The thing that I took away after reading the book is that given the choice, most people will choose a comforting story over an unpleasant truth.

That look though when he said "orangutan named O.J." LOL

Richard Parker is actually the name of a shipwreck victim in an Edgar Allen Poe story (The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket) who was eaten by his fellow sailors in a raft, this event later happened in real life on a ship called the Migonette. Really, calling the tiger Richard Parker is a subtle primer for the reader to expect some shipwreck cannibalism to pop up in the story.

I guess Pi is telling us to go with whatever floats our boat... (Pun intended)

Reminds me of "War does not determine who is right, only who is left." -Plato

Someone made this theory to me and I find it quite fascination, here me quoting it. (Its a bit lenghty) Neither “version” of the story is true. Pi was not on the boat with the French cook and he was not on the boat with Richard Parker the Bengal Tiger. In his desperation, and due to the extreme mental stress he is under, Pi personifies the three major conflicts that are waging in his head into three animals. In this, his most desperate hour, when he needs answers as he faces sure death, the three religions he embraced as a child struggle with each other in his mind. The Orangutan represents Hinduism. The Grant’s Zebra represents Christianity. And the Spotted Hyena represents Islam. At first the hyena (Islam) attacks the weakest of the three faiths in his mind: Christianity. Unlike Islam and Hinduism, Christianity is the only religion that Pi didn’t grow up with around him as a child, and his conversations with the priest show that it remains the religion he has the most difficultly understanding. He cannot embrace the divinity of Jesus Christ, but is greatly attracted to the Christian concept of love and of sacrifice. In this extreme environment however, this concept of love and sacrifice are seen as weakness in his mind. As a result the “weakest” of the three animals, the injured zebra, is killed by the hyena. The Orangutan, which is suggested at the end of the movie may be a representation of his mother, is in fact the representation of the religion of his family: Hinduism. It is the religion that he is most comfortable with (incidentally the religion of his mother) and he begins to grow closer to this religion. He is much more open with Hinduism in the boat and seems to find comfort in its company. But the monotheistic elements of Islam are incompatible with the tenants of Hinduism, and it drive Pi to a breaking point as he tries to maintain this complex dual-theology in his head. Suddenly the dogma that he rejected in the mosque, and in the church, and at the dinner table, overwhelm his thoughts as he is facing his own mortality. At this moment the hyena of Islam, and its strict dogma that “there is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet” becomes completely incompatible with the polytheistic Hinduism. The Orangutan could coexist with the spotted Hyena on the boat (which symbolizes Pi’s subconscious) if need be. But the Spotted Hyena cannot co-exist with the Orangutan. It attacks and kills the Orangutan and it is at this time that Pi is faced with the most powerful force in his subconscious struggle for understanding: the hidden, lurking monster that had always been in the shadows of his subconscious but only seen in flashes in the past. He is faced with the Bengal Tiger. He is faced with atheism. The Tiger cares not for dogma, it only cares for survival. It kills the Hyena, showing Pi that his refusal all these years to commit to a religion was not proof of enlightenment, it was actually proof of agnosticism. It shows him that, deep in his mind, he never really believed in any of the other animals. They were always at the mercy of the angry tiger hiding under the tarp on the other side of the boat. The Tiger teaches Pi that there is no use in dogma. There is only survival. The presence of the Tiger(which Pi initially fears and wishes to hide from) eventually trains Pi into becoming self sufficient. Although Pi feels he is taking care of the Tiger, it is really Pi feeding his own mind with the basic tools of survival. He doesn’t let the Tiger drown because of his realization that they both believe in the same thing, the only thing he has ever believed in: life. When Pi reaches the shore of Mexico he then learns the hardest lesson that the Tiger can teach as the Tigerwalks back into the deep jungle of his subconscious. That atheism has no place for love. That the reason that Pi rejected him all these years was because Pi knew that in the end, unlike with the other three animals, when the final day came, the Tiger would offer no comfort. It would answer no questions or promise a happy ending. It only promised life…and then it promised death. He screams and cries not because the Tiger abandoned him, but because he realizes that at the end (death) he will be alone and the Tiger will give him nothing when that day comes. It will just walk away without looking back. "

It'd be ironic if Pi's suffering was actually divine punishment for his divided beliefs rather than a test of faith.

