Previous
Mood
Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Chapter 61
Explanation and Analysis—Ritual:
Ritual is emphasized throughout the book as a way in which people and animals cope with life and find comfort. A lack of control or stability often leads to stress and chaos, and daily rituals provide a guide for how one can expect their day to go or an outlet for certain feelings. For example, one of the rituals that Pi relies on the most is prayer. He includes prayer in his daily schedule on the lifeboat, but he also prays as a response to every killing he witnesses or commits. For example, in Chapter 61, after killing his first flying fish, he says:
I never forget to include this fish in my prayers.
Through prayer, Pi can regain a sense of normalcy in an otherwise frightening new reality that challenges his pacifistic nature. The motif of rituals also applies to animals, such as how Richard Parker and Pi navigate their territorial claims through urine marking. Ritual has the wider purpose of providing or maintaining a sense of comfortable normalcy, especially when put into non-normal environments. In the same way, Pi’s account needs the structure of figurative language and chapter demarcations that help keep Pi from facing the brunt of his trauma regarding the death of his family and time on the lifeboat. Pi can displace certain emotions through the structure of a story. Telling himself and others a version of the story that features animals instead of people becomes a comforting ritual for Pi: it helps him normalize his experiences and avoid the unstructured and more painful reality of what happened.
Related Themes:
