Sunday, October 02, 2005
Section 2: Ch 1-7
Already I'm enjoying Life of Pi, and I've barely begun. First of all, this is the first book in a while that I've wondered about more than 1 or 2 words, and that was really good to see. Most of the names of animals in the zoo I've never heard of; I might have guessed the author was making them up if I didn't know he had been to India and had done his research.
There are animals such as
One-wattled Cassowaries: Large flightless birds from the Australia area, with a large bony projection on their heads
Nanday Conures: A popular species of conure, related to parakeets. They have black heads, and their feathers are tipped with blue
There are also many other words I had to look up, including
maharaja: a king or prince of India, above a rajah; sometimes used as title for this person
discordant: Not being in accord; conflicting
peepul: Indian fig tree. Has broad leaves with long projections. They are considered sacred to Buddhists. Also called Bo tree.
gulmohur: A flowering tree or shrub with flame-orange flowers. Tropical
jacaranda: A heavy, dark-colored, hard wood tree, with streaks of black. It has purple flowers.
ashram: A usually secluded residence of a religious community and its guru
counter-obstetric (a little difficulty figuring this one out): having to do with being unhelpful and/or harmful to a woman before, during, or following pregnancy (Not sure what this has to do with an old man and gravity)
lecherous: Feeling or devoted to sexual love or desire; lustful, lewd
Not only does the wording in this book amaze me, but the themes I believe I'm seeing. I'll have to watch and wait to see if they are supported, but I came across several of these in the first 4 chapters.
1) (pg 14, half way down)
"The more you look, the more you see."
I'm taking this to mean just what it says: The longer and more deeply you consider and contemplate something, the more you can glean from it. It seems both logical and insightful, and I will continue watching for more clues to support or expand this thought.
2) (pg 16, half way down)
"But language founders in such seas. Better to picture it in your head if you want to feel it."
I read this, and felt something like Martel's eyes sneaking a peek in my direction to see if I took the hint.
I recall reading in the author's note something about readers not using their own imagination to picture things, but rather relying on author's to fill every little detail and color in for them, and that authors are not giving the readers the opportunity to do so. Well, it seems that Yann Martel is taking his own advice, and is challenging the reader to use their imagination. He's saying, "Here's the outline, and the numbers, and a big box of crayons, now you use them."
The other part of the quote is, "Language founders in such seas." Even in my own personal experiences (as short as they may be), I understand the truth of that statement. There are times when no words can express the magnitude nor beauty of what my senses are taking in. And, no picture can grasp the wholeness of it all, either.
I remember a moment when I was in Cuba on a Missions trip, looking over a valley. That's it, just a valley full of trees. Not even a river was there to make it interesting. But, it was interesting, and amazing, and beautiful, all at the same time. I took a picture with my digital camera (actually, several, if I remember correctly), and when I got home again 2 weeks later, I attempted to explain what I had seen that day, but I couldn't convey what I had really felt as I looked down from that mountain place.
I have made and am making an attempt to use language more efficiently. English too often fails me when I need it most: Too many words, too little meaning. So, I moved on to French. But, even that's not perfect, so I'm going to work on my Spanish, and that's not all. I still intend to learn at least parts of Greek, Latin, German, and possibly several Native American languages. I want to do all that for one purpose (maybe two). I'm searching for the best words to express all the thoughts and feelings of the human mind, especially my own.
I'm beginning to think that Martel has MANY things to teach his readers by retelling the story of Picine (Pi) Molitor Patel. The author has just attempted to teach the reader a lesson about 'freedom' from the perspective of those involved: the animals. He says that life in the zoo, followed by a 'setting free' isn't such a great thing after all. He offers a comparison: Consider sitting at home, only to be rudely barged in upon and driven from your house by a stranger, yelling, "Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!" Nobody would enjoy, nor put up with this ludicrous act, and would likely become very angry, and so it is with animals. Life in a zoo is likely better than life in the wild. Separated from predators, vaccinated against disease, sheltered, fed regularly, they are freer to live that way, than in the wild, where there are no such leniencies of life.
Martel ends his 'essay' on zoos with this: "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (pg 21).
This is the first mention of religion, other than the Author's Note, and it is, to put it simply, short.
He doesn't start his story with theological debate, or religious jibber. He keeps it simple, not too invasive.
