying that he knew that the animals were wild, he knew what they were capable of, yet he imagined them human like which made him not fearful of them. The “tame costumes,” are his imaginations perception of the animal where as the animals without the costumes, are the perception of his conscious mind. When Pi states that he “never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates,” he means that he never got so caught up in his fantasies that he forgot about the real nature of his playmates, and how dangerous they were. I myself have anthropomorphized plush animals in my childhood. I used to have a Dalmatian plush animal that I used to pretend was real. I used to pretend that it could talk, that it could understand me, and that it could see. Even though I did this, in the back of my mind I always knew that it was not real, that it was only a figment of my imagination. This is exactly what Pi does with his zoo animals. He grew up with the animals, and they became like family to him. He began to treat them as though they were human because that is what the rest of his family is. Pi could have always imagined that if he stuck his hand in the cage of the tiger, that it would never hurt him. However, he was always conscious of the fact that the tiger could in fact do some serious damage if he were to stick his hand in the cage.
In Response to Josh Winters 4U1-02:
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34)
I agree with both Josh’s statements of: “God does not exist. What simple and concise statement, statements that are found all about scientific papers and research documents.” I had the same reaction to this quote because of how simple and concise the speaker stated it. He made it seem as though it was the truth and everyone knew it; like he just brushed it off of his shoulders. Josh brought up a lot of good points that decreased the support of the scientific theory. Like he said scientific theories change virtually daily, where as God and religion do not. I disagree with the quote because even scientists, who are in a profession, say that science is not always true. Who is to say that God isn’t true other than the people without faith?
The previous post was an extension of Mercedes' post.
"I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free". (19)
These words are spoken by Pi in chapter four after Pi explained how wonderful it was for him to grow up with his father being the owner of the Pondicherry Zoo. Earlier in this chapter, Pi described the zoo as being “paradise on earth”. Pi has attended the University of Toronto and studied zoology and religion and feels that he is knowledgeable on these subjects. He compares the amount of false information he has learned about religion to what he has learned about zoos. Through his schooling and his experiences at his father’s zoo, Pi has realized that many people do not approve of zoos because they believe that the animals are forced to leave their natural habitat to live in a confined area where they no longer feel free. Pi disagrees with this and believes that there is a misconception that animals that live in zoos are cheated out of their freedom. Pi believes that the zoo becomes home to the animals and they adapt to their surroundings. This is only done by providing a safe and comfortable living environment and excluding dangers that are in the wild such as predators or low food supply. This quotation causes readers to think critically about this issue. Pi’s opinion may re-establish the opinion that the reader has regarding zoos or it may cause the readers to re-examine their view and consider Pi’s explanation in defence of zoos. After reading this chapter of a contradictory viewpoint to my own, I agree with what Pi states about how “happy” animals feel living in zoos.
“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names” (25).
In this quotation Pi explains that the people we meet within our lives change who we are as individuals. Some people that we meet have a significant impact on our lives. This quote made me think back to a lesson in Sociology last year on Sigmud Freud. Freud believed that personality is a direct result of experiences. I agree that the people in your life influence you and greatly affect who you become. I think that this quotation foreshadows that Pi will explain further who has influenced him in his life and had a significant affect on who he has become as well as further explain his name and the story attached to his name.
In Response to Blaire
"Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers" (56).
I agree with Blaire’s comments on this quotation and I think that the connections she made were well done. I also agree that this quote relates to the theme of survival. I think that this quote means that animals who are threatened by other animals will put extra effort into intimidating other animals in order to feel powerful and protected. I think that it is natural for animals and humans with little power to make every effort to attain it.
Amy Johnston
Eng 4U1-03
"When I corrected her, I told her that in fact she was not so wrong; that Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims" (62).
First of all, this quote characterises Pi by outlining his way of thinking about religion or anything in general. He is able to look at things with a different perspective than most and connect things that may seem contradictory to other people. Pi is correcting Auntieji on what she thought she heard when hearing Hare Krishnas. Hare Krishna is based on Hinduism and it is the popular name for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. Hare Krishnas worship the Hindu god Krishna as the one Supreme God (www.religionfacts.com). In addition, this quote builds on the theme of syncretism in the novel. To Pi, these three religions are all connected. If you were to draw out the idea presented in this quote it would form a circle. This relates to the symbol of Pi = 3.14.
"It's a complete lie." (53)
The author is speaking in this quote. He is explaining how he told Pi he liked spicy food when in reality he does not. This may have just been an act of politeness but it reminds me of what Martel explained in the author’s note. He explains that he wanted to lie about his job but feared he would be exposed for his lies. This proves that he would lie if he could get away with it. Martel knew he could get away with lying about his food preferences so he did and this quote again shows the author’s temptation to lie. Though Yann Martel may not be seen as a character in the story this quote characterises him as not completely truthful as does the passage from the author’s note. This relates to the theme of truth and reality in the novel.
Sophia commented on the quote:
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
She said:
Pi acknowledges the negative views most people have on both zoos and religion, yet this does not deter him from keeping faith in both. Pi feels very strongly about both issues and while he tries to present the reader with information supporting his views, his opinion is never forced. Zoos, which rely on science, and religion, which relies on faith, seem like opposites. Pi finds a way to connect the two which allows the reader to open his/her mind for further connections. Unity and connections are a theme of the novel and this quote reiterates that.
