Throughout history, one is in a constant dilemma to pursue a life dedicated to either science and logic, or religion and morality. Some individuals are able to overcome this dilemma and create a balance between both science and religion, thus living life in harmony of both aspects. In the novel and film adaptation of Life of Pi by Yann Martel and Ang Lee, it is understood how Pi is influenced by the delicate balance between science and religion. It is evident how Pi guides the future of his life, and that he chooses how he lives out his life. In addition, throughout his struggles Pi tries to maintain the presence of God and searches for meaning where there is none, thus leading to the realization that he must embrace logic and his primal needs
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In both the novel and the film, Pi is not swayed by the fact that others want him to live his life a certain way, but he creates his own path to follow. Pi tries to keep the balance of science and religion in his life, “ Mr. Kumar was Pi's favorite teacher and the reason that he goes on to study zoology, the science that constitutes half his worldview. The other half is religion; hence, he also goes on to get a degree in theology” (Stephens). This dual combination of science and religion that Pi incorporates in his life show how Pi attempts to embrace both aspects of the spectrum. However, while on the boat with the tiger Pi realizes that God alone cannot save him from his situation, and that he must choose to utilize his knowledge in zoology rather than his religious beliefs to succeed. Pi begins to embrace his logic and knowledge more since God cannot provide for him the necessities for survival (food, shelter, safety from tiger), and in his situation physical health takes priority over the mental health that religion provides. Similarly, in the film Pi learns from Mr. Kumar how when he was sick he prayed to God to heal him, and yet nothing happened. When Mr. Kumar took medicine and it healed him, it shows how in certain situations by choosing science Pi will have more success than utilizing his morals and religion “Pi, who loves God so much that he embraces three religions, …show more content…
In the beginning of both the novel and its film adaptation, Pi was a vegetarian and very fond of all life and religions (in summary a very kind person). As his journey progressed, Pi was put under more pressure to act in ways against his morals and religious beliefs. Eventually Pi’s logic and primal needs took over, and he forgot his old beliefs in order to survive, “Lord to think I’m a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal’s neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible” (Martel, 218). Pi situation was so severe that he was forced to go against what he believed if he wanted to live. This shows how when given enough time, an individual will adapt to any situation put into, thus every life is interchangeable. Eventually, Pi went from being a kind vegetarian, respectful of all life, to a person who commonly hunted and killed animals to stay alive. However, since Pi must do these everyday tasks to live, it became part of his daily routine and he began to tolerate such a change. In addition to adapting his ways of survival, Pi’s attitude towards animals also changed to correspond with his situation, “The everyman Pi is naked before a superbly engineered predator--he needs to establish dominance.
In both the novel and the film, Pi is not swayed by the fact that others want him to live his life a certain way, but he creates his own path to follow. Pi tries to keep the balance of science and religion in his life, “ Mr. Kumar was Pi's favorite teacher and the reason that he goes on to study zoology, the science that constitutes half his worldview. The other half is religion; hence, he also goes on to get a degree in theology” (Stephens). This dual combination of science and religion that Pi incorporates in his life show how Pi attempts to embrace both aspects of the spectrum. However, while on the boat with the tiger Pi realizes that God alone cannot save him from his situation, and that he must choose to utilize his knowledge in zoology rather than his religious beliefs to succeed. Pi begins to embrace his logic and knowledge more since God cannot provide for him the necessities for survival (food, shelter, safety from tiger), and in his situation physical health takes priority over the mental health that religion provides. Similarly, in the film Pi learns from Mr. Kumar how when he was sick he prayed to God to heal him, and yet nothing happened. When Mr. Kumar took medicine and it healed him, it shows how in certain situations by choosing science Pi will have more success than utilizing his morals and religion “Pi, who loves God so much that he embraces three religions, …show more content…
In the beginning of both the novel and its film adaptation, Pi was a vegetarian and very fond of all life and religions (in summary a very kind person). As his journey progressed, Pi was put under more pressure to act in ways against his morals and religious beliefs. Eventually Pi’s logic and primal needs took over, and he forgot his old beliefs in order to survive, “Lord to think I’m a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal’s neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible” (Martel, 218). Pi situation was so severe that he was forced to go against what he believed if he wanted to live. This shows how when given enough time, an individual will adapt to any situation put into, thus every life is interchangeable. Eventually, Pi went from being a kind vegetarian, respectful of all life, to a person who commonly hunted and killed animals to stay alive. However, since Pi must do these everyday tasks to live, it became part of his daily routine and he began to tolerate such a change. In addition to adapting his ways of survival, Pi’s attitude towards animals also changed to correspond with his situation, “The everyman Pi is naked before a superbly engineered predator--he needs to establish dominance.