"Life of Pi" is definitely one of my favorite stories ever. Even though the movie adaptation is great too, you gave it some better insight into the story. I understand that lots of people look into this story with either a religious perspective or through a "survival of the fittest" perspective. I do like a lot of these theories. But to me, I had a different approach to the story. The moral of this story is even though we're never gonna know what really happened to Pi out on the ocean, maybe Pi's story is meant to be a metaphorical lesson on how we handle life when it comes at you with difficult challenges. And sometimes life is meant to have its mysterious ways and we aren't always gonna find out the answers to life. The best way to handle life is to just keep living life no matter how hard it can be. You did a great job. Keep up the good work, Dr. Sparky!

"suffering is relative and so is truth"

I laughed so hard at the look on his face when he said "an orangutan named OJ" This series is brilliant...

The two stories that Pi tells the investigators at the end could be alluding to different religions. Both the stories are the same, with changes in certain places. Pi says “You can’t prove which story is true and which is not. You must take my word for it.” In religion a person is following something that they cannot prove. You cannot simply prove what is going to happen after death. In most religions there is one connecting point and that point is having some sort of god, “in both stories the ship sinks, my entire family dies, and I suffer.” “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?” In the end religion is subjective. You can’t prove which religion is right or real. Religion makes no difference in the aspect of living. Religion is down to what the viewer prefers, as Pi says “which story do you prefer?”

i’m tryna revise n learn this for my exam but i keep laughing🤣🤣

OH MY GOD THE LOOK HE GIVES US AFTER HE SAYS "THE ORANGUTAN NAMED OJ"

Why tf this make it so funny irl it was so heartbreaking lol

What helps you cope and gives you hope. Mad truth, my brother.

You should do The Phantom of the Opera.

Dude KEEP THIS UP!!!! WE need people like you in this world...regards, South Africa

It seems that the tiger represents the side of Pi that he needed in order to survive. It frightens him and seems deadly at first, but then he finds ways of living with it. So essentially he releases his inner beast when his life is in danger and needs to be defended, fears the beast-like qualities that saved him, and then accepts that it is a part of what makes him complete. When the tiger leaves him it is Pi letting go of his need for that survival instinct. The story is really fascinating because it leaves a lot up to personal interpretation, allowing the audience to take away from it what they will.

I can't be the first one to think of this theory, but let's take a step back and look at the part where his family's ship drowns. The ship was an analogy for Noah's Ark: it's a bigass ship that was supposed to carry all of the zoo animals to safety. It sails off to sea, but whereas Noah's Ark survived a storm, this ship was instead sunk. This represents the sinking of Christian faith within Pi. The fact that Pi is the only survivor also means that his ties to any religious roots have also been severed.

I think the story with the animals represents faith while the story with the humans represents atheism. The one with the tiger is amazing and interesting, hard to believe. The second one is realistic and cold. I think the point is...both stories are just as real as they are false. Pi never reveals which story is true showing that there is a place for both faith and rationalism. In the end the result is one and the same...the ship sinks and Pi survives. Science is essential but spirituality gives life more beauty and meaning...The two dont need to be mutualy exclusive..spirituality also doesnt have to equal a certian religion .

WHEN YOU HAVE A TEST ON THE BOOK ON MONDAY AND YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK

That's some deep stuff, man. I love this channel for that! I always want to go in depth about simple things, and these videos do the same! I agree, and also with all the other theories people can come up with in the comments!

I loved the book, read it years before the movie. This was a fantastic episode, I loved hearing your analysis; fascinating.

"So not chill, spotted hyena"

I would love if you guys did "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.

2019? YOU MADE A SUMMARY VERY ENTERTAINING

just wanted to say that i absolutely love this channel. the summary and analysis are fantastic. i find all your videos helpful and also very entertaining. hope one day you could do a video on Ulysses by James Joyce.

as always, great stuff. I have no idea why this channel isn't more popular.. one of the best things on youtube (all three parts combined)

Hard Time by Charles Dickens, Everyman the play, Dead Man Walkng by Tim Robbins, Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis, I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos, Quicksand by Nella Larsen, Passing by Nella Larsen, Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, Measure for Measure, Henry V, Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2, and Richard III by William Shakespeare, The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Omg this was so helpful! I have to write an essay comparing Life of Pi with another book and this gave me a really good idea of symbols and meaning in the book. Thank you! (also it wasn't explained in a boring way at all, which is unusual for English class).

