Life is a Story

A/N: This is the final essay response to the book Life of Pi by Yahn Martel. This was a very difficult essay for me to write and it was difficult for me to get input that helped me fix it from my original essay which did not turn out very well at all. I believe that this is a much better essay than what I had before so please let me know what you think. The quote used in the third paragraph is from page 334. The quote in the fourth paragraph is from page 336. There are two quotes in the fifth paragraph, the first from page 325 and the second from page 334. The quote in the conclusion is from Edgar Allen Poe.

Fiction is fake, made-up along with stories they are too, made-up but that is only sometimes the case. Stories come to life from the imagination of their creator; they are in fact most often a telling of events shaped by the life of the teller or writer. Telling a story can be many things, it can be talking about the person's story; their life story as it is known by many. Everyone has their own observations, experiences, and opinions of things; when telling about the, same event it can come out completely different from one person to another. Pi's life is a story, life in general is. Life is a story that keeps unfolding.

In the book Life of Pi, Pi tells two stories regarding his adventures between the time the Tsimtsum sinks and when Pi comes back into human society. Pi claims both tales to be true. Both sagas are not what others would view as a credible accounts of what happened. Mr. Okamoto's report says that nothing like the stories that Pi tells has ever happened with other shipwreck survivors. People can choose to believe or not, but they cannot choose to believe nothing in response to such a story. Had there been another person present the tale may have had yet a third unique re-telling of the trip on the life boat.

There are two stories that Pi tells, both are the truth and neither are fact. One is using animals, and the second replaces those animals with humans that have very animalistic behaviors. For all that can be determined, Pi could have been in a coma for the majority of the time he spent on the life boat and that both of his stories could just be as simple as being only dreams and nothing more. The Truth to the matter is that facts do not exist, the only thing that people can know for certain is what they see with their own eyes or witness with their senses. A fact in one's opinion could always be an opinion in another's. "'You can't prove which story is true and which is not. You must take my word for it.'" This is similar to the way rumors and gossip work with people making up stories about other people and then it is the decision of who it is coming to whether they think it is true or not. Life is the same way, a story told from one is completely different from another.

The two men that interrogate Pi don't think that he is giving the hard core facts when he reiterates his story for them. Mr. Okamoto and Mr. Chiba don’t understand that Pi’s experience on the life boat is what he says. He came up with the story to help him stay somewhat sane. “Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and non in the company of an adult Bengal tiger.” The tiger never actually was there, Richard Parker was in Pi’s mind, allowing Pi to use him as a survival mechanism so that although he was completely alone something was keeping him company in his mind. No one believes Pi’s story about the tiger because there never actually was one, it was all part of his story.

"`Uhh ... perhaps in English. In Japanese a story would have an element of invention in it. We don't want any invention. We want the `straight facts', as you say in English.'" Mr. Chiba and Mr. Okamoto only think that Pi is making his story up because there is nothing to prove it, no remains; that causes them to think that he just invented it. There is nothing, the tiger is gone; but that's because the tiger never existed in the first place. Stories just cover up and change the truth because the truth is all that we really can know. Pi thinks that he is telling the truth, he thinks that he is telling two stories that in his mind are both correct, but it is up to the interviewers to decide which one that they like best. “`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 the animals or the story without animals?’” In both stories the characters do the same things and are the same. In both stories whether people or animals all the characters act like animals.

Life of Pi is a story and no more; it is a story that is teaching us first about the life that Pi lived from the time the ship sunk and when he came back into civilization. It wants us to challenge what is real and not in life. Knowing no one sees the same exact thing with the eyes they have to see it teaches us something about reality. There is nothing in life that is the same for two people; everything has truths to it and one's life's story is about what the person telling it thinks and knows. We really don't know what was true or untrue; it is up to the reader to pick what they want to think. Life is in fact only a story because it can be what you makes it; it is just an unconscious state of thought. "All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream."

Trust

AN: This is the final response essay to Fahrenheit 451.

As you are waiting for your best friend to come as they had promised earlier that day, you know that it is not right but you have decided to do it anyway. This, this is what you stand for and no one will stop you from accomplishing this task, well unless your best friend doesn't show, then and only then could this possibly go awry. The task that the two of you must complete is menacing and so intricate as to the only way to fully comprehend it is to go through with it. Although if caught the consequences could be deadly and most definitely the results would be lasting and would not work if anyone but you or your friend saw this task before it is finished. Then you hear sirens in the distance and only hope that they are not after you. The sirens stop and you gasp for air still trembling with fear, you think that you are safe until the red and blue flashing lights come into sight. Those you trust cannot always be counted on but without the connection to them it drives you insane.