My response:
I agree with all of the points Sophia raised. Zoos and religions do seem like opposites but just like other seemingly contradictory aspects in the novel, Pi connects them. Some people think that animals are unhappy in captivity because they are not ‘free’ in the wild. In reality a zoo provides a safer and effortless life for an animal so they may be happier in a zoo. Likewise, some people think that a person who practises religion has less freedom than someone who doesn’t. Most religions do have restrictions on how a person lives just like a zoo has walls an animal can’t cross. A person may be happier living with faith than without it. What ‘freedom’ is depends on your perspective.
“I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad”
I think this quote definitely foreshadows that Pi will run out of food during his voyage. This encounter accordingly teaches him to always be prepared. During the siege there was not enough supplies sent. Many people starved to death. Food is necessary for survival, and Pi’s suffering with the lack of food definitely takes a toll on him, especially being trapped with a four-hundred and fifty pound bengal tiger. We already knew that Pi stacking food and having jam-packed cupboards may have had something to do with fear, which is a huge theme in the novel. The stocked food to Pi is a safety net. This reassures him and lets him know that everything is okay, and if not, he will be prepared.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both"
We have already learned that Pi studied zoology and religion at the University of Toronto, and this quote demonstrates just how closely the two subjects are in his mind. He quickly turns a discussion of animal freedom into a metaphor for people’s religious affection. Just as people are confused of the nature of animals in the wild, they are also confused on what it means for a person to be “free”. This is for any belief system. Pi cradles religious teaching for the same reason he cradles the safety and security of a zoo enclosure. It’s that it makes life easier and more enjoyable.
Ian Vreugdenhil
Erica Gilbeault-Ryan
ENG 4U-03
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
This passage is Yann Martel describing one of his visits to Pi’s house while writing this novel, and well after the main events of the story have happened. With this knowledge, it appears that the author is trying to foreshadow some sort of struggle that Pi will endure. Stockpiling food is often a lasting side effect of having been deprived of food for a period of time in someone’s life. This event could account for Pi’s suffering that left him “sad and gloomy”. Also this develops Pi character by showing that he is a man that does not want his children to go through any suffering that he has in his life. Food holds a much greater significance in countries that have known poverty on a large scale compared to countries like Canada. Although Pi’s family was not poor, he would most likely have seen much poorer people in his childhood than you or I, and therefore has more reason to stockpile food for his family. Comparing his suffering to the siege of Leningrad could be an attempt by the author to make the reader more sympathetic to Pi’s suffering. Many people in the English speaking world have personal connections to WWII, which would make them relate more to the pain that Pi has endured in his life. The author uses the literary devices of repetition (“behind every… on every”) and metaphor (comparing his pile of food to a mountain) to give us an image of just how much food this man really has in his kitchen. The main significance of this quote is that it foreshadows the struggles Pi will face and develops him as a caring father. It also brings up the theme of survival.
"It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them -- and then they leap" (35).
This passage is right after Pi talks to Mr Kumar in the zoo and finds out that he is an atheist. Pi is telling us that believers and atheist are actually quite similar, as much as theses two groups might disagree. They will use their own knowledge and reason as much as possible, but when the limits of their reason are reached, they take a leap. The religious put their faith into god, and the atheists put their faith into humanity (that one day we will be able to understand, or have the technology, etc). Although this faith goes into completely different things, it is still faith none the less. Most people would think that a strong religious believer would not like, agree with, or condone the actions and beliefs of an atheist, let alone call them their siblings. This shows that Pi is not your typical person and can see past small differences and see the “big picture”. This also shows the complexity of his beliefs, and that he is in fact an extraordinary person. He could be trying to send a message to other people to not fight and hate each other based on small differences, such as who and what we put our faith into, but that we should see the much larger similarities we have with the rest of humanity.
In response to Rachael’s analysis of "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
I agree that there are misconceptions about freedom in regards to both zoos and religion. However I think it is important to mention why these misconceptions exist instead of simply saying they are not true. Yes, any animal or person would prefer to live in a safe secure environment instead of the wild, however, there still are many zoos that do not take care of their animals in a proper way. I think any animal or person would prefer a life in the wild to being stuck in an enclosure much too small, denied proper and sometimes abused. People can see that this is happening in some cases and therefore have a negative view of zoos even if some do take care of their animals properly. Also because have illusions about the freedom of religion because there are some religious groups that do mistreat their followers and limit their freedom. This doesn’t mean that all or even a large amount does, but it is enough that people are now questioning the good of religion. There is always at least a small amount of truth behind our misconceptions, or else they would never exist. I think that we need to be thinking more about why these misconceptions exist instead of just wholly agreeing with Pi and decided that zoos and religion are all wonderful without any thought put to it.
"Only the trainer bettermake sure he always remains super alpha. he will pay dearly if he unwittingly slips to beta . . . Social rant is central to how it leads its life" (54-55).
This passage shows the importance of showing the tiger/lion who is of higher social rank and power and that the tiger/lion knows this. If the trainer is unable to remain alpha and becomes beta he will be killed or badly hurt by the much more powerful presence of the large feline. According to Heliger the animal or in this case, trainer, who is more intimidating is higher in the social rank and therefore superior. When we read of trainers being attacked by the lion or tiger is not at all fault of the animal, but of the trainer who slipped up and lost his superior presence. The animal is just following instinct to prove itself to be more powerful and destroy and possible threat that it might come across.
