Life consists of three main stages: beginning, middle and end. The first stage focuses mainly on innocence. When you are young, all you can do is fend for yourself. You hold no responsibility for anyone else and because of this, you have time to examine those around. The middle stage, or the teen years, are all about discovering who you are and who you want to become. It is a time to hold onto your strengths and let go of your weaknesses – a time to figure out your hopes and dreams. By adulthood, you have determined your occupation and have started living your independent life. In the novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel emphasizes the idea that life is a journey. He teaches us that life is all about surviving reality and in order to do so, you must successfully complete each stage in life. With experience comes knowledge and with knowledge comes success.
To a young child, the world may seem immense – it appears untouchable. They are innocent and observe the world from the outside; their delicate minds are constantly wondering why people choose to do the things they do. This is the whole truth. They are new to the world, like a fish out of water, and everything ahead of them is a mystery. Pi Patel, an Indian boy, was born under the roof of a zookeeper and raised in a home where animals were used as learning tools. Throughout Pi's days as a child, he quietly, yet carefully, observed the behaviors of those around him. His father -- the figure he most often listened to -- was always pushing the idea that life was like a zoo, but Pi did not yet understand this concept. Pi's parents made it an effort to educate their son on the idea that in reality there are people who will act like wild animals, but Pi did not yet understand. This is the reality of innocent minds. It is not that they don’t want to learn, it is that they have no need for it. As a young boy, Pi has no reason to worry about the real world. Eventually a time will come in his life where the information will be of use, but for now, all of his cares are focused on playing, eating and sleeping.
Many young children believe that life has no pain, no suffering and no anguish but the truth is, life is full of paradox. For Pi, all it takes is the sinking of his boat, the Tsimtsum, to learn this important life lesson. He accurately explains the chaos that spreads across the deck as the boat slowly enters the vast ocean. While this is taking place, Pi stands frozen and allows the idea of pain to sink. When a boy enters adolescence, many changes take place. He has already discovered that life is full of pain and that it is vital in order to live a balanced life, but there is so much more. That is why this stage is also focused on preparing you for the change ahead; it is a time to show you that change is okay. This is exactly what Pi's parents do when they decide to move to their family to Canada. Martel is teaching us -- through Pi's move – that change is needed in order to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Once a person comprehends that they are in the process of undergoing a transformation, they are ready to move on to the next stage, the next chapter in their life.
After the Tsimtsum was completely under water, Pi wakes up and realizes that he has been thrown overboard by crew members into a lifeboat. He is the only human aboard, but notices that he was not alone. Accompanying him were three wild animals: a tiger, a hyena, and a zebra. Throughout his days on the boat, Pi learned a lot about himself and what levels he will travel to, in order to survive. “Things didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to, but what can you do? You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.” (91) This quote accurately explains the renovation that Pi has undergone. His mindset has matured and he discovers that you have to make the best of what life throws at you. This time in your life, is dedicated to figuring out who you are and who you want to become. Pi finds that he is willing to leave his comfort zone and break some of his most precious conventions, in order to survive; he discovers many strengths he never knew he had. Adolescence for Pi, was being stranded out in the middle of the ocean and that opportunity gave him the chance to discover who he truly is.
Like a plant needing water, the changes that you will undergo before entering adulthood are crucial. Without learning how to handle pain, accept change and acknowledge who you are, you will be lost. When Pi survives his journey, he returns to Canada and we know, by the way he presents himself, that he is an adult. We also know that Pi has a wife and two children, but that holds very little importance when compared to the transformation he has made from a boy to a man. Looking back at Pi's journey, it becomes apparent that he survived because his strength was put to the test. It made him an individual -- an individual with a unique story. We, as people, also need to experience a journey that will alter our lives. Life is a journey and the only way we can survive, is if we discover our true selves.
The transition from innocent to experienced is like no other. The changes that are involved in this cycle are necessary and will decide how a person lives the rest of their life. To a young child, the world may seem immense -- it appears untouchable -- but once they leave that stage of innocence, their life becomes an adventure. This adventure will take them to new and exciting places where they will learn new and exciting things. In the novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel teaches us that life is all about surviving reality. At first, the real world may seem like a jungle, but with experience comes knowledge and with knowledge comes success. These are the keys to living a healthy, balanced, life and enduring what is known to Pi as the zoo.
