Pi and Thoreau Timed Writing Beginning in part two of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, the main character Pi Patel’s behaviors morph and begin to resemble that of an animal as it becomes tougher to survive aboard his lifeboat. Patel resorts to cannibalism, eating anything he comes across while most definitely violating his vegetarian beliefs. Thoreau’s views are also violated as he advises against eating meat in general in his novel Walden. In response to Pi Patel’s actions while aboard his lifeboat, Thoreau would be utterly disgusted at his savagery and lack of sympathy for the animals he murdered. Stranded in the middle of the ocean, Patel is clinging to life, afraid of the unknown. As his supplies begin to run dry, he finds himself to be more
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On the other hand, Thoreau concludes that animal food was “insignificant and unnecessary, and cost more that it came to” in addition to the fact that it is “not agreeable to [his] imagination” (Thoreau 206). He exhibits his true feelings, that clean foods are far superior to animal products, refuting Pi’s claims and actions. Further on in the novel, Pi demonstrates his lack of sympathy for anyone or anything, and his drive to outlast his terrible predicament. Being forced to adopt cannibalism, Pi “[climbs] aboard his brother’s boat” and explores its contents, eager for a meal (Martel 254). Momentarily, his humanity returns as he sees the blind frenchman’s body, “his butchered, dismembered body [laying] on the floor of the boat” (Martel 254). Nonetheless, Pi quickly reestablishes his madness, confessing to his cannibalism and stating “I ate some of his flesh. I mean small pieces, little strips...they slipped into my mouth nearly unnoticed” (Martel 254). This confession from Pi adds to how Thoreau would truly fail to support or condone Patel’s actions. He states himself that once he did not “pity the fishes nor the worms” when he used to fish and hunt. Now, he wonders “how they, how you and I, can live this slimy beastly life, eating and drinking” (Thoreau 210). His questioning of the morals of human consumption adds to the disbelief he would exhibit if challenged by Pi’s actions over the course of his
On the other hand, Thoreau concludes that animal food was “insignificant and unnecessary, and cost more that it came to” in addition to the fact that it is “not agreeable to [his] imagination” (Thoreau 206). He exhibits his true feelings, that clean foods are far superior to animal products, refuting Pi’s claims and actions. Further on in the novel, Pi demonstrates his lack of sympathy for anyone or anything, and his drive to outlast his terrible predicament. Being forced to adopt cannibalism, Pi “[climbs] aboard his brother’s boat” and explores its contents, eager for a meal (Martel 254). Momentarily, his humanity returns as he sees the blind frenchman’s body, “his butchered, dismembered body [laying] on the floor of the boat” (Martel 254). Nonetheless, Pi quickly reestablishes his madness, confessing to his cannibalism and stating “I ate some of his flesh. I mean small pieces, little strips...they slipped into my mouth nearly unnoticed” (Martel 254). This confession from Pi adds to how Thoreau would truly fail to support or condone Patel’s actions. He states himself that once he did not “pity the fishes nor the worms” when he used to fish and hunt. Now, he wonders “how they, how you and I, can live this slimy beastly life, eating and drinking” (Thoreau 210). His questioning of the morals of human consumption adds to the disbelief he would exhibit if challenged by Pi’s actions over the course of his