Hierarchy Of Needs In Yann Martel's Life Of Pi
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a pyramid that includes five basic psychological needs that ensure the survival and growth needs of humans (Simply Psychology). In order to reach the top of the pyramid one must first obtain the most important basic need at the bottom of the pyramid - physiological. This is the basic need of food, water, sleep, rest, in order to become stronger and survive. In the Life of Pi, Pi reaches this stage when he is stranded in the middle of the ocean on a boat and he comes to the realization that he needs suitable food, water, and rest to sustain himself. Furthermore, Pi states “I had not had a drop to drink or bite to eat or a minute of sleep in three days” (148, Yann Martel). Through his eagerness to attain food,
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Moreover, the feeling of accomplishment establishes when Pi has deep thoughts of not making it out alive, but after his hard work of providing himself physiological, safety, and belonging needs, he reaches esteem when he finds land. “ ‘Look for the green,’ said the survival annual. Well, this was green. In fact, it was chlorophyll heaven” (286), Pi finally reaches land after all his suffering and hard work to keep him and the tiger. He reaches the feeling of accomplishment and self-respect. Finally, the last need is self-actualization, and it is reaching one’s full potential. Pi attains this stage when he realizes that it’s his own life and no one can tell him what to believe in. When the author visits Pi’s house he takes note of the environment, “His house is a temple. In the entrance hall hangs out a framed picture of Ganesha, he of the elephant head… In the living room, on the table next to the sofa, there is a small framed picture of the Virgin Mary…”(49 – 50, Yann Martel). This quote shows that after the shipwreck Pi realizes his full potential and full belief on who he is. Through his struggles on the lifeboat he seeks Christ, Allah, and Ganesha for help, and when Pi survives he gains self-actualization. Pi lets go of the need for self-actualization to focus back on physiological and make his
Moreover, the feeling of accomplishment establishes when Pi has deep thoughts of not making it out alive, but after his hard work of providing himself physiological, safety, and belonging needs, he reaches esteem when he finds land. “ ‘Look for the green,’ said the survival annual. Well, this was green. In fact, it was chlorophyll heaven” (286), Pi finally reaches land after all his suffering and hard work to keep him and the tiger. He reaches the feeling of accomplishment and self-respect. Finally, the last need is self-actualization, and it is reaching one’s full potential. Pi attains this stage when he realizes that it’s his own life and no one can tell him what to believe in. When the author visits Pi’s house he takes note of the environment, “His house is a temple. In the entrance hall hangs out a framed picture of Ganesha, he of the elephant head… In the living room, on the table next to the sofa, there is a small framed picture of the Virgin Mary…”(49 – 50, Yann Martel). This quote shows that after the shipwreck Pi realizes his full potential and full belief on who he is. Through his struggles on the lifeboat he seeks Christ, Allah, and Ganesha for help, and when Pi survives he gains self-actualization. Pi lets go of the need for self-actualization to focus back on physiological and make his