Bildungsroman

Pi has already had a coming of age before this novel begins, but he does still have realizations and puts the reader a journey that develops them. If the character doesn’t change, but causes the read to instead, is that a bildungsroman?
Pi is such a unique person. He has such different beliefs than everyone else, and so this allows him to survive on lifeboat. During this time, Pi realizes that only through the co-existence will Richard Parker and him live. I think this is a bildungsroman, because there is growth in Pi; however, it isn’t as obvious as other novels we have read in class. The end of the story sums up the book. When Pi is telling his story to the Japanese officials, he asks them which story they prefer and they say the one with the animals. This shows the progression of the novel. First it is about the practice of religions, and that develops into faith and a realization that what make sense, may not be a better story.

Agnosticism vs. Atheism

For Pi, atheists are not as bad as agnostics because there is still hope for salvation at the time of death. In Christianity, this is something inherent in it’s doctrine. Even at the time of death if you call on God, He will fight for your soul. Like Laura, I didn’t truly understand what agnosticism was, so I looked it up. There are different types of agnosticism, and one of these is ‘agnostic theists’. This looks at human’s inability to completely know God, but still believe in His existence. The argument states He is our creator and we, his creation; it is impossible for us to truly comprehend Him. Where true agnostics say that there is no proof of God because he cannot be tested or experienced, agnostic theists counter that God is above us and not something to dominate in a laboratory.

Life of Pi

Pi is an interesting character. He is refreshing and walks his own path, especially when it comes to religion. Society and religion tell us that we must choose our beliefs, but Pi goes against this by adopting Buddhism, Islam and Christianity: three major religions of the world, all representing a different area and view of life. Regardless of these facts, he follows them all. In the first lines of the novel, Pi tells us that it is the practice of religion that brought him back to life. Note he says the ‘practice of religion’, not faith or God, but practices. This statement makes it more apparent for why he would follow multiple religions, because it isn’t necessarily the faith and beliefs behind religion, but the mere acts within the different religions.