That summary of the book was so perfect and spot-on. Fantastic job on your analysis as well. I greatly enjoyed it. You've easily earned my Subscription.

The story is so much more spiritual and relevant to our time than I thought. I've only seen the film, and I think it may have dispelled some of the mystery and myth that gives the story power. It's still a great film, but I think it's worth checking the book out to get to the heart of the concepts it suggests. Thanks for the analysis as always Sparky!

wow this is a very deep analysis of the book. I'm impressed.

Matric 2022 where u at ? 🙈🤣🤝

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite on KZfaq

O.J. Chimpson lmao

A lot of people in the comments are saying this book has a terrible message and I can understand why. they feel like it's suggesting being comfortable with not asking questions and not wanting to learn more then what you currently know is totally ok. In an age of rising atheism where the standards of the passed are more challenged then ever and most people have adopted the philosophy of "always ask questions, never fully trust anything" I can understand why this book doesn't sit well. But here's the thing about this books message that, like very few things we're aware of, is an irrefutable truth: When not given complete information between two choices, you are going to choose based on personal preference. Because it's the only thing you have to go off of. The guys at the end choose the animal story over the other story not because it seems more plausible, but because they feel it's a story that ties more within their personal taste. Religion is a very similar phenomenon. As it stands, we can't prove or disprove the existence of a God, and we can't be absolutely sure of what is true at our current time. In response to this, we all have a choice to make that could equally be wrong. Some people choose to believe in God because they think to themselves "Hey, it's a possibility for greater meaning in the universe that doesn't hurt me if it's not true so why not take a chance?" while other people choose Atheism because they see the existence of God as unlikely and that the only things that are worth partaking in are things with tangible proof, and even then you can't completely trust it. You can try to justify your decision through any speech of skepticism or lust for discovery that you want and you can go on and on about how much smarter you are then other people because of it, but at the end of the day you chose based on preference between two vague concepts, just like everyone else. That's not to suggest you should choose without ANY DOUBT in your mind or any lust for questioning. You SHOULD try to learn more of how things are. But to begin learning about anything, you're going to go in with a preordained mindset and your going to go in based on what you HOPE is the actual case. It's only natural that in times of uncertainty you choose what comforts and motivates you. It's a simple psychological defense mechanism that shouldn't be shamed or boycotted. It's only natural that you have faith in one concept or another and where it's going to take you.

Wow! This was really amazing! Definitely getting this book!

This is one of my favorite episodes. Good work.

awesome! always enjoy watching your vids, watched the movie, and I have so much more knowledge about the story now, thanks! peace out ✌️

You are like Bob Ross for literature

I would really love to see "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski. Love all your videos friends.

Life of pi has some of the best stories I’ve seen in a movie and One of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

this is by far, the best book analysis i ever watched on youtube

Loved it, thanks for reminding me how good this novel is. I hope you do Kindly Ones or the Secret History sometime.

Love this bro. I have a Oral test about this book tomorrow, I think i will succeed by now! Thank you from the Netherlands ; )

this was so very enlightening and eye opening. i had read the book but i had never analyzed its meaning like this

This is one my favorite thug notes. Oftentimes TN just touches on some symbolism in the book. But this episode went into a greater depth of meaning of the book, which was great.

Your videos are pretty educational and a great entertainment. I love it! I think i already watched all of them. Could you please analyse later in the future "Master and Margarita"?

Great video guys! I was always confused about Pi meeting another blind castaway. I wasn't sure whether this was a dream or a hallucination or what.

Thug Notes is the best thing I found on youtube in a while, wisecrack in general is just doing it big. Yo Is that massive chain real?

I miss you Thug Notes T^T Please do more books, love you, man!

Dude thank you!! I have an exam today this summary was helpful

Can you all do "The Taming of the Shrew"? That would be great, seriously love your videos!

this book is amazing and this review was awesome. Thank you!

holy cow i have a seminar to present for this book and this really helped!!!! props to ya fam!

"on orangutan named OJ' *that fucking look on his face*

Its more of that to each individual regardless of if its true or not its a personal decision, for all we know Pi's first story may be true which coincides with the possibility of what we may consider impossibility in life (religion) or if we want to believe we have life for the most part understand we go with the second story as truth. The author is trying to say no matter what you believe, neither can be proven absolutely and as individuals we should pick what ever makes us comfortable as we have to live with that decision.

I love these. I like the new longer ones!

