Blog #3

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

This week I will be referring to pages 50-62. Last blog, I wrote of Pi’s constant comparing of people and animals. He did not directly compare animals and people in the passage I just read, but I found myself comparing them. Pi told of the habits of animals, which I think are similar to humans. One thing animals do is try to escape from the zoo. Pi says, “Whatever the reason for wanting to escape, sane or insane, zoo detractors should realize that animals don’t escape to somewhere but from something” (51). Pi goes on to say that animals flee from a threat and the unknown. I think this rule also applies to people and their lives. This is shown in many movies. For example, in “Runaway Bride”, Julia Roberts escapes from a situation she feels uncomfortable with: getting married. She flees because the unknown of marriage threatens her. I also avoid situations that threaten me. I steer clear of making speeches because I feel the threat of potential embarrassment. This is the same thing Pi says zoo animals do. Another thing Pi speaks of is the animals’ relationships with the trainer. The trainer has power and animals respond to this. Pi explains, “Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers” (56). The weak animals realize being close to someone with power benefits them. I think people act in the same way. People always try to raise their social statuses and power by clinging on to the more successful. People benefit from being around the successful and learning from them, as do animals.