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Obstacles In Life Of Pi

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Life of Pi is an allegorical novel written by Yann Martel. It tells the story of young Piscine Molitor Patel and his treacherous journey across the Pacific with Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger. Pi begins his adventure in Pondicherry, India. He and his family board a ship called the Tsimtsum. The ship, however, sinks before reaching land and leaves Piscine stranded in the ocean with Richard Parker, a zebra, a hyena, and an orangutan in a small lifeboat. After conflict among the animals, Richard Parker is the only one left to accompany Piscine across the Pacific. They encounter many obstacles along the way. The two survive storms, starvation, thirst, and even man-eating islands. Piscine and Richard Parker finally land in Tomatlán, Mexico after 227 days aboard the lifeboat. …show more content…

He published his first work, The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios and Other Stories, in 1993. His first novel, Self, was published in 1996. Neither sold very well. After the disappointment of his early works, Martel travelled in India to find something new to write about. After some struggle, the idea for Lie of Pi came to Martel. His second novel was published in 2001. Life of Pi won him a Man Booker Prize and became an international best-selling title.
In the novel, the protagonist, Piscine, is characterized as an excitable child, dependent on his family for guidance and protection. The sinking of the Tsimtsum acts as a catalyst for his emotional growth. Piscine is left alone on a lifeboat with wild animals, and is forced to mature. Using a survival guide and emergency provisions he fins in the boat, he strives to reach safety. He learns to fish and even protects and provides for the tiger, Richard Parker. Though the shipwreck is devastating, it does mold Piscine into a capable

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