Overcoming physical hardships and challenges can catalyse one’s understanding of

self and the world.

Coleridge’s romanticist ballad ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ (ROTAM) and Lee’s film ‘Life of
Pi’ (LOP) present their audiences with texts that demonstrate that overcoming physical
suffering on a journey culminates in a newfound insight into nature and their own
spirituality. The romantic period is often defined by an appreciation and glorification of
nature, a rejection of the rational world that emerged during the enlightenment. The
Mariner embarks on a sea voyage in which his detachment from the world led him to the sin
of killing the Albatross. This wrought great suffering until he was able rejoice that beauty
exists in nature. Contrastingly, Pi’s adherence to postmodern constructs presents Pi with a
pluralistic acceptance of religions, philosophies, and truths in which he draws upon to
survive. Pi’s sea odyssey wrought great suffering, enabling him to explore his own
perspective and spirituality. Thus, both protagonists are confronted with physical challenges
in which they overcome to develop new insight into the natural world and their spirituality.

ROTAM and LOP explore the idea that gruelling experiences on a journey can lead to
discoveries pertaining to nature. The Mariner heads south from the harbour, on his journey
is encounters the Albatross an omen of good luck in maritime folklore, and he kills it. The
Mariner experiences severe deprivation of food and water and is tortured of being
‘becalmed’ out on the ocean. “And every tongue, through utter drought was withered at the
root.” Disturbing visual imagery is used with the intention to highlight the relentless physical
suffering. This is supported in “With throats unslaked and black lips baked.” Tactile imagery
and alliteration in ‘black lips baked’ accentuates the Mariners consequences undertaken
when he violates a common romanticist ideal that all nature should be appreciated. This
demonstrates how physical hardships on a journey can catalyse oneself understand and of
naturel. During the Mariner’s struggle to survive, lonesome through the demise of his fellow
sailors, he is forced to appreciate the beauty that exists within nature or suffer at its peril. “I
watched the water-snakes, they moved in tracks of shining white.” Manichean imagery
represents chastity and goodness, and the Mariner begins to rejoice that nature is beauty,
an unexpected insight catalysed by physical suffering. Similarly, during the first storm, Pi is
thrown around the deck of the ship by the crashing waves. A medium shot presents Pi
hanging on the railing of the ship, highlighting his frivolous behaviour and the ignorance that
he holds to nature’s power. “More rain! More rain!” It is only when the ship sinks. That his
carefree attitude turns to guilt and loss as he recognises the destruction that is wrought by
nature. During the second storm, Pi realises the toll the storm is taking on Richard Parker
and his joy turns instantly to despair. In a long shot filled with Christian imagery, Pi stands
on the edge of the boat, arms outstretched like Christ, “Why are you scaring him? I’ve lost
my family, I’ve lost everything! What more do you want?” The non-diegetic sound of rousing
orchestral music and the sound of crashing waves accompany is surrender and then fade to
sadder tones, conveying that he now understands the power nature holds, catalysed by
physical suffering. Thus, both protagonists overcome physical hardships that allow self-
exploration and discoveries pertaining to nature.

ROTAM and LOP explore the idea that overcoming physical hardships precipitate an internal
endeavour of divine revelation. The Mariner heads south from the Harbour, the Albatross
flies above the ship and the Mariner shoots it for no apparent reason. “Why look’st thou so
– With my crossbow I shot the ALBATROSS” Capitalisation of the Albatross conveys its
significance as God’s creation and to foreshadow its toll taken on the Mariner’s physical
state. The Albatross is symbolic of chastity and a ‘Christian soul’, accentuating the Mariner’s
violation against God’s wishes and thus distancing himself from spiritual faith. The butchery
of the Albatross led to physical drainage that catalysed his newfound understanding of God,
“Alone, alone, all, all alone.” Alliteration highlights his isolation and ‘soul in agony.” The
Mariner tells his tale to the Hermit after his ship sinks, he recognises God’s presence in his
life and his purpose in the natural world. “I know the man that must hear me: to him my
tale I teach” recounts his reignition with spiritual faith as he prevents further harm against
nature by sharing his doctrinal message. This is supported with an anastrophe to draw
attention to the importance of telling his story within his spiritual endeavour that is
catalysed by physical hardship. Similarly, during the sinking of the tsimtsum, a wide
overhead shot pulls away to reveal Pi’s loneliness in the vast, vigorous ocean. The word
‘tsimtsum’ describes an idea from Jewish Kabballah teachings of Isaac Luria, a rabbi and
mystic that implies that God’s withdrawal of infinite light from Pi’s spiritual faith and
physical challenges are necessary for growth in spirituality and independence. After his
surrender to nature in the second storm, Pi is provided with salvation from God, the
carnivorous island. A medium shot of Pi eating the island conveys its ability to fulfill Pi’s
physical needs. Its presence demonstrates that God is always looking out for Pi and this
extends to other religions and people of faith, religions can be reassuring during the vilest of
times and we can turn to it for guidance. Thus, both texts explore the idea that physical
suffering on an endeavour can catalyse newfound spirituality.

Coleridge’s ROTAM and Lee’s LOP present their audiences with texts that demonstrate that
overcoming physical suffering on a journey culminates in a newfound insight into nature and
their own spirituality. The Mariner embarks on a sea voyage in which his detachment from
the world led him to the sin of killing the Albatross. This wrought great suffering until he was
able rejoice that beauty exists in nature. Similarly, Pi’s Sea odyssey wrought great suffering,
enabling him to explore his own perspective and spirituality. Thus, both protagonists are
confronted with physical challenges in which they overcome to develop new insight into the
natural world and their spirituality.