Tales of Pi # 9

This part of the novel examines the connections between life and death. A theme that is explored in great detail by many authors in literature. Even the image of the skull reminds one of the skull in Hamlet which can also be interpreted as a reminder to the world that death is an inevitable reality. The classic posture of Hamlet looking at the empty eyes of the skull is another symbolic way of telling the audience that death is a fast approaching reality. ‘The skull itself is a physical reminder of the finality of death’. The famous painting by the Dutch Post Impressionist artist, Vincent van Gogh depicts sunflowers at the height of their beauty. Cut off from their stems and placed in a vase, we experience their last burst of vitality as they begin to wilt in various stages of decomposition as captured in this painting. Recently I watched this movie Bohemian Rhapsody (the highest-grossing musical biographical film of all time) which is a biopic of Freddie Mercury who was the lead singer of Queen. Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45 due to AIDS. The band is famous for the anthem like songs like – We will Rock you, We are the champions, Radio Ga Ga and Bohemian Rhapsody. (Will do a post soon on the Magic of Freddie Mercury) Freddie Mercury’s songs have references on life and death. Sample this lyric.

Too late, my time has come

Sends shivers down my spine

Body's aching all the time

Goodbye everybody I've got to go

Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama, oh oh (anyway the wind blows)

I don't want to die

Sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

The mori painting (grinning skull) that Pi refers to in his life is a power Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’. A basic memento mori painting would be a portrait with a skull but other symbols commonly found are hour glasses (I found one in a Pizza Hut outlet) or clocks, extinguished or guttering candles, fruit, and flowers. A memento mori is an artwork designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the shortness and fragility of human life. But Pi is not ready to surrender before death. He says “You may not believe in Life, but I don’t believe in Death. Move on”. The reader is now aware that Pi has transcended the gloominess and sadness that he had experienced earlier. He says “gloom is but the passing shadow of a cloud” which is comes after one of the beautiful descriptions about life and death – ‘Life is so beautiful that death had fallen in love with it’. Would like to end this post with the lyrics of the song – We are the Champions by Queen 

I've taken my bows

And my curtain calls

You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it

I thank you all

But it's been no bed of roses

No pleasure cruise

I consider it a challenge before the whole human race

And I ain't gonna lose

We are the champions, my friends

And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end

We are the champions

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions of the world