When watching others I am taking notes of what is going on in that specific chapter but also of what the slides contain in hopes that mine will be able to match the caliber that theirs’ are setting.
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
What I get from this, is that memory is vast and deep and unknowing as to where it will go. I see the horizon on this ocean as the future, not knowing what lies behind it, and the ocean as what we will have underneath us, pushing us up, but if we are not secure, will pull us down into its depths. And if we can not know where the most bottom part of the ocean lays, how are we to know how deep we can sink? When we reach the horizon, we realize that there is another one of in the distance and all of the things we encountered on the voyage there are now behind/below us and our journey is neverending.
In response to anonymous and his disagreement with Andrew, I would just like to say thank-you. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. At the end of this novel people will have to decide upon which story to believe and all the "rational" people always go with the one that does not seem to be the better story, the one that will make one believe in God.
Jenn Lee
ENG4U-02
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34).
Mr.Kumer said this quotation.
On page 31 -32, Yann Martell described that Mr.Kumer is like a mathematiction. I found that Mr kurmer does not belive in any religion and emotion like a scientist. He is cold and realistic who prefers tangible things rather than mysterious tihngs.
Also I comprehended the quotation that pi said that “What a terrible disease that must be if it could kill God in a man.” From this line, I predicted what made him not to believe in God.
When people could not get a reward from someone as much as they expected from that person, people would be disappointed. Once people lose faith in one’s mind, they can not trust that person like they did the frist time.
He had exprienced this situation. He called for a rescue from God when He was in a panic. Science innovations saved him, not God. He thought God had thrown him away. Since that day, he decided to belive in a realistic world because, he thought that God had abandoned him.
"Only the trainer better make sure he always remains super alpha. he will pay dearly if he unwittingly slips to beta . . . Social rant is central to how it leads its life" (54-55).
When I read this quotation, it reminded me of 1984 about the social rank part
Sometimes we judge people by their social position because, this ranks reveals one’s knowledge, character and more. It shows how they have lived. Usually we say that a person who is in a high social rank, has a good income and a high education. We naturally admire a person who belongs to above rank because, they have power in our society. It has a great affect on a person’s life it can change a person’s life. We naturally ignore a person who belongs to below rank because, we think that they would affect us badly.
People make a connection with who is in the same social rank. Having the same commmon things makes them close because, they share the same interests and tastes.
We know about a person from that peroson’s friend. Thats why we judge a person by a person’s friend.
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
This beautiful metaphor describes the difficulty which Pi has in retelling his story. The story of Pi's past is vast and of great depth, and it is hard for him to recall every detail. This quote also shows the trauma which lies in Pi's past. His memories are sensitive, and reliving his traumatic story is difficult, causing him be reluctant in diving into these harsh memories, and rather "bobs on the surface." When I read this quote I imagine a buoy that no matter how often you push it in the water will always rise back to the surface. I think that Pi is trying to immerse himself in the depths of his memory, but his natural instincts tell him to stay on the surface of his horrific past, like a buoy trying to go underwater but always coming back to the surface. This image shows the struggle between Pi and his attempt to retell the past. This quote also relates to the poem we read in class called "The Story" by Karen Conelly, as that poem also discusses the theme of fearing what is in deeper water. In both that poem and this quote, I think that fear is a major emotion being evoked, as Pi fears reliving his painful past.
"We are all born like Catholics aren't we -- in limbo without religion, until some figure introduces us to God?" (58).
Pi believes that we are all born with no religious beliefs, and can only form them when someone introduces us to God. In other words, Pi believes that we are all born atheists, having no connection to any faith. It is interesting that he uses the word "limbo", as this relates to his opposition to the atheist philosophy. This relates to the theme of having faith in a larger system. Pi feels that living with no faith in any system is like living in hell. This quote shows Pi's love for his religions, as he felt that before he was introduced to God he was in limbo. This quote shows that religion is something that is learned, as in most things in life, we cannot become a religious person until we are introduced to religion, just as animals cannot follow a circus trainer’s orders until they are taught who the circus trainer is.
Christi Steele
ENG 4U1-03
Amy’s Response:
"When I corrected her, I told her that in fact she was not so wrong; that Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims" (62).
First of all, this quote characterises Pi by outlining his way of thinking about religion or anything in general. He is able to look at things with a different perspective than most and connect things that may seem contradictory to other people. Pi is correcting Auntieji on what she thought she heard when hearing Hare Krishnas. Hare Krishna is based on Hinduism and it is the popular name for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. Hare Krishnas worship the Hindu god Krishna as the one Supreme God (www.religionfacts.com). In addition, this quote builds on the theme of syncretism in the novel. To Pi, these three religions are all connected. If you were to draw out the idea presented in this quote it would form a circle. This relates to the symbol of Pi = 3.14.
My Response:
Amy has done a very good job in extracting many themes from this quote. I agree with Amy in that this quote definitely shows one of Pi’s positive characteristics, in his ability to see things in many ways. This characteristic allows Pi to see good in things which he only saw bad before, and shows how Pi is in fact an excellent critical thinker. I also like how Amy imaged a circle in the connection of the three religions. This again relates to Pi’s ability to turn things upside-down, and his thoughts about anything are endless, like a circle. I think it is also important that Amy noted the connection between a circle and Pi’s name, as the number Pi is also never-ending, like a circle.