Montag is married to Mildred. In marriage people trust their spouse with their life and every part of it there is nothing that is left a secret, nothing that they cannot trust the other person to keep a secret. By marrying Mildred, Montag proves that he trusts her with his life and everything that he has. Mildred is and was the most trusted person in Montag's life. Even though it seems as though Mildred wouldn't be the person Guy trusted the most as they do not even sleep in the same room. It even seems like Guy would trust Clarisse more just from the context during their first conversation. Guy trust Mildred with everything yet as he meets and talks to the other characters more that bond between Guy and Mildred seems to be weakening. The people are never what they seem, and in Fahrenheit 451 what should be accurate in the real world is completely different here.

With the bond slowly disappearing between Guy and Mildred, different bonds are formed with both Clarisse and Faber. When Guy is with Clarisse he opens up and he contemplates with things that he never thought possible. Montag realizes that Clarisse is "different" after just a few brief moments of speaking with her. In this case, different isn't necessarily good or bad, it is in fact just meaning out of the ordinary. Clarisse talks about the past and asks questions that pull Guy out of his comfort zone. Right away it seems as though both of the two thrust their full trust onto each others shoulder and that they can really open up to one another. Then, Montag's relationship with Faber is full of friendship and trust. Faber and Montag trust each other enough to discuss things that are illegal in this dystopic world that Bradbury created, in this case they speak about books and the past. All three of the most important people to Montag all have something that separates them from the other two.

The three most important people in Montag's life are Mildred, Faber, and Clarisse. Mildred starts to lose his trust after she finds the book that Guy stole from one of the houses they were to burn. When Mildred finds it she automatically reports it to the firemen. Clarisse is killed early on when she was run over by a car but that didn't mean that even after she was gone that what she said to Guy when he was living wasn't taken to heart and didn't stay with him to the end. When Clarisse was still living everything that she said to Montag made him reflect back upon everything he has done with his life and whether he did it because it was right or someone told him to. Faber was always there for him to talk to and confide in especially when he wanted to know more about how the world used to be before this government sort of took over. In the end they are all gone, Mildred and Faber were in the city as it blew up and Clarisse was run over. Guy is left alone without the connection to these people and he goes insane to the point where he'd be better off dead.

The lights are turned off and you are surrounded by a dozen of burly looking cops. Each and everyone of them with some type of weapon pointed at you. Slowly you raise your hands to above your head having no other choices; there is no where to run and no where to hide. Then behind them you see someone step out of one of the police cars, your best friend. A puzzled expression comes to your face as your friend is not in handcuffs and steps out of the car of his own free will. Great you think how does this work; then it comes to you. He turned you in, the person you trusted with your life stabbed you in the back and is gone, in the sense of not being able to trust him any longer. Although in your heart you know that he did the right thing and you will always keep him there to remind you that, the trust my have been lost but the connection that keeps you sane will still be there for you.

Pain

AN: An essay response to Fahrenheit 451 with the prompt: "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger." Nietzche How would you say that this quote could be applicable to the actions from the most recent part of the novel for Montag.

The quote by Nietzche, "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." Basically this states that you should try things that may be way out of your range but would help you out in the long run. The quote clearly resembles another saying, "If you don't try you'll never be able to do it." Montag has to make tough decisions and finally think for himself not just follow the orders he is given. Struggling through the pain is necessary to move on for the better.

Montag no longer know what he wants with his life. Mildred his wife betrays him and turns him in for having a book. It seems as though anyone he becomes close to either turns against him, get in some sort of trouble, or dies. Clarisse is killed, Mildred his own wife is completely against him, his friend Faber is stuck in trouble with Beatty, and Beatty his boss is the one who “punishes” him for disobeying the law. In the segment Montag has to deal with the pain of the loss of his wife, in the sense that she somewhat ditched him. There also is the physical pain he has to live with, from being shot in the leg and still having to carry on in his so called journey. The final pain he has to deal with is the pain of the unknown; Montag no longer knows who to turn to for help or shelter.

What makes Montag stronger is his will to go on, to continue through anything and everything. Montag does his job and struggles through his pain both physical and emotional. Letting himself fight through the pain all the way, it does not kill him. It only makes him stronger.

Vetran's Essay

"Does Patriotism still matter?" Patriotism was originated back around the time of the Revolutionary War when the colonies that created our country were beginning to rebel against England. Back then it was the Patriots against the Loyalists. Now it is the Patriots versus, well whatever country we may be up against. So the answer is yes, patriotism does in fact still matter.

