What is magic realism? Simply defined, magic realism is present in a novel when the story is traditionally realistic , but the elements of  a myth , magic and fantasy invade realism and transform reality into fantasy. There is a combination of dreamlike or enchanting elements in an expected and rational setting. The Life of Pi is engaging to read because normal events are enriched with an imaginative breadth of  magic and religion. It takes the reader out of the usual order of things and leads him into a world of mystifying and strange experience.

Greek-Roman mythology has been no stranger to any of us. Although we may not know it, Greek-Roman mythology has influenced numerous aspects of our literature and culture.  It has subconsciously affected certain aspects of our life. In regards to our culture, most of our beliefs about family, religion and war come from Greek-Roman mythology. From the role of fathers as the breadwinners and the mothers as the housewives, to our perception of the existence of an afterlife, Greek-Roman mythology gave it all to us. Its impact is so strong that it was even able to change and shape our views about war. We used to perceive war as an act of last resort. Gradually, with the influence of the Romans, it has evolved into a glorious, noble and virile undertaking.

With regards to literature, Greek-Roman mythology helped refine the quality of our literary works. The evocative and creative words of timeless authors brought stirring images and emotions.  This was picked up and carried on by generations raising the standards of literary works to new heights. Truly, Greek-Roman mythology has played an important role in shaping our lives.

Therefore, Greek mythology is truly an important literary source. It served as the basis for most forms of our literary work today. It had produced superb ancient playwrights in the persona of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. They are the forefathers of great work like William Shakespeare whose stories on tragedy and comedy are similar to the Greek and Roman times.

MAGIC REALISM IN THE LIFE OF PI

Life of Pi revolves around the life of Piscine Patel, a normal Indian boy going through his teenage years. Events begin to change when Pi gets stranded in a boat with the animals. The story starts to be unrealistic and irrational when these animals transformed into thinking beings with human voices. Even a Bengal tiger was given a human name, Richard Parker. Also, it was impossible for the tiger not to have devoured Pi. Animal instincts dictate that when they are hungry, they attack.  This is strange and unbelievable. Yet, as the story unfolds, the reader is inconspicuously moved into a realm that eventually looks real. Left alone with the tiger, Pi used all his common sense and wisdom to survive the ordeal. The tiger has become his companion in the journey. He was torn between hope and desperation. He held on to his faith (religion) to give him enough hope and courage in his despondent situation. The use of magical realism in terms of religion and philosophy, as presented by Pi as he battles his fears and dilemma, somehow could elicit reactions from readers when they do not conform with theirs. What connects the real to the unreal and what links the rational to the irrational is the truth. The basis of our faith and of what we believe in is the truth. And, the truth is the advocacy of the Greek god Apollo. Just like Pi, I may have resorted to magical realism in order to escape the harsh realities in life. I could have sought philosophies, religion and myths to widen and liberate me from my limited perceptions about life. That way, like Pi, life could be bearable and awesome.

Greek mythology has influenced and inspired not only literature, but also music, painting, architecture and sculpture. It has also played a key role in the development of philosophy and psychology. The Greek myths speak of hero myths. In our human experiences, there is a subconscious aspiration to be champions and victors. As mortals, they fancy to be favored by the gods. As heroes, they play an important role of putting an end to oppression. The quest continues until chaos, cruelty and disorder disappear.  The myths describe our maturity after a difficult  endeavor. 

Myths used magical realism every time they find a phenomenon unexplainable. Stories are created about the supernatural powers of the gods in a normal and realistic setting. Every time is  a storm, Poseidon may be mad. Every time a lightning strikes, they attribute this to Zeus. When a man falls in love, they thank Aphrodite. This type of creative and imaginative style prevails in today’s literary works like Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The “monomyth” of the epic has undoubtedly etched itself in the stories of the movies the Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings. The content of the myths and epic evolve around human experiences of war, love deception, power, etc. It is indeed amazing how the events still apply to our lives today. Truly, Greek-Roman myths are timeless. They have continually fascinated and enthralled us.

In the Life of Pi, influences of Greek-Roman mythology can be seen in the very structure of Pi’s family. Pi’s father is “the working man” while Pi’s mother is responsible for rearing and raising Pi and his brother. The influence of Greek-Roman mythology can also be seen in how Pi puts so much significance into his religion and his strong belief in the power of the gods. Many times in the novel, we can see how Pi calls to the gods to come to his aid and care for him.

A LIFE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS...

Maybe, Life of Pi should not be classified as a novel under magic realism. Come to think of it, it may be more appropriate for Life of Pi to be classified as an epic because the novel fits very well into the hero cycle or the monomyth…

The Call to Adventure: Pi pretty much lives a normal life until he begins to philosophize on certain aspects of society, including religion. He actually gets into a dilemma when he decides to practice Christianity, Islam and Hinduism all at the same time! This change in his views marked the start of the usual world as he knew it. Prior to the knowledge of Pi, there would be more to come.

The Helpers: Throughout this ordeal, the two people who stood by Pi’s side were his parents. They, especially Pi’s father, were also the people who showed new shades of life to Pi and Ravi. Perhaps, one of the most memorable events was  “The Tiger Lesson.” When Pi’s father demonstrated how tigers can indeed be dangerous, Pi’s mother was got worried because this may just be too much for her boys. Parents, truly, know what’s best!

Crossing Over: From a very normal and stereotypical life, Pi had to let go of all his friends and the home he knew in India when his father decided to sell the zoo and move the family to Canada. These are the uncharted waters for Pi, literally and figuratively.

Tests: No hero can be complete without testing his capabilities. For Pi, one of the biggest tests he may have encountered was losing his family when the Tsimtsum sank. For any person, this is definitely a serious ordeal and nobody would blame you for feeling devastated and utterly, lost. This is not how Pi reacted; he was actually able to move on quite quickly. He was resilient and was able to cope with the challenges and the mishaps in his life. True qualities of a hero indeed!

Lesser Hero: Throghout his ordeal, the only thing that kept Pi on his feet was Richard Parker. As ironic as it sounds, death, represented by Richard Parker, challenged Pi to live.

The Supreme Ordeal: Although Pi has undergone so much, his supreme ordeal may be all the days he lasted while stranded with Richard Parker. Obviously an unfamiliar situation to us all, Pi was able to break out of his comfort zones and adapt to his present situation. This necessitated a certain level of  growth  and c maturity that Pi attained so quickly.

Flight: Alas, the hero returns! Pi soon washes up in Mexico where he is rushed to the hospital immediately afterwards.

Return: After recovering in the hospital, Pi decides to push on with his life and move to Canada where he raises his own family. A fresh start for a newfound hero!

Boons: Pi’s reward cannot be seen nor felt. It is not the money the Japanese company extends as compensation. His true and most valuable reward is a sense of self-actualization and self  growth. Pi went through such a dramatic experience that the growth he exhibited cannot be easily taken for granted. He became a man. Our hardest nemesis is ourselves. We set the limits to what we can achieve out of fear, but if we learn to face ourselves, there is no limit as to what we can achieve.

I find Greek mythology interesting. The gods, goddesses and heroes with their special traits make the story enthralling and riveting. I used to think that reading myths was such a drag for they are old stories of no relevance. I was wrong. Myths, I found out, are timeless stories that have survived generations. The accounts and situations are still applicable today and perhaps in the centuries ahead. The situations presented are immortal.  They cover an array of subjects like love, duty, beauty , death, birth , etc. They exist in our subconscious minds waiting to be uncovered to answer our need for knowledge and purpose. After some exposure to what mythology truly holds for us, I realized its key role in our lives; I realized how influential it was in the different aspects of our lives that I have grown to respect and revere myths as stories with lessons, and hidden messages meant to be discovered to truly appreciate it. It may not present itself easily, but that is its essence and mystery.  Myths are not outdated stories but are treasure chests of insights and lessons about life that although dated back since the time of the Greeks, carry a strong significance and relevance that defines life until today.

Initially, I felt lost in reading mythology. As I immersed myself with the characters and the events of the myth, I felt reborn like a phoenix who turns into ashes when it dies, yet rises again.