Life of Pi - Chapters 62 - 65

          

            Pi develops a daily routine on the raft that consists of praying. Pi needs this to be a part of his life while stranded at sea. First because the constant practice of religion and praying was always a part of Pi’s life even before the sinking of the ship and should therefore still remain that way – now more than ever. This is what will give him security. He has something that can still be a part of his life even if stranded on a raft will little to nothing. Second, since praying is a wish or hope for a particular outcome or situation; it gives Pi a grip on hope/faith. He won’t lose faith or hope in his will to live if he continues to pray.  Praying is what stimulates Pi’s mind. 

            The question of whether Pi has become part of nature or is an observer of nature can easily be answered. It’s not that he has become part of nature or an observer of it, Pi has changed his own nature to adapt to this new environment. Yes Pi now contains many different kinds of behaviours he never had before, but only for the reason that he needs to survive. He starts to kill fish with his bare hands, break the necks of flying fish, and even drink the blood from turtles. These are the tasks that are needed for him to survive. If Pi’s character (nature) had not changed, he would not be alive to tell his story.  For example Pi’s original nature would not be to urinate on his territory because humans just don’t do that. But at his state now, being with wild life on a raft all alone, he must change his nature to adapt to the behaviour of his wild companion to keep him relatively safe.  Pi is flexible, versatile, and resourceful. Even without his objects, he holds onto his religious traditions, adapting them and integrating them into his daily routine. Though he is a strict vegetarian, he soon finds himself drinking turtle blood, skinning birds, and eating eyes and brains. It is easy for him to slip into a routine—he becomes a creature of a new habit. Pi really, just becomes a new person. This doesn't just go for Pi but anyone in the world - a person can never become part of nature, more so change their own nature in ways that allows them to adapt to any situation they may be in. Overall the answer to this is no. Pi has not become a part of nature nor is he an observer of it; he has just adapted his own nature to his foreign surroundings.