So far, my theory is being proved correct. It seems that Martel will enrapture his readers and give them little theme-like tidbits, enough to invade their mind, but not so much that he offends them and makes them throw up shields against invasion (putting the book down and never reading it again, for example). I might think of it like this: His tidbits he throws are like seeing a flash out of the corner of your eye. Distracting, but not angering.
He is also now mentioning Bible characters without introducing them. Personally, I find it a good tactic. The reader asks, "Who are these people?" Now they're willing to learn who they are and what they did.
Chapter 6: The second time a chapter has consisted of only an italicized description. The first was Chapter 2, which quickly showed us a small man. This second reveals 'him' as a cook, and described the look and smell, and feel of the man's food store. I don't yet know what they mean, but I will, soon, I believe.
Pi speaks near the end of the section of his dealings with his teacher, Satish Kumar, an atheist, and a kind man. Pi gives quite a long explanation about this man and their relationship. He describes the teacher as oddly shaped, "like two triangles, a small one, and then a larger one, balanced on two parallel lines" (pg 28, near the top). He also says he is very scientific and driven solely by reason. he gave up his belief in God because of childhood polio. He now calls religion 'Darkness'. Pi doesn't mind that Mr. Kumar is an atheist, although he does wonder how it's possible, and thinks of his rather like a "brother...of a different faith" (pg 31, half way down). But, Pi can't stand agnostics. He doesn't see how doubt can be one's life.
Another theme I seem to have notices it that a simple change in life can improve your life significantly. Piscine Patel is dubbed 'Pissing Patel', and made fun of endlessly by his classmates. Even his teachers seem to lazy to say his name properly.
Slightly more mature, and much brighter, 'Pissing Patel' took a new approach in secondary school, starting the year by introducing himself as Pi, like 3.14. The name change did more than stop the teasing. It made him popular, and if that weren't enough, some of his peers began giving themselves nicknames. Such names as Omega, Upsilon, Gamma, Lambda, and Delta began popping up around the school.
What's Martel trying to point at? Maybe that we too should make adjustments in our own lives. And, beginning to believe in God would certainly be an adjustment, wouldn't it be?
There are animals such as
One-wattled Cassowaries: Large flightless birds from the Australia area, with a large bony projection on their heads
Nanday Conures: A popular species of conure, related to parakeets. They have black heads, and their feathers are tipped with blue
There are also many other words I had to look up, including
maharaja: a king or prince of India, above a rajah; sometimes used as title for this person
discordant: Not being in accord; conflicting
peepul: Indian fig tree. Has broad leaves with long projections. They are considered sacred to Buddhists. Also called Bo tree.
gulmohur: A flowering tree or shrub with flame-orange flowers. Tropical
jacaranda: A heavy, dark-colored, hard wood tree, with streaks of black. It has purple flowers.
ashram: A usually secluded residence of a religious community and its guru
counter-obstetric (a little difficulty figuring this one out): having to do with being unhelpful and/or harmful to a woman before, during, or following pregnancy (Not sure what this has to do with an old man and gravity)
lecherous: Feeling or devoted to sexual love or desire; lustful, lewd
Not only does the wording in this book amaze me, but the themes I believe I'm seeing. I'll have to watch and wait to see if they are supported, but I came across several of these in the first 4 chapters.
1) (pg 14, half way down)
"The more you look, the more you see."
I'm taking this to mean just what it says: The longer and more deeply you consider and contemplate something, the more you can glean from it. It seems both logical and insightful, and I will continue watching for more clues to support or expand this thought.
2) (pg 16, half way down)
"But language founders in such seas. Better to picture it in your head if you want to feel it."
I read this, and felt something like Martel's eyes sneaking a peek in my direction to see if I took the hint.
I recall reading in the author's note something about readers not using their own imagination to picture things, but rather relying on author's to fill every little detail and color in for them, and that authors are not giving the readers the opportunity to do so. Well, it seems that Yann Martel is taking his own advice, and is challenging the reader to use their imagination. He's saying, "Here's the outline, and the numbers, and a big box of crayons, now you use them."
The other part of the quote is, "Language founders in such seas." Even in my own personal experiences (as short as they may be), I understand the truth of that statement. There are times when no words can express the magnitude nor beauty of what my senses are taking in. And, no picture can grasp the wholeness of it all, either.
