Life of Pi Group

Question:

valmoren
valmoren
Student
College - Sophomore

in chapter 90 pi has a hallucinatory conversation between a carnivorous sailor what is the purpose of this chapter

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Posted by valmoren on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 4:09 PM and tagged with life of pi, pi and his hallucinatory.

Answers:

  1. johnnyenglish
    johnnyenglish Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    The purpose of this chapter is not only to illustrate Pi's dream-like state of consciousness that accompanies Pi's physical and spiritual deterioration, but also to project the basic incongruity that exists between the humanistic tendency toward social civility and the animalistic instinct to survive. Indeed, just as Pi revels in the unexpected bliss of having inadvertently located a member of his own species who can relate with the treachery of his own ordeal, he learns that the stranger's motive for entering Pi's lifeboat was, ironically, to cannibalize Pi for his own selfish gain. Further irony is demonstrated when, during Pi's moment of revelation, Richard Parker devours the man. The state of blindness that afflicts Pi, the visitor, and even Richard Parker in this chapter is also symbolic of the moral ambiguity that accompanies Pi's lack of hope.  

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    Posted by johnnyenglish on Friday May 8, 2009 at 8:00 PM