Theme of Emotions in Life of Pi by Yann Martel Essay Sample

The novel Life of Pi presents the story of Pi Patel, a young boy who survives a shipwreck along with a fortuitous companion, a tiger. Throughout Pi's journey, he learns how to survive his new life at sea through the characteristics of romanticism. Despite the challenges he faced, his isolation created a shift in the development of emotions. Through analyzing his surroundings, he begins to develop a deeper understanding of the world around him. Understanding his environment leads to the connection of the natural world he is in and helps him survive the terrible circumstances he was in. The Romantics believed in surrounding oneself in the presence of nature, living in accordance with the will of God and using isolation to reflect on spiritual developments. Through these aspects, Pi Patel began a profound connection to his surroundings. The novel illustrates the universal truth that when humans are isolated, they feel emotionally connected to their environment by showcasing romanticism.

The protagonist of the novel Pi Patel found meaning in nature during his time in solitude, which allowed him to explore nature's beauty more deeply. During his time in isolation, his exploration led him to gain insight and meaning into the island's environment. "The trees were not parasites. I discovered this one day when I ate so much algae at the base of a small tree that I exposed its roots...The leaves' appetite for the sun, as testified by their abundance, their breadth, and their super chlorophyll greenness, made me suspect that the trees had primarily an energy-gathering function" (Martel 301). Pi's isolation on the island led to the deep connection of understanding the island's nature. In the quote, he mentions that the leaves "made me suspect that the trees had primarily an energy-gathering function." This quote brings us to realize that Pi's time alone is spent exploring the meaning of the environment. Nature's relation to romanticism surrounds the core concept that one might find greater sense in nature than in societal conventions. "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately..." (Henry David Thoreau). According to Henry David Thoreau, human beings are intended to accompany themselves in the presence of nature rather than the urban world. The natural world, he believed, was a source of beauty and mystery, as well as the ultimate source of inspiration for humankind. If one can surround themselves in the presence of nature, this will allow them to understand the beauty and meaning of their surroundings.

Pi Patel's devotion to religious beliefs allowed him to connect with the various beliefs, despite living in exile from society. Pi's time at sea gave him a sense of comfort when practicing the religious rituals he adapted, which helped him feel closely connected to the different faiths he practiced. "I practiced religious rituals that I adapted to the circumstances--- solitary Masses without priests or consecrated Communion hosts, darshans without murtis, and pujas with turtle meat for prasad, acts of devotion to Allah not knowing where Mecca was and getting my Arabic wrong. They brought me comfort, that is certain" (Martel 231). Pi took his time in the lifeboat to reflect and act upon his religious beliefs. Considering that Pi spent his time isolated at sea with a tiger, Pi was able to find spiritual peace and comfort in his present life. Despite not knowing whether he was following the correct form of the practices, it gave him a step closer towards God. The closeness he developed from his practices created a sense of belonging through his religious beliefs. Religious communities, such as Christianity, are committed to their beliefs, establishing community unity. "The Christian's ultimate purpose is to unite with God, and to do so requires having as little to do with 'nature' as possible, as 'nature' encompassing all material things, including the body" (Ferber 65). The religion, Christianity, claims that humanity will eventually be unified with God. This religion believes that God created humanity, and therefore it is the duty of each person to live in accordance with the will of God.

When in isolation, the protagonist Pi Patel finds himself experiencing a shift in his emotions, which establishes personal developments in his moral decisions. Pi's solitude created a different emotional perspective than he had before spending time with a dangerous animal he wished to kill. "It was Richard Parker who calmed me down. It is the irony of this story that the one who scared me witless to start with was the very same who brought me peace, purpose, I dare even say wholeness" (Martel 179). Before spending time with a dangerous animal, Pi was scared and wished death upon the tiger. The isolating environment led to a closely bonded alliance with the dangerous animal, which he was well aware had the ruthless capacity to kill him. Pi established a personal development when he realized the dangerous tiger was no longer a menace to him. The shift in his emotional perspective altered his moral decisions. During the Romantic Period, the celebration of isolation was encouraged to establish personal developments. "Romanticism also fixated on nature as a primordial force and encouraged the concept of isolation as necessary for spiritual and artistic development" (Jeffrey Sommers). Humans utilize their time of isolation to reflect on artistic and spiritual developments that lead to a shift in their perspectives. Individuals were able to contemplate the nature of art and their personal lives during the Romantic Period. The Romantic period was when people lived in a more simplistic environment than they do today.

In the novel, Pi's isolation led to understanding the meaning of nature, sensing comfort and connection in religious rituals, and establishing personal developments in moral decisions, all relating to the emotional connections humans gain from their isolating environment. Gaining closeness to his surroundings leads to the development of his emotions. This illustrates the relationship between nature and humanity. The novel Life of Pi showcases the universal truth that when humans are isolated, they feel emotionally connected to their environment by showcasing romanticism aspects. All the elements of romanticism provided Pi with peace within himself that contributed to his survival. Still, the story makes one question: What makes up the connection between humanity and nature despite the emotional developments humans gain from their environment?