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Chapter 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Pi gleefully embraces his role as an unreliable narrator by condemning the “dry, yeastless factuality” of stories seeking to portray objective facts. Instead, Pi offers two varying accounts of his time on the lifeboat. In Chapter 99, Pi isn't interested in discussing which version of his story is more factual. Instead, he's interested in which version is "better":
“So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can’t prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?”
Mr. Okamoto: “That’s an interesting question…”
Mr. Chiba: “The story with animals.”
Mr. Okamoto: “Yes. The story with animals is the better story.”
Pi Patel: “Thank you. And so it goes with God.”
Pi and the two Japanese officials deems the story with animals, which includes various other fantastical elements, to be better. Even though the two stories share key elements, the animal version provokes more wonder. As a storyteller, he wants to share a story that will do something, whether that be to entertain his reader or help him cope with the terrible things he had to endure and do.
Furthermore, Pi is reflecting on past events that were traumatic and disorienting, with the mental and physical stress of being stranded at sea likely clouding Pi’s mind. Pi even admits to his imperfect memory in Chapter 63:
What I remember are events and encounters and routines, markers that emerged here and there from the ocean of time and imprinted themselves on my memory. The smell of spent hand-flare shells, and prayers at dawn, and the killing of turtles, and the biology of algae, for example. And many more. But I don’t know if I can put them in order for you. My memories come in a jumble.
He has no proof for many of the more fantastical elements of his story, as he doesn’t have any remaining algae from the cannibalistic island and Richard Parker disappeared into the jungle. Thus, he can't verify his story even if he wanted to.
Finally, Pi acts as an unreliable narrator in how he compartmentalizes what he does and does not want to share in his story. For example, after a ship passes him by, failing to notice and rescue him, he expresses his love for Richard Parker rather than any distress. However, soon after, Pi gives an account of discarded trash with a “bitter and angry” smell, seemingly reflecting his feelings of abandonment. Pi rarely discloses these more personal feelings of grief and anger in great detail, instead painting a more exciting and sometimes even lighthearted picture of his time at sea.
Related Themes:
Chapter 99
Explanation and Analysis:
Pi gleefully embraces his role as an unreliable narrator by condemning the “dry, yeastless factuality” of stories seeking to portray objective facts. Instead, Pi offers two varying accounts of his time on the lifeboat. In Chapter 99, Pi isn't interested in discussing which version of his story is more factual. Instead, he's interested in which version is "better":
“So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can’t prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?”
Mr. Okamoto: “That’s an interesting question…”
Mr. Chiba: “The story with animals.”
Mr. Okamoto: “Yes. The story with animals is the better story.”
Pi Patel: “Thank you. And so it goes with God.”
Pi and the two Japanese officials deems the story with animals, which includes various other fantastical elements, to be better. Even though the two stories share key elements, the animal version provokes more wonder. As a storyteller, he wants to share a story that will do something, whether that be to entertain his reader or help him cope with the terrible things he had to endure and do.
Furthermore, Pi is reflecting on past events that were traumatic and disorienting, with the mental and physical stress of being stranded at sea likely clouding Pi’s mind. Pi even admits to his imperfect memory in Chapter 63:
What I remember are events and encounters and routines, markers that emerged here and there from the ocean of time and imprinted themselves on my memory. The smell of spent hand-flare shells, and prayers at dawn, and the killing of turtles, and the biology of algae, for example. And many more. But I don’t know if I can put them in order for you. My memories come in a jumble.
He has no proof for many of the more fantastical elements of his story, as he doesn’t have any remaining algae from the cannibalistic island and Richard Parker disappeared into the jungle. Thus, he can't verify his story even if he wanted to.
Finally, Pi acts as an unreliable narrator in how he compartmentalizes what he does and does not want to share in his story. For example, after a ship passes him by, failing to notice and rescue him, he expresses his love for Richard Parker rather than any distress. However, soon after, Pi gives an account of discarded trash with a “bitter and angry” smell, seemingly reflecting his feelings of abandonment. Pi rarely discloses these more personal feelings of grief and anger in great detail, instead painting a more exciting and sometimes even lighthearted picture of his time at sea.
Related Themes:
