English 4UO Independent Study - Comparative Essay

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English 4UO Independent Study – Comparative Essay

Comparative Essay Between:

-The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

-Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Submitted by: Jordan Epstein

For: Mr. M. Hall

12/13/04

        The protagonists in both The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, and Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, embark on coming of age journeys that, through a process of maturation, change their perspectives on life.  Santiago and Pi, the novels respective protagonists, are introduced to the reader as immature students of life.  Both adolescent males, Santiago and Pi each embark upon a physical and emotional journey that subsequently fulfills a spiritual void in their lives.  Santiago and Pi are able to find true meaning in their lives in the lessons brought forth amidst their journeys and through the exploration of their spiritual faiths, the abandonment of familiar surroundings, and through their relationships with others.  Through these facets of self-discovery and lessons of life learned upon their quests, Santiago and Pi are able to mature by virtue of coming of age journeys that change their perspectives on life.

        In the preamble of The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho introduces the reader to the character of Santiago, a young shepherd boy who longingly yearns to fill the missing void in his life.  In his novel, stylistically developed as a philosophical fable, Coelho describes Santiago, the protagonist, as a “wide-eyed wonderer” (page 3) who wishes to learn all the valuable lessons that life has to offer.  Santiago’s desire to explore life’s wonders becomes evident as he expresses interest in leaving his established adolescent life behind in order to travel the world as a shepherd.  Santiago is unsatisfied with the repetition and meaningless of his everyday life.  Perhaps the most prominent factor in persuading Santiago to leave his life behind is his father’s inability to find fulfillment in his own life.  Santiago’s father had never traveled the world himself.  As a result, he has lived a relatively unfulfilled life and has reluctantly permitted Santiago to follow his dreams, the very dreams that his father was never able to follow himself.  This becomes apparent on page 9, where it is noted that Santiago “…could see in his father’s gaze a desire to be able, himself, to travel the world – a desire that was still alive…”  Although Santiago’s father wishes his son to become a priest, he can see a reflection of himself within Santiago’s eyes and acts accordingly in order to fill those eyes with satisfaction.  Similarly, Santiago looks within his father and can clearly see a path in life that he would surely loathe to follow suit.  With his father’s support at hand, Santiago realizes that he, himself is the only obstacle in his way of achieving any desired goals imaginable.  This is evident on page 28, where Santiago is said to, “…feel jealous of the freedom of the wind, and saw that he could have the same freedom.  There was nothing to hold him back except himself.”  At this stage of his life, Santiago feels incapable of achieving self-fulfillment in his current situation and surroundings.  As a result, Santiago embarks upon a life altering journey in the hope of finding meaning, fulfillment, love, and spiritual sanctity in his life.  As Santiago begins his quest, he also begins to formulate a new and meaningful relationship with himself, as well as supplementary relationships with his sheep, the desert, and the wind – his sole companions in travel.  Although rash and immature in his adolescent decision to rapidly leave home, Santiago’s decisiveness in his unfulfilled hunger for travel would lead to the greatest experiences of his life.  Santiago spontaneously embarks upon a quest for self-realization, and as a result, engages in a process of maturation through the lessons of life he learns along the way.  

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        As the story of Life of Pi commences, the reader is introduced by the author, Yann Martel, to the troubles of the novel’s immature and adolescent protagonist.  Similar in nature to Santiago, Piscine Molitor Patel, or informally known simply as Pi, is also a young male who is noticeably lost in a seemingly meaningless and insignificant life.  Pi’s confusion and vulnerability in his life is most evident through his persistent exploration of different religious faiths.  For various reasons, Pi has been ostracized by his peer group and colleagues.  As a result of his social isolation, Pi thoughtlessly feels as ...

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