Happy or Unhappy Ending?
Life of Pi is a story about a boy named Pi and his experience while stranded at sea. As a result of a shipwreck, Pi also finds himself aboard a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a tiger. However, Pi survived this ordeal and went on to live a long and happy life. At the end of Part I of the novel, it says that this story has a happy ending. People often wonder if this story really did have a happy ending. Life of Pi has both aspects of a happy and an unhappy ending, however the book overall has a happy ending.
Life of Pi has several reasons as to why the ending of the novel would be considered to not have a happy ending. Pi lost everything that he had. This includes his family and his possessions. He also lost everything he had to live for. "And what of my extended family – birds, beasts, and reptiles? They too have drowned. Every single thing I value in life has been destroyed. And I am allowed no explanation? I am to suffer hell without any account from heaven? In that case, what is the purpose of reason, Richard Parker?" (Page 98). When he was rescued he had to start over again from scratch. He now has to live without a home and a family and that could be very scary to some people. Some people think that even though this story has reasons why it would be an unhappy ending, they still believe that this story overall has a happy ending.
The Life of Pi has more reasons as to why the story has a happy ending rather than not having one. Even at the end of Part I the novel says that this story has a happy ending. “This story has a happy ending” (Page 93). Even though he lost everything that he had, he had a life altering experience. This could have helped him to rebuild his life. People say that because he no longer has a family this story does not have a happy ending. He might not have his family but he will always have the memory...
