Life Of Pi And Hamlet Comparison Essay

Tragedy is an inevitable part of life. Everyone encounters it at some point in life. It is a darkness that befalls even the best of people and can present itself in many different ways. Yann Martel's Life of Pi and Shakespeare’s Hamlet both deal with the ultimate tragedy of death. Both Hamlet and Pi undergo the loss of loved ones; however, they handle these tragic events differently. Pi overcomes his losses by remaining positive and treasuring the gift of life, whereas Hamlet lets sadness consume him and makes death the centerpiece of his character. In this way, both Shakespeare and Martel make firm statements, suggesting that a positive outlook on life will afford one the greatest possibility to overcome even the most traumatic of events.

Pi grieves for the loss of his family but eventually decides that he is alive and will live on for them and for himself. It is this hope that guides Pi's journey and allows him to overcome his loss. In the first chapter of the novel, which outlines Pi's life after the events of his journey, Pi says “Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can. But life leaps over oblivion lightly,

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losing only a thing or two of no importance, and gloom is but the passing shadow of a cloud...” (Martel 1.6) Pi understands the beauty of life. He mocks

deaths jealousy of life and the fact that life always triumphs over death. He describes gloom as something that passes and gives way to light/life. Pi's gloom comes when he loses his family and fully realizes the predicament he has found himself in. Although, Pi was able to overcome this gloom by focusing on the gift of life that he still possesses. Pi was able to not only survive but also go on to live a happy life due to his positive outlook and ability to maintain hope throughout his ordeal. The opposite of Pi's positive, hopeful view on life and the situation he is faced with is the way Hamlet handled the tragedy that befell him.

Hamlet sinks into a state of depression after the events of his fathers passing. Unlike Pi, who focuses on the beauty of life, Hamlet develops a fascination with death. He repeatedly has thoughts of suicide and pushes those around him away. Hamlets feelings are brought to light in perhaps the most famous speech in the English language
"To be, or not to be? That is the question—
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And, by opposing, end them?" (III.i.62-67)
This perfectly demonstrates the negative mindset Hamlet has towards life. Instead of remaining positive and attempting to overcome the grief he has been stricken with, Hamlet contemplates whether it would be better just to kill himself rather than deal with

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the suffering he is going through. This negativity is what ultimately causes Hamlet to fall into a state of depression and push the people closest to him away.
Pi is faced with a dire situation. Being stranded on a life boat with a tiger would make many people give up and hope for a quick death or possibly try to kill the tiger. With the first choice leading to a certain death and the latter quite likely leading to death as well, it is a good thing Pi choose to overcome this conflict he was faced with through collaboration. This positive, non-violent way of approaching his situation ultimately enables Pi to survive. “I had to tame him. It was at that moment that I realized this necessity. It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me.” (Ch.57) Pi realizes it is not an option to kill Richard Parker, but neither is letting the tiger kill him. He decides that he will tame him and they will survive together. Pi treasures the gift of life that has been bestowed upon him and he can not bring himself to take it from Richard Parker. It is only through this collaboration with Richard Parker that Pi is able to survive. Pi's positive mindset and importance he places in honouring the gift of life cause him to face his conflict non-violently and in turn, overcome said conflict and survive. Pi's approach demonstrates the desirable results that occur when resolving conflict positively and non-violently. Hamlets displays the opposite results that negativity and violence yield.
Hamlet's conflict is to avenge his fathers death by murdering the man responsible, his uncle Claudius. This approach ultimately causes Hamlets and just about every other major character's death. At first Hamlet thinks positively, thinking contemplating whether he truly should kill Claudius. However after he sees the

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determination of Fortinbras to avenge his father, Hamlet fully commits to the act of murdering Claudius in vengeance.
"O, from this time forth
My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!" (IV.iv. 67-68)
Hamlet decides that he will go through with the plan of killing Claudius. If his thoughts do not involve violence then they are worthless. This way of thinking causes the bloodbath at the end of the play. Hamlet's negative and violent way to recover from the tragedy of his fathers death lead to his downfall. Although Hamlet technically overcomes his conflict by killing Claudius. He lost everything in doing so and it certainly does not appear to be a victory.
Hamlet and Pi both undergo the tragedy of losing loved ones. What separates them are the different approaches they take to cope with these losses. Pi's positive outlook on life and his ability to maintain hope allow him to overcome the tragic events he faces. Hamlet's negative outlook and his focus on using death to conquer his conflict ultimately cause his downfall. These character demonstrate Shakespeare and Martel's message that by treasuring the gift of life and remaining positive through tough times, one may find the light in the darkness and overcome any tragedy. Pi recovers from the loss of his family by staying positive in the face of tragedy. He maintains hope throughout his journey. Always trying to survive and believing he will. He also overcomes his conflict non-violently and is able to keep Richard Parker alive as well. Pi's actions after he was struck by tragedy allow him to survive and eventually go on to live a happy life. Hamlet becomes depressed after the tragic event that befalls him. He results to
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death as his way to cope with his loss.

At first, he believes that his death will end his suffering as he contemplates suicide multiple times. After deciding against this, Hamlet takes another course of action, revolving around the death of his uncle Claudius. It is due to Hamlets negative view on his situation and the way he deals with his loss that he loses everything he holds dear to him. His friends, his sanity, his lover and most notably, his life. There is not a person on earth that tragedy will not eventually strike. It is the ones who remain positive in the face of tragedy that are able to overcome it and be

happy.