Many people like to create a better picture in their head rather than what the actual situation. Optimism is seen as taking the situation and making it seem as if it isn’t as terrible as it really is. Yann Martel does this same thing in the book Life of Pi by using symbolism. Yann Martel supports the theme of choosing the “better” story by using the symbolism of animals and religion.
Yann Martel uses the symbolism of animals to support the theme of choosing the “better” story. Yann Martel states, “You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality” (302). This specific quote guides the readers to think that the story told was interesting, unlike the story that the two men wanted. He infers, without telling the reader directly, that the story with …show more content…
Martel declares, “To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation” (28). Martel is comparing that to be an agnostic is the same as choosing to be immobile as your transportation. He infers that to be an agnostic is worse than an atheist because if someone cannot choose a religion to believe in or to not believe in, then life is full of doubt. Also, he infers that by choosing one side, it creates a “better” story that plays a major role in the way someone lives their life. Yann Martel also mentions, “I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both” (19). Martel’s meaning behind this is that the deceptions about freedom bother both zoos and religion. Some people choose not to accept a certain religion simply because they feel as if their freedom will be shielded, which provides Pi proof that choosing between being an atheist or believing in a religion is better than not deciding because they are missing out on a “better story” as Pi calls
Yann Martel uses the symbolism of animals to support the theme of choosing the “better” story. Yann Martel states, “You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality” (302). This specific quote guides the readers to think that the story told was interesting, unlike the story that the two men wanted. He infers, without telling the reader directly, that the story with …show more content…
Martel declares, “To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation” (28). Martel is comparing that to be an agnostic is the same as choosing to be immobile as your transportation. He infers that to be an agnostic is worse than an atheist because if someone cannot choose a religion to believe in or to not believe in, then life is full of doubt. Also, he infers that by choosing one side, it creates a “better” story that plays a major role in the way someone lives their life. Yann Martel also mentions, “I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both” (19). Martel’s meaning behind this is that the deceptions about freedom bother both zoos and religion. Some people choose not to accept a certain religion simply because they feel as if their freedom will be shielded, which provides Pi proof that choosing between being an atheist or believing in a religion is better than not deciding because they are missing out on a “better story” as Pi calls