Christi Steele
ENG 4U1-03
William Lee
Mrs. Fung ENG 4U1-04
“I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are “happy” because they are “free”. (19)
As we already know Pi has had many experiences with religion and animals. He was the son of the owner of Pondicherry Zoo. Growing up with animals around him, Pi knows more about animals than most other people. Pi compares the false information he’s heard regarding religion to his knowledge of animals. Pi, unlike others, believes that animals are happier in zoos than they are in the wild. He realizes that many people are unhappy with animals being confined in an enclosed unnatural area. However, he believes that animals learn to adapt to their surroundings and soon are very happy with their makeshift environment. Zoos in general create a community where animals and humans interact. Animals are given food and a shelter where they are “safe” from other animals however they are still endangered by humans. This is not a fault to be blamed on the creatures inhabiting the zoos, rather I believe it is a fault of the ignorant and sometimes foolishness of the creatures (humans) visiting the zoos. All in all I agree with Pi, while animals are put in an enclosed area, they are stripped of the dangers and burdens of the wild. They are given their food in appropriate rations and the environments in which they inhabit are quite spacious in most cases.
“Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface” (53).
I believe that this quote can be interpreted in many different ways depending on how the reader interprets it. However, I believe that this quote has two meanings. I believe that Yann Martel through this quote is hinting to us that many of the stories Pi tells him is of his experience with the ocean. We know that Pi’s family had a fear of being near water and that Pi was the first in the family to learn to swim. Since Pi’s tale of “believing in God” starts with his journey in the ocean, I believe that Martel is inferring us to believe that the ocean is very important in this novel. Martel through “… and he bobs on its surface” to me sounds like him referring to Pi Patel physically bobbing through the ocean in a small boat with Richard Parker. I believe that this quote is also a reference to memory in general. Memories are vast and very deep like the ocean. There will always be good and bad memories however the impacts of memories in a person are all the same. The second part of the quote “… and he bobs on its surface” is informing us that through memories we as growing and maturing individuals will only become stronger and will later in our lives be able to break through and “bob on its surface”. In other words, we will survive on our own.
Kimberly McDiarmid
ENG4U1-04
"And so, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge" (30).
I think that Yann Martel uses these specific words to create imagery to the readers. Interestingly enough, the number that Pi chooses to represent his name is in the shape of a shack (the Greek letter for Pi, or p). The description of the symbol of Pi gives a structure of refuge and protection against the public, who rain on Po with negativity and crude comments.
Also, I think that this statement shows Pi’s intelligence because he mentions how the number is not comprehendible by scientists, but Pi can use it and understand it with no problems or questions about the Greek letter. This shows that Pi, a boy of only eight years old, is extremely knowledgeable and well educated on the subject of mathematics. This is also a character development for Pi. It can be said that Pi is intelligible, and resourceful with his knowledge, resulting in thoughts that he can develop on his own.
Another piece of the quotation that caught my attention was that he roof on the Greek symbol for Pi (p) was “a corrugated tin roof”. Corrugated, meaning a ridged surface with folds or grooves (according to the Winston Dictionary of Canadian English), could relay to the reader that the shelter in which Pi seeks refuge is not an ideal structure, or it is not perfect. This can demonstrate to the reader that Pi does not need the perfect accommodations to survive, and that he will take what God gives him to live.
"It's a complete lie." (53)
When Yann Martel states that “It’s a lie”, the reader, from the previous built trust Martel has instilled, can believe with confidence that the story is truthful thus far. I think that Yann Martel does this because he wants the trust with the reader to be strong, so that there will be no questions asked while reading the portion of the novel about Pi’s personal experiences with regards to the truth. Because of the honesty that Martel is giving in the novel, one opinion of the reader could be that the complete truth is being told because of the blunt admittance of a lie told by the author, Martel. But that may not be in fact the most critical answer if thought out.
Because of this mention of a lie, the reader should pause to think about past events in the novel that may have been a lie. Since there have been many incidences thus far in the novel where Martel has openly admitted to telling a lie, one example being in the authors note when Martel states that he gives a false address to send his book at the post office in India, I can personally say that I am not 100 per cent sold on that fact that the story is completely truth filled. I think that Martel is using the open lies to trap the reader into believing that he reveal his lies every time he writes one, and many people are not critically thinking through the events that occur to make an educated decision to whether or not this is a truth or a lie because they rely on Martel saying that yes, indeed it is an absolute lie, or absolute truth.
Once again, the world “bamboozled” comes to mind while thinking about this quotation. This is because through and up to this point in the story, Martel has mentioned trickery several times, and has stated that it is very easy to be bamboozled by another person when close attention is not paid. Lesson to be learned here, we must pay closer attention to the story and make our own choices on whether or not Martel is using trickery, or if he is using the truth.
Kimberly McDiarmid
ENG4U1-04
RESPONDING TO OTHER QUOTATIONS
"Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface" (53).
To respond to Christi’s analysis, I would agree that Martel is using imagery to expose the pain of Pi’s past. I would also like to add that perhaps the imagery of the water and bobbing on the surface could foreshadow the future experiences in the novel involving water. Another clue to this would be looking at the cover art of the novel and seeing the boat on the surface of the water, and Pi sitting helplessly in the boat. A connection could be made here and somehow connect the future to the past of Pi’s life.
“Memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface.” (53)
This relates to the quote, “No one means all (s)he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.”, where words are unable to grasp the depth of a thought or idea. This is significant because although we are getting the point of it all, we are still missing the details of each point. Things like extremity of emotion or the power of a visual appearance are just not possible to completely understand with the lack of experience in the situation that is presented. An example outside The Life of Pi would be reading a journal made by a soldier during WWI, we can grasp the general ideas and images of what the narrator is writing about but we cannot relate to what it is like to be in a dug out trench fighting for our lives. This lack of ability to connect or lack of experience means we can get the basics but we cannot get that deeper meaning or that deeper feeling since we have never felt it. This is why writing can give us a foundation but it leaves out the details that no matter how hard you try, can never be fully explained with language.
“I don’t know if I saw blood before turning into Mother’s arms or if I daubed it on later, in my memory with a big brush. But I heard. It was enough to scare the living vegetarian daylights out of me. Mother bundled us out. We were in hysterics. She was incensed.” (45)
This speaks to the fallibility of memory. We can change what we remember by simply thinking of it slightly differently and no matter how hard you try it will never be the same as it was, just as your life can be altered by a mere thought that can change a memory. Pi, for example, remembers the blood whether it was there or not and that influences the power of the memory, forcing it to stand out in his mind. This ability to change a memory so subtly that you think it actually happened a certain way will come into great importance in deciphering the “true story” later on in the novel. This quote can also relate to my other one in the sense that memory is so vast and deep that things are lost never to be reclaimed or mirages and false images can be painted in around the shadows of doubt that we have, just as shadows loom in the depths of an ocean.
Response to Andrew:
"I would like to say in my own defence that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
I think that Andrew is incorrect in his analysis. Piscine is a very intelligent accepting and realistic person. Every child in the world has at some point made themselves an imaginary friend or anthropromorphized an animal to the extent they can talk. I mean some people even dress up their pets. Keeping this in mind I believe that Piscine has the full potential to realize he is turning animals into characters of his imagination and I am sure he sees the relationship of some people to certain animals, a warrior as a bear would be an example. However I do not think that Piscine has the inability to see reality for what it is so severely that he begins depiction people as animals in form and behaviour.
Sammy Tamman
Eng4U1-02
“The paths to liberation are numerous, but the bank along the way is always the same, the Bank of Karma, where the liberation account of each of us is credited or debited depending on our actions" (61).
This quotation has a very deep meaning that can be interpreted in many different ways. The paths that Pi is talking about are perhaps the journeys that everyone takes in their own individual life. Everyone’s path is different, due to the simple fact that we are not all the same person; we all have different experiences in our lives. I think that the “Karma Bank’s” meaning is that karma is always receiving or giving out, much like how a bank works with money. No matter what path you take to liberation, there is always going to be the karma bank in the way. Karma has to balance out in the world, so no one, no matter who you are, can escape it. Liberation is the act or process of trying to achieve equal rights and status. I’m not trying to say that liberation and karma are the same thing, but I feel they share the same characteristics. They both are trying to achieve equality and balance. Since this is true, it makes sense that they would both meet on any given path. When Pi mentions “debited” and “credited” I believe it describes the two types of people in the world, as a general statement. The “debited” people are the ones who know what they have and know their limits. This is much like an account at a bank, of which you can use debit. The money that you debit is your own money and has been taken from your own self. People like these are the ones where karma is hard to take from, as they are good people. “Credited” people are the ones who take things for granted, but you have to pay back. Much like a credit card, it is not your own money. Credit cards can become dangerous because it is like free money; this is when the irresponsible people pay for their actions. These people are the ones who receive the most bad karma. Perhaps the “credited people are the ones who need to learn a lesson, and it is life’s way of teaching them it. However, these things can go both ways. Credit can be looked upon as a good thing, as something given to you because you deserved it or earned it; where as debited can be looked as taking a way from the something undeservingly or deservingly. It is complicated to understand, but complicated for a good reason; to make the reader think, and interpret in more than one way. This quotation is a metaphor; it is comparing to unlike things with out using like or as. The two unlike things are being compared are the road to liberation and a bank. The identity of the bank is not related to the road of liberation yet are compared as both crossing the path of karma. This quotation develops the plot in the sense that the reader learns that there will always be the path with karma, and eventually Pi will have to reach it, if he has not already.
Mercedes Hardy
ENG4U1 - 02
" I would like to say in my own defense that though I may have anthropomorphized the animals till they spoke fluent English, the pheasants complaining in uppity British accents of their tea being cold and the baboons planning their bank robbery getaway in the flat, menacing tones of American gangsters, the fancy was always conscious. I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination. But I never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates" (42-43).