I remember a moment when I was in Cuba on a Missions trip, looking over a valley. That's it, just a valley full of trees. Not even a river was there to make it interesting. But, it was interesting, and amazing, and beautiful, all at the same time. I took a picture with my digital camera (actually, several, if I remember correctly), and when I got home again 2 weeks later, I attempted to explain what I had seen that day, but I couldn't convey what I had really felt as I looked down from that mountain place.
I have made and am making an attempt to use language more efficiently. English too often fails me when I need it most: Too many words, too little meaning. So, I moved on to French. But, even that's not perfect, so I'm going to work on my Spanish, and that's not all. I still intend to learn at least parts of Greek, Latin, German, and possibly several Native American languages. I want to do all that for one purpose (maybe two). I'm searching for the best words to express all the thoughts and feelings of the human mind, especially my own.
I'm beginning to think that Martel has MANY things to teach his readers by retelling the story of Picine (Pi) Molitor Patel. The author has just attempted to teach the reader a lesson about 'freedom' from the perspective of those involved: the animals. He says that life in the zoo, followed by a 'setting free' isn't such a great thing after all. He offers a comparison: Consider sitting at home, only to be rudely barged in upon and driven from your house by a stranger, yelling, "Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!" Nobody would enjoy, nor put up with this ludicrous act, and would likely become very angry, and so it is with animals. Life in a zoo is likely better than life in the wild. Separated from predators, vaccinated against disease, sheltered, fed regularly, they are freer to live that way, than in the wild, where there are no such leniencies of life.
Martel ends his 'essay' on zoos with this: "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both" (pg 21).
This is the first mention of religion, other than the Author's Note, and it is, to put it simply, short.
He doesn't start his story with theological debate, or religious jibber. He keeps it simple, not too invasive.
So far, my theory is being proved correct. It seems that Martel will enrapture his readers and give them little theme-like tidbits, enough to invade their mind, but not so much that he offends them and makes them throw up shields against invasion (putting the book down and never reading it again, for example). I might think of it like this: His tidbits he throws are like seeing a flash out of the corner of your eye. Distracting, but not angering.
He is also now mentioning Bible characters without introducing them. Personally, I find it a good tactic. The reader asks, "Who are these people?" Now they're willing to learn who they are and what they did.
Chapter 6: The second time a chapter has consisted of only an italicized description. The first was Chapter 2, which quickly showed us a small man. This second reveals 'him' as a cook, and described the look and smell, and feel of the man's food store. I don't yet know what they mean, but I will, soon, I believe.
Pi speaks near the end of the section of his dealings with his teacher, Satish Kumar, an atheist, and a kind man. Pi gives quite a long explanation about this man and their relationship. He describes the teacher as oddly shaped, "like two triangles, a small one, and then a larger one, balanced on two parallel lines" (pg 28, near the top). He also says he is very scientific and driven solely by reason. he gave up his belief in God because of childhood polio. He now calls religion 'Darkness'. Pi doesn't mind that Mr. Kumar is an atheist, although he does wonder how it's possible, and thinks of his rather like a "brother...of a different faith" (pg 31, half way down). But, Pi can't stand agnostics. He doesn't see how doubt can be one's life.
Another theme I seem to have notices it that a simple change in life can improve your life significantly. Piscine Patel is dubbed 'Pissing Patel', and made fun of endlessly by his classmates. Even his teachers seem to lazy to say his name properly.
Slightly more mature, and much brighter, 'Pissing Patel' took a new approach in secondary school, starting the year by introducing himself as Pi, like 3.14. The name change did more than stop the teasing. It made him popular, and if that weren't enough, some of his peers began giving themselves nicknames. Such names as Omega, Upsilon, Gamma, Lambda, and Delta began popping up around the school.
What's Martel trying to point at? Maybe that we too should make adjustments in our own lives. And, beginning to believe in God would certainly be an adjustment, wouldn't it be?
Comments:
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Hi Mysta,
I also try to find the meaning of counter-obstetric in english, since i use this novel for my thesis in translation.
Have you kno the definition of it?
Thanks b4,
Yani
yani@widianto.com
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I also try to find the meaning of counter-obstetric in english, since i use this novel for my thesis in translation.
Have you kno the definition of it?
Thanks b4,
Yani
yani@widianto.com
# posted by 
: 11:12 PM
: 11:12 PM << Home
