Life of Pi Blog 1

For my book of choice, I decided to read Life of Pi. It may seem like it is just the story about a young man who gets stuck on a life boat for several months with the only company of a wild tiger, but there is so much depth and symbolism in this story that can be discussed. In the beginning of the story we learn that the narrator is also the main character, Piscine Molitor Patel, or Pi for short. Pi tells the reader about how his family lived and India and his father owned a zoo. Pi continues to tell about who he is and what his life is like.  He even goes into extreme detail about the origin of his name and how he came to be known as Pi. He was tormented as a child because his first name got mistaken for "pissing" and he describes how happy he was to find an escape through the use of a nickname: "And so, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge." Pi also informs the reader that he is not a member of one religion but in fact three! He openly practices Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. He doesn't think that it is a problem to have three faiths at the same time: "Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God." I have to say I agree with him, to an extent. I believe that people have religions because they want to worship God and love God and Pi is learning how people from other religions praise Him. I think it's a good idea to get to learn about other methods of worship, but it's also a little risky to be involved in three completely different faiths, especially ones that don't necessarily get along. Pi tells us that eventually his family had to sell the zoo because of issues with the government and how they were planning on moving to Canada. This is where the trouble begins. The family loads up a huge ship full of the remaining animals and they set sail for North America. The ship, unfortunately, sinks, and Pi is left all alone on a small lifeboat with an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a tiger.
I really like this book so far. I like the way that it is narrated by the main character and I also like the fact that it is a drama and a comedy at the same time. The author, Yann Martel, touches on many hot issues like religion and the difference between what's real and what's not. This story is so unbelievable that it's actually believable. I enjoy that there's never a dull moment and you never know what is going to happen next. The author uses so much detail and describes how Pi is feeling every step of the way and the reader is able to connect with Pi on a deeper level.

Frankenstein Blog 4

In the final section of the book the monster begins to feel the pain of his isolation. The monster desperately wants a family to call his own and to be included in something for once in his existence: "As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil; benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed." The monster decides to approach the family after reading some notes written by Victor describing the creation of the monster. He speaks to the blind old man and tells him that he his lonely and doesn't know what to do. The old man tells him this: "Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate; but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self interest, are full of brotherly love and charity. Rely, therefore, on your hopes; and if these friends are good and amiable, do not despair." The fact that Shelley used a blind old man in this part shows that if more people would be blind to the physical appearance of others we would be more compassionate and trusting. The other members of the family return to the house and are frightened by the appearance of the monster. The old man's son gets violent toward the monster and the monster escapes. The monster is saddened and angered by the fact that Victor made him so hideous and feels that no one will ever want him. The monster knows that he could have killed the whole family easily if he wanted to, but the fact that he didn't shows that he is not out to harm people and he just wants to be loved and accepted despite his scary appearance. He realizes that humans are to blame, especially his creator: "From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery." The monster finally confronts his creator and demands that he make him a female companion to spend his existence with. He promises that he and his companion will never bother humans and he will be forever grateful. Victor knows the consequences might be bad, but he is willing to take the risk to make his creation happy. As time goes on, however, Victor continues to put off his promise and the monster becomes angry. Long story short the monster ends up getting revenge on Victor by killing Elizabeth and Victor promises to devote the rest of his life to finding and destroying his creation.
I think this has got to be the tragedy of all tragedies. First Victor's mother dies and his little brother too. Then in the end his beloved almost wife Elizabeth dies which leads to the death of his father and then he dedicates his life to killing the monster but he dies before he finds it. Victor would have been better off if he had just ignored his creepy desire to create a monster and live his life like a regular young man. Shelley's message was very good, however, and it was very clear that too much power can lead to disaster.