Pi's Two-Fold Journey

It would seem that Pi’s survival is a two-fold journey. One part is in maintaining his faith in God or in a higher spiritual existence; and the second part is in discovering his confidence or belief in himself. It is truly admirable that the young boy, Pi, is ultimately able to thrive in his spiritual faith when most people would struggle deeply with bitterness over such a tragic experience. But another amazing aspect of this account is how Pi was able to quickly transform himself during his misfortune at sea from a victim to the ultimate victor, walking away with his life and his mental soundness. Perhaps Pi transforms his spiritual faith into a physical and mental strength that unfolds into a faith in his own self, or his own will to survive. When Pi begins his ordeal he

When he catches a fish and needs to kill it he states, “Several times I started bringing the hatchet down, but I couldn’t complete the action.” But Pi matures from someone who is in a panic to someone who uses rational thinking and common sense to survive the elements and the dangers of being lost at sea. So, Pi evolves into a boy that has to take on the responsibilities of a man to survive by doing whatever it takes, even if it involves violence against an enemy. Pi found that physical strength in himself. Pi also utilizes whatever it takes to mentally overcome the savage acts he has witnessed. If he has to live in a fantasy world where he conjures up images of wild animals in order to avoid his bleak reality, then that is what he does. It takes Pi a while but step by step he leans on himself (and his faith as well) to construct the answers, the practical solutions, the strategies, the wit to outthink others, and the mental stability to persevere through the horror. The pain is unfathomable but he finds it in himself to do it, to make it through to the other side. In a way, his survival did completely depend on his faith in himself because in reality, all he had was what was