Prompt Revision #4

Original: http://yetanotherapenglishblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/prompt-1.html

Prompt:

2008, Form B. In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.

Response:
In Yann Martel’s The Life of Pi, Piscine “Pi” Molitor Patel is an adolescent Indian boy who grows up in Pondicherry, at the intersection of several religions. Martel portrays Pi's childhood as a state of innocence by showing how Pi manages to adopt three of them, despite adults telling him it's impossible. However, when Pi is adrift at sea, Martel depicts Pi’s adolescence as not only a terrifying experience, but also a trial that tests the beliefs Pi develops as a child. In both cases, Martel contrasts the perspective of a child with the perspective of adults.

Although Pi is born a Hindu, like many others in India, he also encounters Christianity and Islam while growing up. At the age of 14, just at the start of his adolescence, Pi adopts all three religions, finding important aspects in each. For many, faith in a single religion demonstrates that one is willing to give up some amount of reason for one’s beliefs; in Pi’s case, it highlights his credulity. On the other hand, it shows that while Pi has little worldly experience, he is able to look past the differences between the religions to see something good in each of them, something that the adults in his life – his parents, teachers, and spiritual leaders – are not able to do.

Later on, when Pi ends up stranded on a lifeboat with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger, Pi’s childhood beliefs are tested. While adrift, Pi continues to pray to and trust in God to escape the terror of sharing a small boat with a carnivorous beast. Although he occasionally wonders why it doesn't seem to be working, as he is still stuck on the Pacific, he does continue to find supplies he needs and manages to keep Richard Parker at bay, thus affirming his faith that God will see him through. For over 200 days, Pi’s faith is questioned, but his faith stays strong. Pi is no longer in a state of innocence – he has suffered immensely – but he now maintains his religious beliefs out of experience. Earlier, Pi demonstrates his piety by ignoring the bigoted adults who say that he cannot hold three religions. Now, his beliefs are truly tested, and they stay strong.

In the conclusion of the book, Martel again contrasts Pi’s youthful perspective and the “grown up” outlook of the adults in Pi’s life. As the Japanese officials attempt to figure out why the boat sank, and whether there were actually animals on the ship, or whether Pi was delirious and saw people as animals, Pi points out that neither story provides any evidence as to why the ship sank and neither one can be disproved. When the officials admit to preferring the story with the animals, Pi remarks that the same is true with religion, something reminiscent of his upbringing in India. Like the adults in Pondicherry, the officials initially insist on choosing a single believable story. But just as Pi follows three conflicting religions, something initially unheard of and unacceptable, Pi’s story is a little fantastic, a little bizarre. Through contrasting Pi's innocent - yet profound - view with that of the officials, Martel comments that it is not necessarily what is logical or acceptable that matters; one's choice to believe in something illogical may provide just as much satisfaction.