STUDENT LIFE
Week of October 22nd.
Quest 1 Life of Pi Summer Reading Essays
If you haven’t heard of Yann Mar- of the Tismtsum. But like Pi I also and aaions about these three reli- Godly option. This obviously proves
td s novel, Life of Pi, you aren’t a keep an open mind. Pi decided that gions, when in all aauality all re- fruitful for them both: Richard Park-
member of the class of 2008. Over all three of his religions were tied to- ligions basically boil down to a few er is allowed to survive until he finally
the summer the freshmen were re- gether through their stories. They all major beliefs. What makes Pi unique reaches shore, and Pi has something
quired to read Life of Pi for their started similarly and no matter what is that instead of simply believing, he to live for. Keeping Richard Parker
SAGE Quest 1 class. They were also happens they will end the same. Pi’s has the gift to explore different ideas alive is symbolic of Pis own survival;
supposed to write an essay reaaing stories of survival are in this way and thoughts as to what those par- his drive to keep something fi:om dy-
to the novel. The Quest 1 Student similar to his beliefs- they both start ticular beliefs truly mean, and that is ing gives him hope that he can do the
Teaching Assistants got together and the same way and they both end the something that everyone else in the same for himself Godliness triumphs
decided that these four were among same way. i.'- novel cannot comprehend. in yet another parable,
the very best. This story has given me more of an All writing and storytelling has a Often, animals are used in parables
open mind towards other religions. It purpose, but it is difficult for one to to appeal to children and to make the
Chris Witt showed me that storytelling and reli- think that Dr. Seuss intended The stories more lively and entertaining.
After 1 read the assigned book “Life gion are tied together in many forms. Cat in the Hat to be anything more In Life of Pi, the story is told using
of Pi” I was left confijsed about what Open minds are necessary in both. than simply fun reading for children, animals to represent the human char-
rcaily happened in the story. 1 know These same thoughts go into the idea acters in the more realistic account
the tale told is just that, a tale. It’s the Kellie Milam of their not being a theological di- of the journey. Pis inability to ac-
long adventure of a boy who was a Life of Pi, written by Yann Mar- mension to all storytelling—not ev- cept man’s inherent evil comes from
sole survivor of a shipwreck with the tel, is a fictional novel that tells the ery book or oral story was created to his deep religious piety and from the
exception of a few zoo animals, who story of a teenage boy and his jour- get across a deep and powerful mean- simple fact that he was raised in a
all end up on the same lifeboat. The ney through not only the vast Pacific ing. Life of Pi is a thought-provoking zoo. Animals are what he knows, and
story tells the conflicts that take place Ocean, but also through religion, zo- novel that helps the reader to identify thus he relates his tale to animals to
both internal and external. The part ology, and his own maturity. Martel’s with struggle that the main character make it more bearable for himself Pi
that left me wondering was at the creative storytelling introduces dif- is facing, while at the same time re- knows that animals only kill from in-
very end of the book, with less than ferent religions to the reader making laying an underlying theme—coping stina
five chapters remaining, when the in- them easy to■ understand as well as with the bad, while embracing lifes and necessity so it makes more
vestigators from Tokyo don’t believe making them relative to today’s soci- litde victories, as Pi matured, so did sense to him for a hyena to kill a ze-
Pi’s story of survival. Pi then tells ety. the reader. bra for food than a Frenchman to kill
another story of his survival without A story is interesting for one rea- his mother from madness,
the animals. This is what confused son and one reason only; the reader Mason Tate In conclusion. Life of Pi is a phe-
me. Which of the two stories am I to must be able to relate in someway to “In the beginning, there was the nomenal example of how religion
believe is the true story of his surviv- • the given topic* This theorygoeshe .pWord, and the Word was with God, springs from the human interaction
al? Was he the tiger, Richard Parker, same for religion; without storytell- and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, inherent in storytelling. Pi tells his
in his first story or was the tiger an ing in religious practices, followers New Oxford Annotated Bible) story as a parable of how we strug-
imaginary creature to keep his mind would not be as inclined to strictly This quote from the Bible is a gle to maintain a balance between
at ease while at sea.^ obey their rules, as they do without clear illustration of the correlation ourselves and our known—and un-
