Life of Pi

While the majority of the novel is Pi’s reflection on past events, Pi also uses a flashback to disrupt the narrative early in Part 2. Part 2 abruptly starts with the sinking of the Tsimtsum after a touching scene of the modern-day Pi and his family. This extreme switch in tone, setting, and mood shocks the reader, leaving them disoriented. However, Pi does this again in the next chapter. Instead of progressing with an account of life on the lifeboat, he returns to the moments before the ship sank. Despite telling us how the Tsimtsum sank and Pi became stranded on a lifeboat with Richard Parker the tiger only pages before, the flashback in Chapter 38 depicts Pi’s obliviousness to what’s to come:

Weather like this surely wouldn’t sink a ship? Why, I only had to close a door and the storm was gone. I advanced onto the deck. I gripped the railing and faced the elements. This was adventure. 

“Canada, here I come!” I shouted as I was soaked and chilled.

Cite this Quote