Comparative Essay Life of Pi And Hamlet Text

Jonathan Friesen - Writing Coach

There is an existential motif that runs through both works, though i wouldn 039 t classify it existential in the philosophical sense. But both deal with a person 039 s place in the world, and how choices they make are determinant to who they are and what becomes of them. Both characters look at themselves from the perspective of where they belong in the universe, and analyze what role fate has carved out for them. However, hamlet 039 s flaws doom him, while pi 039 s enlightened state of awareness and ability to accept his circumstances saves him, just as salvation can be found on these terms in any religion.

No matter where you go, or what you read, there is death somewhere, be it in real life, or a book, or a news article, or wherever. The theme of death lurks over the main characters, as pi fights for survival and hamlet considers giving in to the reaper. However, both characters are able to fight off death long enough to get exactly what they want. The will to live and the spectre of death is always a clear theme in fiction one way or another.

However, some of the characters in life of pi aren rsquo t so lucky as to make it to the end. Its final struggle demonstrated that even though it wanted to cling onto life, death was inevitable for orange juice. The zebra also uses its final bit of strength to put up a fight against the hyena. Lastly, pi, the only human on the lifeboat, and the main character, abandoned his vegetarianism in order to survive off fish. As martel makes clear in his novel, living creatures will often do extraordinary, unexpected, and sometimes heroic things to survive. The hyena rsquo s treachery and the blind frenchman rsquo s turn toward cannibalism show just how far creatures will go when faced with the possibility of extinction.

Pi symbolizes how people will resort to their basic instincts to fight off death when in a life or death situation. As the title character fights with the idea of living, as well as many other incidences in this death filled tragedy. Hamlet constantly thinks of suicide and how everyone is vulnerable after his father rsquo s death. He pushes himself away from ophelia he resents his mother, and eventually murders polonius, thinking it was claudius. Polonius rsquo s death enrages laertes to the point of wishing death on hamlet, and vowing to avenge his father rsquo s death.

And yorick rsquo s skull are symbols of the spiritual aftermath of death and the physical remainders of death, respectively, making hamlet question life and death more so. In both novels, each protagonist staves off death long enough to get exactly what they want. Pi fights starvation, loneliness, and delusion to make it back onto land again, as well as making sure richard parker did not attack him anytime during their voyage. At the end of the novel, when pi raises the possibility that the fierce tiger, richard parker, is actually an aspect of his own personality, and that pi himself is responsible for some of the horrific events he has narrated, the reader is forced to decide just what kinds of actions are acceptable in a life or death situation. The title character fights off death long enough to avenge his father rsquo s death, as well as slay laertes, but not before he is wounded by the latter, and eventually succumbs to his death. Gertrude is also murdered unintentionally by claudius as she drinks from the poisoned cup meant for hamlet.

The theme of death is used greatly in both works, as pi takes great measures to fight off death, while in hamlet. Death lurks everywhere in fiction, one way or another, and always combats the character rsquo s will to live. In hamlet, death wins, and claims the main character, as well as many other various characters.

One thing that you could do is look at the leading characters, pi and hamlet, and try to compare and contrast them in terms of what they are facing in their lives, their beliefs, and how they handle situations. Only through experience of trial can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. With respect to this quotation, formulate a thesis that you will prove in a comparative essay of 20 2500 words based on the following three works: hamlet, the life of pi, and the novel that you have selected from the isp novel list provided by your teacher.

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In your comparison, speak about a theme or themes such as overcoming obstacles or suffering. Please note the following guidelines: please do not devote much attention to plot. Work on a theme such as conflict or suffering, and the plot details will be covered in a natural fashion. Remember to speak about the literary devices that each author uses to bolster the themes. To achieve the highest quality work, compare aspects of all three works in each paragraph. In other words, do not write a paragraph on hamlet, then a paragraph on the life of pi, and so on.

Use only short quotations or snippets of quotes and integrate these into your sentences. Examining secondary sources allows you to identify key ideas/points for your essay. Use some quotations from your primary sources hamlet and the novels , but select these with care. Do not use quotes for the sake of using quotes or to say things that can be said in your own words.

Ensure that your essay is consistent with the mla format as outlined in previous units and activities. Remember to include your works cited page as well as your title page with your essay. No matter what our situation entails we all have one common goal: to survive. Throughout life we experience tragic events, dire circumstances and strive to find our happiness and survive at all costs. The novel the life of pi written by yann martel and shakespeare’s hamlet both have this in common. Hamlet and pi deal with discovering their place in the world, as well as making the correct choices in order to get where they desire to be. Both stories follow alongside these characters with the theme of determination.

After pi’s family is killed at sea aboard the shipwreck of the tsimtsum, he is forced to turn to his survival instincts and his animalistic side. Ch.57 it is at this moment that pi realizes it is not an option to kill richard parker, but neither is letting the tiger win pi must tame the tiger and gain authority through assertiveness. Hamlet gains the same feeling of determination after watching a traveling player’s speech. Had he the motive and the cue for passion/that i have? / o, vengeance! 2.2.58 hamlet believes he must become like the hero in the speech delivered by the actor and get revenge for his beloved father’s murder. It is at this point in the play where hamlet is set on his path of revenge, allowing nothing to get in his way.

Both of these characters are inspired to carry on down their chosen paths with a strong sense of determination to back them up. A prominent theme throughout both of these stories is religion and its power in all situations, wonderful or disastrous. Pi tries to stay strong while lost at sea by pulling from all of the faiths he identifies with: hindu, islam and christianity. I practiced religious rituals that i adapted to the circumstances – … sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, i was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the pacific and i would not be able to lift it back up.

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Ch.74 this quote portrays strong imagery to his feeling of hopelessness while out at sea, but pi conquers his sadness and receives his strength to survive from his faith. Hamlet also relies strongly on god when it comes to determining what is morally right and wrong when making decisions. But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:/ so excellent a king so loving to my mother/that he might not beteem the winds of heaven/ visit her face too roughly 1.2.6 hamlet portrays his mother in a more shallow light, suggesting that his father looks upon her marriage to his brother, cladius, without happiness or acceptance.