Pi states that he has anthropomorphized the animals and applied human characteristics to the animals. Metacognition is the ability to think about one’s own thinking; to think about the fact that you are thinking. This is what Pi is doing when he states that he is anthropomorphized the animals as well as giving them characteristics at the same time. He is thinking about giving them human characteristics while he is in the process of doing it. The common conception of particular animals portrays the traits of certain human figures such as a baboon being a bank robber in menacing tones of American gangsters. When Pi states that “the fancy was always conscious,” he means that his fantasies were not always one hundred percent true because he was still conscious of his thinking. He never got to the full level of believing something that he was fantasizing about. When he states that he “quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination,” he is saying that he knew that the animals were wild, he knew what they were capable of, yet he imagined them human like which made him not fearful of them. The “tame costumes,” are his imaginations perception of the animal where as the animals without the costumes, are the perception of his conscious mind. When Pi states that he “never deluded myself as to the real nature of my playmates,” he means that he never got so caught up in his fantasies that he forgot about the real nature of his playmates, and how dangerous they were. I myself have anthropomorphized plush animals in my childhood. I used to have a Dalmatian plush animal that I used to pretend was real. I used to pretend that it could talk, that it could understand me, and that it could see. Even though I did this, in the back of my mind I always knew that it was not real, that it was only a figment of my imagination. This is exactly what Pi does with his zoo animals. He grew up with the animals, and they became like family to him. He began to treat them as though they were human because that is what the rest of his family is. Pi could have always imagined that if he stuck his hand in the cage of the tiger, that it would never hurt him. However, he was always conscious of the fact that the tiger could in fact do some serious damage if he were to stick his hand in the cage.
Mercedes Hardy
ENG4U1 - 02
In Response to Josh Winters 4U1-02:
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34)
I agree with both Josh’s statements of: “God does not exist. What simple and concise statement, statements that are found all about scientific papers and research documents.” I had the same reaction to this quote because of how simple and concise the speaker stated it. He made it seem as though it was the truth and everyone knew it; like he just brushed it off of his shoulders. Josh brought up a lot of good points that decreased the support of the scientific theory. Like he said scientific theories change virtually daily, where as God and religion do not. I disagree with the quote because even scientists, who are in a profession, say that science is not always true. Who is to say that God isn’t true other than the people without faith?
Mercedes Hardy
ENG4U1 - 02
It was my first clue that atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them -- and then they leap" (35).
This particular quote is an excellent display of Pi’s ability to think critically and go beyond the boundaries that bind are minds of reason so often. He breaks down the barrier that has long been constructed, stacking fact after fact like indestructible bricks between the two beliefs. For centuries men and women of science and men and women of religion have been involved in long, heart felt battles in which nothing is resolved. Pi on the other hand, in a rare occasion, takes his heart and emotion out of the equation and begins to break it down to bear both sides bones; “every word they speak, speaks of faith. Pi realizes that both arguments only intentions are to uncover something that can have their faith attributed to. It is human instinct to turn to something that will bring restitution to the end of our lives. In this case, Pi, just happens to recognize the indifference between two contradictory schools of belief.
Furthermore, I also made a connection between this quote and the philosophical beliefs of John Keats. John Keats proposed a theory he deemed with the title, “ negative capability.” His theory suggests that great people (especially poets) have the ability to accept that not everything can be resolved. Keats was a Romantic and believed that the truths found in the imagination access holy authority. Such authority cannot otherwise be understood, and thus he writes of "uncertainties." This "being in uncertainty” is a place between the mundane, ready reality and the multiple potentials of a more fully understood existence. I believe that, even at such a young age, Pi expressed his capacity to utilize “negative capability.” Which is evident in the quote. He believes that since the argument of the existence of G(g)od(s) cannot be resolved, it could be deemed as an uncertainty and out of our mental grasps and boundaries. Therefore, Pi is able to reconsider the long debated topic and recognize the similarities and accept those as fact, not the differences.
Continually I recognized the presence of a few themes; the better story/second story, faith, religion. Also, “reason” is personified in the line, “ they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them.”
"We are all born like Catholics aren't we -- in limbo without religion, until some figure introduces us to God?" (58).
I chose this quote to analyze because I thought it contained some good parallelism and congruency to the first quote I chose. Similar to my first quote, this one is largely based around the themes of religion and faith. Pi, again, portrays his ability to break the boundaries of reason. He utilizes some thought provoking imagery to basically question our existence. It is a short quote but I believe it contains more depth and darkness than many others in the books. Very rarely does Pi Patel ask someone to ponder their existence and their motivation even to be alive. It is this quality of the quote that, I think, separates it from the hundreds of others in the novel.
My first impressions and thoughts of the quote when I examined it were; is religion and faith simply a product of learned facts and ideas? Or is it pre-determined in our minds to search out and have faith in a higher being? However, after having a short and meaningful debate with myself over the proposition, I chose to think like Pi and dissolve it down to its simplest form. Does it really matter which side of the argument we believe in? In the end, we are all here together regardless of what brought us to be here. We should accept the fact we are here as humans in need of each other and put that first, instead of the differences between our schools of thought.
Response to Kaitlyn Bullard:
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
Although I entirely agree with Kaitlyn’s interpretation of the quote, for some reason when I analyzed it, I brought away a positive view. It is almost as if Pi is suggesting that, yes, we do have the capacity to do terrible things to animals and other humans but we are also blessed with the capability to contribute equally positive actions to the things around us. It is like we are given the responsibility not only to be the, “ top predator” but to be the, “ top caregiver.” We need to understand that because of our intellect and ability to affect the world around us so drastically, we need to be able to think, reason and act critically to protect and interact with things much less mentally capable than ourselves. I agree with Pi and his intentions in conveying that the more acceptant we of our responsibility and the more we learn from our mistakes the more prosperous the future will be.
"There are no grounds for going beyond a scientific explanation of reality and no sound reason for believing in anything but our sense experience. A clear intellect, close attention to detail and a little scientific knowledge will expose religion as superstitious bosh. God does not exist" (34).