This will always be one of my most favorite books. Ive read it at leaf 3 times. And even still I'm a bit confused as to what parts were real and which weren't lol - I wish the movie would have gone into more detail about certain aspects of the book, but thats neither here nor there. Life of Pi will always be dear to my heart. Thanks for this video!

can you do gadsby ( the 50000 words novel without the letter "E") next?

Wow, the movie really didn't do this justice.

How 'bout Flowers for Algernon? Love your videos! Really one of the best channels I've come across on KZfaq.

I just recently discovered this channel and it is already my new favorite subscription! Could you please do an episode on "The Bell Jar" before I go crazy, lol Thank

The Trial by Franz Kafka next time? Or To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf? Thank you.

A great piece! Worthy of your best!

Great job! Thanks for all the help

Can you do a Thug Notes over "The Green Mile" by Stephen King?

Lol I'm writing an exam about this 😅really helpful since I didn't read the book

I haven't read this book yet, but I saw the movie and I knew this one was dense as hell! Love the analysis, Sparky! Love the shows, Wisecrack.

This is the my favorite book we were required to read for school. It's really good.

2:16 Best moment ever.

When class's hip hop dude who's actually very smart, does a project on spirituality lol

I love dem thug notes! Thanks professor. Peace!

Love your videos! The one on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was perfection. Love it! Any chance you could do the book *I Am Legend?*

my teacher played this in class and it just so happened to be the most interesting lesson ever😅

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I really enjoyed this one. I've come to the same conclusion as Pi's on religion, but it's still hard. I encountered a man, dressed in normal clothes and pinned it down immediately without his input, that he was a pastor and he was baptist. He asked how I knew. From there, we engaged in a religious conversation that quickly went sour on my end. This was because no matter what I said to him, he turned it back to how his religion was the correct one because it was the correct one. He then gave me his card and said to call him if there was "anything I can do for you". As in conversion and such. What a pain.

The priest said “Are you thirsty?” Remember Thirsty was the real name of the tiger before the name mix up

I'm not sure if its my personal bias is getting in the way of the book but "ignore the brutal truth because the lie is more fun" is a shitty message.

Hi Wisecracks, Would it be possible for you to cover Macbeth?

glad to see a new episode man, been here since the start. Would east of Eden be somewhere on your list?

Also, it'd be really amazing if you took on more short stories. (Your discussion of "The Tell-Tale Heart" was great!) I'm an English adjunct at a community college, and I think a WiseCrack/Thug Notes take on some of the stories we've read could really clarify how to discuss the theme of a work by citing the plot, word choice, characterization, etc. (without being mind-numbingly boring).

Me watching this the night before finals : 👁️👄👁️

Still no Gone With The Wind?!

Honestly, this is the most interesting and amusing book review ever! 5/5!

the last time I came so early I became a father

"just so you know believing in god is the same exact thing" this shit hit my fan so hard, i'l having a hard time breathing!

Screw that. I will work my best to get as close as I can to know the "real deal", and when confronted by the reality of time and the limits of mortality, I will make sure I furthered the search for others and they can get even closer to it than I was, through my work.

I really liked this one. Good job! :)

I was very disappointed when I started reading this book with the hopes of pie =(

I only want to believe what's true.

And my must read list keeps on growing...

This helped me so much thank you

This is my first real introduction to this book, and wow, I think I hate it already. The moral conclusion of the novel seems to be that truth doesn't matter. The idea that it's okay to believe whatever makes you comfortable/gives you hope is an idea that I think is toxic. It's one thing to find a sense of hope and community - that's fine and good. But believing in things that you have no way of knowing if they're true can be dangerous. For one thing, the comforting story of religion comes with more than just some (possibly false) hope. It can, and often does, come packaged with ideas like homophobia, misogyny, xenophobia, holy war, etc. But the problem goes even deeper than that. When you decide that a question is unanswerable and choose the answer you prefer, you give up agency. You give up your ability to seek the truth. You give up your honesty and integrity. Personally, I think that it is far better to not know, and to always question, than it is to accept a comforting story that might be wrong.

dude can you do.. mahabharata,the biggest epic in the world

Awesome episode. I had this same conversation with myself in the car the other day on the way to work.

incredible video, i just recently subscribed and im really enjoying your channel :D Thanks to Film Theory btw

Matric 2024 anyone???

Matric 2024 awes 📍😔