Like in religion you are given sever- stories of profits and angels to lead by between verbal and spiritual con- known—environments. In telling and
al stories written by people from that example. Stories make religion relat- sciousness. The stories and parables retelling the story of his moniunental
time. There is no one left to question able. A prime example as to the test- of various religions were told over quest for survival and salvation. Pi il-
what really happened. So you are left ing of this theory comes near the end and over, generation after generation, lustrates the human need for stories
with the decision of what you think of Martel’s story. When the Japanese until they were codified. This multi- to make us, “believe in God”,
is the true story. So in many ways sto- transport investigators first hear Pi’s generational handing down of stories
rytelling and religion are much alike, story which included the animals, is symbolized in Life of Pi through Erika Bennett
I am left pondering on the true story both men were skeptical; however. Pi’s multiple accounts of his journey- An acclaimed educator, Mary
of what happened in this book. when Pi changed the animals into -first to the Mexican authorities and McLeod Bethune was once quoted
In the bwk the aspects of Chris- humans, the story became more re- then to the speaker in the novel. as saying, “Without faith, nothing is
tianity, Hinduism, and Islam are dis- alistic which in turn made the men The author indicates that he is possible. With it, nothing is impos-
cussed when the priests come to visit into believers. Religious followers of- “hungry,” and leads the reader to in- sible.” This is a common theme in
Pi. Each, of course, had their own ten question their rituals and beliefe, fer that the hunger is spiritual. He the novel Life of Pi, by Yann Martel,
opinion of which religion told the but when able to imderstand and meets an elderly man who insists where the two aspeas of religion and
truth of what happened in the past, comprehend just what those rituals that Pi’s story will, “...make you storytelling are called upon. Martel
Like people who are not brought up and beliefs actually represent one can believe in God.” (X) And isn’t that ties the two together through use of
in a religious home and arc looking find it easier to obey—^just as the Jap- just what stories and parables do? II- religious allusions and presents them
to find a religion, these people must anese investigators were able to make lustrate moral dilemmas, illuminate both with the theme of Faith,
decide for themselves which story the conneaion. moral truths and demonstrate good Storytelling and religion’s relation-
they should accept as the true one. Religion and storytelling go hand decision making, all while entertain- ship is made apparent by the contin-
At the end of this book I was left in in hand; however, for one to say that ing and engaging the listener? Wliile uous question of faith. A young 16-
a similar state. I was left trying to religion is a form of storytelling would God often appears as a metaphorical year old Pi finds himself captivated by
decide which story I should perceive be incorrea. Storytelling is an aid to charaaer in these stories, the point of three religions, Christianity, Hindu-
as being the one that told the events all religions. The Bible, Qur’an, and them is to place the aaive players in ism, and Muslim. Martel weaves sev-
as they happened. After much con- other holy books are not forms of en- situations in which they have the op- eral religious allusions into his novel
sideration I decided for myself that tertainment, but tools that each reli- portunity to be Christ-like. during Pi’s time spent stranded in a
the story that Pi told throughout the gion uses to relate their beliefs. An example of Pi’s opportimity to lifeboa t. This allows Pi to constantly
book was one he used to sooth his Manel has written a charaaer. Pi, be Christ-like is his choice of imple- look to his religious teachings for jus-
state of mind to help minimize the who is young, open-minded, and has menting “Plan Number Seven: Keep tification. He finds strength in corn-
level of stress that he already had. I the gift to have ideas about religion. Him Alive” in reference to how he paring his stru^les to the stories that
believe that the story of events that When all three religious figures from should handle the escalating situa- these religions teachings are based off
he last gave to the investigators from each of the religions that Pi is prac- tion with Richard Parker. Given the of This comparison helps Pi to sup-
Tokyo, the one with actual people ticing confront Pi’s parents, the situa- choice between killing the tiger, wag- port his Faith and strengthen it. To-
rather than animals, to be the events tion becomes an all out battle for Pi. ing a war of attrition against him and wards the end of the novel. When Pi
that took place following the sinking He is forced to defend his thoughts keeping him alive. Pi chooses the most tells his two stories to the men from