On The Metaphor Of Human Survival Situation In Life Of Pi

Life of Pi is a famous work written by the Canadian writer Yann Martel, it achievedthe highest British literary award Booker Prize in2002.This novel has won such awide-spread reputation upon its first publication. From then on, Yann Martel hasachieved its status on the international literary circle. Filled with a lot of beautiful,fantastic imaginations and metaphors, the novel has a high artistic value as well as anascetic connotation.Based on close reading, focusing on the theme of human beings’ survival situation,the thesis has interpreted the metaphor narration of the novel, has discussed from threelevels, namely man and his inner self, man and the nature as well as man and his faith,has hoped to illuminate the novel’s profound connation and ascetic sense.This thesis consists of three parts: the introductory part, the main body and theconclusion.The introductory part gives a brief sketch to Yann Martel and the literary status ofhis representative work Life of Pi, makes a comprehensive summary of the studies bothabroad and at home about the novel and introduces the definition of metaphor and itstheoretical origin, as well as the purpose and significance of the thesis and its structure.The main body of the thesis has been divided into three chapters. Chapter Oneanalyzes the metaphor concerning man and his inner-self. On the one hand, to discoverthat literature is a place where the author can find himself and construct himself byshowing Yann Martel has a similar life experiences with the writer’s in the novel. On theother hand, to analyze that young Pi’s spiritual journey from his self-lost toself-recognition until final self-redemption, the thesis exhibits the development andtransformation of Pi’s self-awareness.Chapter Two discusses the metaphor of man and the nature. Pi and the Bengal tiger’smarine adventure itself is a metaphor of the interdependent relationship between human and the nature. This chapter will analyze this novel has described the beauty and magicof the nature as well as has gave a ruthless criticism to the modern civilization’s greedyderivation and destruction to the nature. Meanwhile, this paper also interprets themetaphor meaning of the image of Bengal tiger.Chapter Three has discussed the metaphor of human and faith. Pi’s behavior ofholding a universal fraternity to different religions was normal and meaningful, but Pibegan to question his own God during his drifting on the sea. After being rescued, Pifinally achieved his inner eternal spiritual strength, not just a formal religious belief.Accordingly, it explores the wide issue of religious faith in the modern society as well asthe significance of faith to us human survival.The Conclusion part summarizes the whole paper, and accordingly points out thatinhabiting on the great earth, we human beings will face eternal paradoxes and conflictswith our inner selves, the nature as well as our long held beliefs. This novel is a work ofmetaphor concerning our living dilemma. The author successfully guides us everyoneliving in this modern civilization featured with technology, consuming and humancentrism to think about those paradoxes and conflicts we’ve faced and retrospectourselves. What a magnificent and profound theme the novel conveys.