Patriots are Americans. Patriotism is about your country, more specifically the love and devotion people have toward their country. To say patriotism doesn't matter would be ridiculous. Saying patriotism does not matter is the same as saying that our country's people do not love our country and they are not devoted to it. If the citizens of our country don’t think patriotism matters for our country now why are the living here in the most free country in the world? The answer is yes because they still do appreciate what we have now.

A better question would be when has patriotism not mattered? Although even that question has an answer of never, never has patriotism not mattered, it has always mattered. In wars patriotism matters, if it didn’t matter we would have never won any wars. If patriotism didn’t matter, wouldn’t the citizens of the United States of America just turn against it and not keep it the wonderful way it is now?

Patriotism; yes it still matters. It will matter as long as the United States is a country. As long as the States still have people in their own Army. Through and through the love and devotion to and for our country has always prevailed. The concept of patriotism has always mattered and will always matter it is part of the U.S.A.’s past, present, and future. This is why patriotism still is important and matters to all of the Americans.

Wrong Ideas

A response to Animal Farm

The government seems to be ruining all aspects of daily life, or so you think. Ideas and solutions promised to be changed for the better untouched. You are beginning to understand the outcome of your decisions may not be as you originally wanted. You think that the only thing that might affect everyone’s lifestyles is if the person or anima,l in this case that is in charge had a better knowledge of the life that everyone affected by these important decisions were living. When power is given to those not yet ready but have good intentions, nothing going as planned.

This series of events is similar to the Russian Revolution where Czar Nicholas II was this treacherous leader. Animal Farm also has a terrible leader also who follows the same pattern of sorts that Czar did. Both of these leaders brought in people to help them; Rasputin in the Revolution and the workers in Animal Farm. Believing that they could do better without these important figures the villagers and animals abolish their control. Leaving a new trio in charge of running life. This trio originally had many incredible ideas that would help the people for the better.

With these new leaders troubles are encountered. Through the difficulty of not having any assistance from an already knowledgeable leader, crashing and burning is always an option. Complete power is given to three pigs, that do in fact have good intentions, but do not seem ready for absolute power. Simple rules are put into play in order to keep brouhahas to a minimum. Although some believe that they are above the rules and go against them anyway, modifying them just enough to slip by without consequences. Letting all the others seem as though they a less needed and important when the opposite is true.

The people who understand these rules begin to attempt to rebel, but instead are just banished or ruthlessly killed. Snowball begins to confront “outsiders” then before anyone realizes it he is gone. Similar circumstances arise with Mollie and other animals. Before the two standing leaders can do anything other animals begin to notice these absences and become more timid with their actions. Slowly, the absolute control over the farm slips to only a thread as more animal start to second guess and the neighboring farmers decide to do something.

Life has failed. You changed the way that everything was run to make it more accommodating for everybody, but did not think the power given to this person would completely corrupt the person within them. Now life has come close to the point where this utopia has become a disaster. Not a single soul knowing what is the truth and what is a fable, never will this simple subject be recognized again.

Then and Now

a response to The Adventure's of Tom Sawyer

The kids sat in a simple vegetable garden as they contemplated the activity of the day. On the previous day, the group had played Sleeping Beauty on the front lawn, but today they were jaded and restless. A docile little girl finally came up with an idea; they should go on a treasure hunt. Off on they went on their quest; not returning for weeks. No one in the minute town had a clue as to where or even how the seven children had disappeared. Throughout time children have always been adventurous, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer aspects and personalities from all of the characters can be found in kids we know today. Each and every character can be recognized in today’s children that we know and love.

Even now in seventh grade students occasionally sit around a corner deliberately being ignored. After so many years of repetitive teaching starting at an early age, they should incorporate everyone into the fun and games of recess. Although on very few occasions exclusions altered so that the outcasts are included. “Tom decided that he could be independent of Becky Thatcher now. Glory was sufficient. He would live for glory.” As a result Tom excludes Becky from everything and as Becky doesn’t want to go anywhere near Tom, she ends up left out of all of the dramatic conversations and games.

Along with excluding others, Tom also has several adventures within his eccentric posse. “They said they would rather be outlaws a year in Sherwood Forest than the President of the United States forever.” Tom and Joe are still young and innocent and know very little of exactly what they want to do with their future. As children everyone makes a dream of what they want to do when they are older but many times this fantasy is unrealistic and so unlikely to happen that the adults around them actually end up discouraging these children’s’ imaginations to run wild. Imagination is the sole thing that keeps sanity in life after childhood.

