Discussion Topic
Examples of internal and external conflict in Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Summary:
In Life of Pi, internal conflict is exemplified by Pi's struggle with faith and survival instincts. He battles despair and the moral implications of his actions while stranded at sea. External conflict is evident in his physical struggle against the elements and his constant fight for dominance and coexistence with the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, on the lifeboat.
What are examples of internal and external conflict in Life of Pi by Yan Martel?
At the time of this story, Pi is a middle-aged man living in Canada, retelling the story of his life growing up in India and the dramatic trip he took across the Pacific Ocean. The story focuses on themes related to religion, animal psychology, and existentialism—all brought about through the different conflicts in the story.
One of the external conflicts in the story happens while Pi is on his journey from India to Canada. Pi boards the freighter Tsimtsum with his family after his father sells the zoo he owns. Interestingly, all of the animals from the zoo (who were not rehomed) accompany them on the freighter to Canada. During the journey, after the ship leaves Manila, they encounter a storm that sinks the ship. Pi escapes on a lifeboat, but the boat is also carrying animals: a zebra, a hyena, and the tiger Richard Parker. This is an example...
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
of external conflict because the source and the resolution of the conflict are both outside Pi himself.
One of the internal conflicts that Pi faces in the novel is when he questions his faith while on the boat. On the 277-day journey across the Pacific Ocean, Pi comes face to face with the prospect of dying on the lifeboat. He questions God, asking why he is in his situation. Pi even states,
Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love—but sometimes it was so hard to love.
The crisis of faith that Pi faces is one of the critical internal struggles of the novel. At the start, Pi is deeply entrenched in religious belief and finds that it is one of his core values. He even goes as far as to adopt seemingly contradictory belief systems, including Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. The fact that he questions his faith in God on the boat is profound and illustrates the depth of the issues he is facing on the lifeboat.