JG_LOPWeek5ECQs

=Week 5 ECQ's=

Dominant theme: Survival is more important than morals.
 * ECQ #1**

Quote: "A knife was a horrible dynamic power; once in motion, it's hard to stop" (Martel 391).

Explanation: In this quote, Pi is retelling his story without any animals to please the Japanese officials. The "power" is a symbol of the struggle for survival. Once Pi has to give up his morals of godliness and kill the cook out of fear, he surrenders to this "power." Pi gave up his moral ways to avenge the murder of his mother. Pi was so overcome with this "power" that he no longer believed in decency of preserving God's creatures and slaughtered the cook, eating his body. The "knife" is a symbol inhumanity. one this inhumanity has started, it is difficult to revert to the peaceful ways of civilization. Together, the "knife" and the "power" that comes with it demonstrate how Pi had to sacrifice his morals to survive his journey.

Dominant Theme: Belief in God.
 * ECQ #2**

Quote: "Mr. Okamoto: 'Yes. The story with animals is the better story.' Pi Patel: 'Thank you. And so it goes with God" (Martel 399).

Explanation: Pi was just finished telling two Japanese men about his story of being stranded on the boat with animals. The Japanese men find it completely hard to believe and ask Pi to tell a story without animals. Pi then creates a story that is similar to the animals but everything is done by humans. Finally, Pi wants to know which of the two stories they liked more. The one with animals was the one they seemed to believe. Believing that anyone can survive months stranded on a boat with wild animals is random and requires a large amount of faith. When Pi was able to see the Japanese men taking faith to believe his story, he immediately says that is the case with God. Believing requires faith and Pi says one needs faith to believe in God, even though it seems far fetched or off. It takes faith to understand and to know "the better story" or things. Martel is saying that faith is needed in things, even though it can be hard to believe.