On The Attainment Of Religiousness In Life Of Pi

Canadian writer Yann Martel’s modern classic Life of Pi tells a thought-provoking and exhilarating story of survival. The attention to the issue of religion and the exploration of faith are the major themes of the novel. This thesis makes a tentative research on the attainment of religiousness of Pi in light of the famous American philosopher John Dewcy’s "experience"-based vision of religion and points out the significance of establishing a positive faith in making progress by degrees and achieving aspirations in the end.The thesis consists of three chapters apart from the Introduction and the Conclusion.The Introduction starts with a brief introduction to the novel Life of Pi, followed by a literature review of the studies on the novel at home and abroad and a discussion on the research basis and objective of this thesis, pointing out the necessity of analyzing Pi’s growing and drifting experience so as to understand his final attainment of religiousness.Chapter One discusses the experience that Pi has had of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam as he grows up. Mankind’s conversion to different religions is the result of the pursuit of security that is rooted in their instinct. The unorthodox experience of his practicing the three religions at the same time provides Pi with a chance to see the affinity shared by these religions, which lies in guiding their believers to establish harmonious and loving relationship with the external world. During this process, Pi gradually realizes that the attainment of religiousness originates from one’s interaction with the external world. The realization lays a foundation for Pi’s final attainment and growing understanding of religiousness.Chapter Two discusses the process of Pi’s moving towards consummation of experience after the shipwreck. Pi gives full play to his initiative and activeness to improve the unfavorable circumstances at sea. Through training and taming, Pi converts the tiger Richard Parker from a menace to life into a reliable drifting companion. The boy and the tiger coexist harmoniously. Pi sees clearly the danger that remains latent beneath the tranquility of the carnivorous island and resists the corrosion of leisure and ease. Pi surmounts numerous difficulties in search of the hope of life and survives miraculously in the end.Chapter Three mainly discusses the influence of the religiousness Pi attains in his experience. Pi becomes clearly aware of the inmost animal instinct in humanity in the process of fostering a harmonious relationship with the tiger. Pi manages to strike the balance between the two conflicting powers in humanity, i.e., animality and morality with self-control and consolidates the predominating position of morality. Besides, by rationalizing human being’s responses to danger and desperation, Pi has learned to treat and digest the untold agonies experienced during his ordeal with self-adjustment, in which way the faith in transcending adversity and embracing brightness is fortified.In the Conclusion it is pointed out that the life of Pi illustrates in microcosm the predicament of the survival of humanity. On the way to achieving aspirations while fabricating hope continuously, generations of human beings can and should give full play to their activeness and initiative in interacting with the circumstances while pushing experience towards consummation and finally establish a positive faith.