This quotation was said by Mr. Kumar after stating to Piscine that "religion is darkness". Pi disagree's with this statement however, he believes quite the opposite, that religion is light and gives faith to those facing darkness. Martel effectively shows the gap in wisdom between adults and children through this quotation. Children are more easily susceptable to ideas such as religion, since their minds are like a sponge ready to accept all information instead of filtering out the falseries. Mr. Kumar on the other hand only believes in what is palpable, or what he has experienced himself, not what he has been told from any religious doctrine. The main reason Mr. Kumar is so anti-religious is because when he was Pi's age he contracted Polio and God did not save him, science did. Although Mr. Kumar has completly different views than Piscines, he is still Pi's favourite teacher. Martel has invented one of the most diverse characters literature has seen, Pi accepts and analyzes the views of others, to create his own beliefs, futhering the development of his character.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you" (47).
Survival is one of the main themes shown throughout life of Pi. In this quote Pi's father is attempting to teach the children that animals are dangerous and should be treated with caution. I partially disagree with this quotation however, an example of a loophole in this idea is a lemming. Lemmings band together once they have reached a certain point in life, and committ suicide by jumping off cliffs. They don't exactly "defend" their lives. At the beginning of this chapter Pi shows the readers that he has survival instincts when he blamed his brother when he thought he was in peril. I believe later in the book the theme of survival will be explored more deeply when Pi is on the boat with Richard Parker. I think that Martel will effectively show how life can be ugly when survival is one's only goal, and how it can change good people (such as Pi) in the blink of an eye.
In response to Dan Knights 2nd quotation:
I agree entirely with your point that we as humans should not concentrate on our differences, but rather concentrate on helping those in need. Mr. Kumar is a prime example of a person who has freed himself from religious squabble, and helps children through teaching. In my opinion it is human nature to attempt to seek out a higher power, and answer the age old question "why are we here". I dont believe we will ever have an answer, and the sooner the human race realizes this, the faster we can advance as a civilization.
Christine Lao 4U-02
-- "Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you" (47).
Does some animal's dangerous? And some is not? No, my opinion was: they are all dangerous. Whatever they have a small or huge of body. Because animal just an animal. No reasonably they have no thinking to analyze something. And remain happen is unpredictable. And why creature would fight with others, even their congener? How can they make it appear in the world? It sounds kind of sad, and cruel. I think it is not just tried to say the life, it is saying ours. We are extremely protecting ourselves at any motions. We won’t care what the truth is, and we only believe what our mind is. If something is different between us of thinking, then we will doubt it or envious each others. We afraid to get hurt, so we’ll able to find any different ways to kick out these injure things. Animal would harm you, even kill you if you try to attack its. Don’t you remember we all those also were animals? Don’t you dare to say we are not dangerous and ferocious?
-- "It's a complete lie." (53).
Why he said he was lie? Maybe I know that. For example I am an Indian, I born in there; also I grew up in India. And I tell you, I hate India, I don’t really like Indian’s cuisine. What people think of me? Now how I lead them to like me, to like my homeland, and accept my culture. Sometimes we were laid so beautifully. It is true. Who said liar is a prize bastard? I know I cannot say they were all good, but it just a little of lie, and you can spread all the happiness for everyone. It is not a bad thing. Otherwise I really think Pi Patel has hidden something about between Richard Parker and him in part one Life Of Pi. Is his friend unjustifiably left him behind or he really did something hurt for him. No matter what, they had laid to each other certainly.
Response to Kaitlyn Bullard
-- "DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39).
Human used the cage or handcuff animals. In the planet, I would say we are the free, strong, smart and entitle to order or control something nicely. And right, all the animals are fear us, they cannot escape their life. I sadly to say we exactly control some of the animals. And I hope they won’t know what freedom is. Then I think that way’s make me feel better. Animals also are defenseless against humans. Because animal was small in the ocean, in our mind and our memories. Before several of centuries, people were not care what the animal is. And just killed and shot them, ate them and made a fool of them. I cannot believe as if I am an animal, then human shot me down, deep fired me, and tore my skin. Oh my goodness, it suck a huge bad monster. All the dark red blood sprinkles my wonderful world at this moment. Who made us and like that pitifully.
Is that if you type too many words, you cannot post -- you need to break up your text.
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Most people have the assumption that animals would rather be "free" than contained in a zoo. They believe that it is not fair to an animal to live in captivity. Pi see's things a different way. He believes that animals would be much happier in a zoo and have a longer life span because they are protected from the dangers of the wild. When the animals become ill, they have someone to look after them. When the animals are hungry, someone feeds them. The animals could be compared to humans living in the wild, sure there is freedom in the outdoors but there is only more freedom due to more space provided than in a house or buliding. If we, humans, were to live outdoors we would constantly be looking for our next meal and trying to avoid the dangers the wild throws our way. The animals face the same probelms, they have to look out for other animals that see them as prey, they have to hunt for their food, if they do not recieve the food they need then they will suffer from starvation. In zoo's they are protected by cages and are fed well. People who do not believe in religion say that religion limits people's freedoms but this is not exactly true because most people are not forced into religion or into believing something. People become part of a religion by their own free will. Religion is a freedom. You are free to believe whatever you would like, people may try to tell you what their beliefs are (such as a priest) but that does not mean that everything they are saying is correct or that you HAVE to believe it. You are free to believe whatever you would like.