Besides playing Robin Hood with Joe, Tom also lets his imagination run wild as Huck joins Tom and Joe in running away. Many young boys have imaginings of what life would be like as a pirate. This group of boys actually puts that dream into action, as they disappear from all civilization and away from their parental guidance. “They said their prayers inwardly, and lying down, since there was nobody there with authority to make them kneel and recite aloud, in truth they had a mind not to say them at all, but they were afraid to proceed to such lengths as that, lest they might call down a sudden and special thunderbolt from Heaven.” The group actually does have some self-preservation even though it’s partially out of fear. Although sometimes the trio seems to act immaturely, at times Tom, Huck and even Joe seem to act as if they are not just ten year old little boys but as though they are nearly adults. Even though the go to such attempted lengths to let their relatives know they are well, the trio of boys stays away for so much time, that they find themselves in a predicament. Their families’ plan and have a funeral for the deceased boys. Now days this can happen but if a child has vanished for that much time the hounds are set loose.

After stunning the town with their presence at their very own funerals the boys attend the murder trial of Dr. Robinson. Murders happen very rarely and witnessing a murders is an even more seldom feat. Both Huck and Tom did witness the murder of Dr. Robinson at the graveyard where Injun Joe sets it up to look as though Muff Potter had committed the crime when he himself did. Kids are scared to tell the complete truth even to those they trust with their whole heart because they are afraid of what will happen if they tell “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Huck, intimidated by being in the company of Injun Joe leaves it to Tom to testify. When a child or children are scared they hide, because that is what they have always done but they never do understand that sometimes they actually need to blossom put fears behind them. Telling the truth is a major key in life.

After almost five weeks the rambunctious group of kids returned home to their concerned families’. Never once did they convey to anyone where they had been for so long, undiscovered. The kids agreed to keep all of this to themselves, in their opinions none of the other people in the town would care. Adults many times do not pay a great deal of attention to children as they have “better things to do” with their time than chase around after a bunch of kids. Even though the character of Tom is based on an eighteenth century boy, he and the other characters are exceedingly similar to children and even teenagers in the present day.

Consequences

A Response to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The painting is finally finished after many treacherous hours of hard work and the results are incredible. Though the long process of making this masterpiece you have created quite a mess. There is paint covering the room, wrapper and bags from snacks blanket the floor. After the long process of creating the picture, comes the even longer process of cleaning up. The consequences of having made an enormous mess are, having to clean it all up. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom often has to suffer from the consequences for his actions. Consequences are created with everything that is done, and consequences must be faced whether they are good or bad.

Throughout the book, the consequences for Tom’s actions vary greatly. Small consequences could be as simple as having to clean up a mess, but sometimes consequences can get to the point of possibly going to jail. Being the trouble maker that he is, Tom cons his piers out of tickets. He ends up getting enough tickets to earn his bible. Then when the judge asks Tom a simple question having to do with the bible he suffers the consequences of lying. “‘Now I know you’ll tell me,’ said the lady. ‘The names of the first two disciples were—‘ ‘DAVID AND GOLIATH!’” Tom proves to everyone that he was lying and traded for the tickets. The consequences for his actions, are losing the privilege of earning his first bible and making a fool out of himself in front of everyone.

Following making a fool out of himself, Tom is tries to avoid going to school by being in pain from his tooth. Because Tom is in such pain, Aunt Polly decides that the tooth must be pulled out therefore the pain the tooth has been causing Tom, instantly disappears. This is a very minor consequence compared to what Tom causes later on in the book. Most young children over exaggerate and then have to suffer the consequences for their actions. A child once faked being sick in order to leave school before an important test. When he was sent to the nurse, she concluded that he be sent home. Once the child was home they immediately began jumping off walls. This child’s consequences happened to be suffering the wrath of their infuriated parents, which had to return home from work in order to care for their “sick” child.

Later on in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huck and Tom go treasure hunting. Although to them just like kids in present day it is just a game. The boys dig in various places in their search for the buried treasure. During their escapade Tom and Huck forget their tools and overlook the fact that they do not fill the holes back up. Though they attempted not to the boys exhaust their energy and renounce their escapade. Consequences happen to show up to much of a disadvantage in this case because after the two boys gave up, Injun Joe finds thousands of dollars right where they had been digging.

Many times people do not understand consequences and tend to underestimate the power of them. Though no one may be putting the consequences into action immediately, they may show up in the near future. With everything that is done there is a consequence to go along with it. An outcome is a similar thing to a consequence. They always appear, but are never thought about before the action takes place.