Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Reading the Novel

When I read the novel in college, for a Greek Mythology course, it disturbed me. I wanted so much to believe in the fantastical story being woven, but I couldn't quite believe. The story was set like a contemporary realistic fiction novel, but filled with almost too hard to believe elements; for example, the animals getting onto the lifeboat, the tiger not eating Pi, and the island. I wasn't sure where the novel was going. On one hand, I knew Pi would eventually make it back to land. On the other hand, those fantastical elements were a little much to swallow despite my love of fantasy. The island especially astonished me. Where was Martel going with this story?

My Copy of Life of Pi

If I remember right, my college professor warned us that the ending wouldn't be what we expected. I think I may have been rather caught up in trying to figure out where the story was going partially because of this warning. I spent a lot of my reading trying to prepare myself for an unexpected reading, and I still wasn't prepared. The theme left me unsettled: The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Throughout our class discussion, I knew I understood the theme, but I felt I was still missing something (or several things).

I was shocked. I knew there was more to the story novel and theme, yet I couldn't grasp it all. I couldn't explain why it bothered disturbed me so much- other than the feeling that I was missing its depth because I was so caught up in the obvious theme and that one sentence. I was wasn't sure what that theme meant for me. I was in shock from how the novel ended. I wanted to understand it.

Watching the Movie

Recently, several years after I read the novel that I couldn't bring myself to read again and had no desire to throw away, Ang Lee and countless other people brought the novel to life on the big screen. When I first saw the trailer, I thought about how people were either really going to love it or hate it. They'd love it because they'd be able to accept and be awed by the unexpected ending, or hate it because they would be expecting a fantastical world to be opened up to them instead of choosing which story to believe as a viewer. I admire Yann Martel giving his audience such a spectacular choice. That choice opens up our minds.

My second thought about the movie involved wanting to see it. For the first time, I wanted to see a book made into a movie (after reading the book). The trailer made it seem like they'd be true to the story, to that moment of choice. I wanted to see if they'd leave in that ending. I also wanted to see if I could learn more from the story seeing it as a movie, and I wanted to experience that gorgeous cinematography.

Sadly, I didn't see the movie until it was available to own on DVD and Blueray.

In the movie, the story is told in a pretty chronological order. I remember the novel being more reflective while he was lost at sea meaning that Pi thinks back to his life before moving while he's lost at sea. I think the story was easier to understand on the big screen since it was told in a more chronological manner. It was still reflective since the man playing adult Pi is telling his story to an author. The novel was first person compared to the big screen's third person narrative.

Watching Pi's story unfold once again, I did understand more. The movie version still left me uncomfortable in the same parts of the story. I realize now that I felt betrayed by the unexpected ending, by the fact that the magical world Pi shares may not be true real (even the scary parts like that island). I find the island symbolic of Pi's mental return to what reality will be like. He had to leave behind a part of himself in the ocean. A part of himself that helped him survive. That separation finishes occurring when Richard Parker (the adult Bengal tiger) leaves him on the beach without a goodbye.

Greater Understanding

Talking with my family about the story after viewing the film, I realized why the theme of Life of Pi is important. Remember, the theme is The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Pi presents the author listening to his story with two versions of his journey across the ocean. One story is fantastical and magical while the other story is harsh and pragmatic and very realistic.

As a reader, or film watcher, we choose which story we prefer. We also get to decide which story to believe. The story we choose reveals a lot about us as individuals, and that truth can be hard to face.

If I choose the fantastical story, then I have to face the reality that my view of the world, others, and myself may be fantastical. I may have created stories (views, opinions, etc) of myself, my life, my choices, and the world that are fantastical.

If I choose the harsh but more realistic story, I have to face a different set of shortcomings. I may be a harsh person. I may be far more cynical and cutthroat than I want to admit.

Of course, the truth of how the world is and how we really are as people is usually somewhere in between those two versions of the story, so we have to decide when we are too cynical and when we are too fantastical. By fantastical, I mean moments when we protect ourselves from reality and choose to be blind to things around us. By harsh, I mean moments when we disbelieve possible kindness and choose to be blind to  hope. Both are a kind of blindness to truth.

I also realized that some religious persons might struggle with Life of Pi because we have to face that reality that the stories of our religion may not be real; for example, I was raised to know that the story of Adam and Eve was symbolic. Adam and Eve's experience in the Garden of Eden probably didn't happen exactly as recorded in Genesis. It is a highly symbolic story meant to teach about how Satan tempts the Children of God, why the Children of God need Christ's Atonement, and humanity's decision making power (among other things). I was raised to know that the stories of my religion were meant to teach me and probably didn't happen exactly as recorded. I'm not sure everyone receives that kind of education about their own culture's stories. I imagine that realizing that your culture's stories could be false could be a world-perception shattering experience for some religious persons.

I'm grateful I learned more about myself and the story novel, Life of Pi, from watching the film. I feel so much more comfortable with the novel now that I am able to grasp some of the deeper concepts of the theme, The Stories We Tell Ourselves. I better understand myself because I can better address my flawed perceptions of reality. I also better appreciate God and the Gospel because Christ knows the truth that really exists between my human perceptions when I view a situation too fantastically or too harshly. Life of Pi has become a good example of why I love reading. When I read, I learn to think more clearly and to better understand myself, others, and the world.