Religion's original purpose was to bring people together that believed and had faith in certain opinions about how we came to be, and about different gods we believe in.
"I notice something else: his cupboards are jam-packed. Behind every door, on every shelf, stand mountains of neatly stacked cans and packages. A reserve of food to last the siege of Leningrad" (31).
This quotation is stated by the author Yann Martel (or the narrorator of the story). The Seige of Leningrad was a military operation by the Axis power to capture Leningrad during World War II, but they were unsuccessful. This seige took place over a three year stretch, during this time people were dying from starvation and were even cooking their leather boots and trying to eat them. This shows that Pi must have went threw a similar situation where he was left without food or supplies for a period of time. Many people that suffered from the seige of Leningrad stuff their cupboards and pantries with food in the fear or running out. Pi is doing this as well. Since Pi has already suffered from starvation once, he is making sure this will not happen again.
In response to Destiny Pailey
"I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (24).
Destiny states that she believes "animals are supposed to be free from danger of the wild but in captivity they can not hunt and be free to live life in a natural way (like we humans do)". I disagree with this statement because "we humans" do not worry about hunting for our food anymore. We simply go to the grocery store when we run short on food or supplies. Animals in the wild however, do not have that option. When animals are kept in a zoo "we humans" provide them with the food and the supplies that they need. We mostly recieve their food and supplies from grocery stores or businesses which they cannot do for themselves. Sometimes we do hunt for our food, such as fishing and hunting for deer or duck, but if we are unsuccessful at this, then we are not limited for food supply, because on the way home we are able to stop at the grocery store and pick up fish or other meat. There is a greater chance that animals will die of starvation in the wild, than in a zoo.
Reading response - Sept. 24 - Oct. 1
"The first time I went to an Indian restaurant in Canada I used my fingers. The waiter
looked at me critically and said, "Fresh off the boat, are you?" I blanched. My
fingers, which a second before had been taste buds savouring the food a little ahead
of my mouth, became dirty under his gaze. They froze like criminals caught in the act.
I didn't dare lick them. i wiped them guiltily on my napkin. he had not ideas how
deeply those words wounded me. They were like nails being driven into my flesh. I
picked up the knife and fork. i had hardly ever used such instruments. My hands
trembled. My sambar lost its taste." (9)
This quotation creates a theme of distressing nature. Pi feels like he is caught in
the act and is embarrassed to be centered out in a country he is new to. Pi feels the
waiters eyes looking at him in disgust and the flavourful food suddenly looses its
flavour because Pi is more focused on other's watching him and criticizing what he
does, and now he is not focused on the Sambar he is eating. Pi feels alienated in this
"new" country and describes this in a painful way; as "like nails being driven into my
flesh".
"The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity -- its envy"
Yann Martel is saying that death isn’t so close because it has to happen but because it
wants to be everything that life is. life is considered a "miracle" and death is
considered as the end to that miracle, nothing to look forward to. Everyone has a life
and everyone has a death but no one lives for death they live their life. death is
envious and wishes is could be everything that life is it wishes that everyone would
look forward to death. Death is so envious that it can take life away in a second, one
hiccup in your life can bring death forward and that’s the end of your life.
This is my response to what Darcy Derbecker said about this quote
"Academic study and the steady, mindful practice of religion slowly brought me back to
life" (3).
I agree that he used academic study and the practice of religion to pull him out the
slump he was in because of his past experiences. I think that he also used the study
of zoology to help him cope with what happened to him as a kid with his father being
so brutally honest to such a young child. He studied zoology to better understand the
things that scare him, so he can respect what animals are capable of. The practice of
religion helped him also because he has something to turn to and he can rely on faith,
with god on his side he feels safer. the same safety coming from a better
understanding of dangerous animals.
disregard my previous comment as i inserted the wrong response; here is the correct one:
Reading Response October 19-28
"DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO?" (39)
When reading this passage in the book i found myself trying to think what the most
dangerous animal could be and i was thinking along the lines of alligators, lions,
bears, which just reinforces the point that Pi's father is trying to portray. We never
think of ourselves as dangerous to other animals because they are not a part of our
species, but if you think about how many animals kill humans it is no where even close
to the amount of animals humans kill. We sometimes kill animals because we are afraid
that there going to kill us but has anyone thought that it works the other way too.
Most attacks happen because the animal is startled or scared, so in reality we bring
most attacks on ourselves.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and
dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you"
Every single person in this world can agree with this passage because everyone has
this instinct to protect themselves no matter what. A similar example is to put your
hands out to protect your body when your falling. This passage is telling us to
respect every living creature because whether it is a bee or a bear, they both have
something to protect themselves. Also even a plant is capable of killing you or even
a ant with the smallest undetectable bites. This teaches the lesson to respect all life
forms because they can take your life as easily as you can take theirs.
My Response to what Eric said about this quote:
"When Mr. Kumar visited the zoo, it was to take the pulse of the universe, and his
stethoscopic mind always confirmed to him that everything was in order, that
everything was order. He left the zoo feeling scientifically refreshed”
I agree with everything that Eric says i just want to add the fact that Mr. Kumar
views zoo's as a haven for animals, a place where they can escape death and starvation
and be brought into a perfect habitat with everything they need to survive at their disposal.
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