on an island in the sun

" I preferred to set off and perish in search of my own kind than to live a lonely half-life of physical comfort and spiritual death on this murderous island." p.410

I cannot imagine the desperation and loneliness that someone would have to feel in order to leave behind the luxuries of food and water in order to proceed with a feeble quest to reach land. It seems amazing to me that after suffering through severe dehydration and hunger, Pi would leave behind an island that offers him all the basic requirements for survival in order to find other human beings traveling on the vast ocean.

Living on a lifeboat 24 hours a day surrounded by water that you cannot drink even though you are thirsty is extremely difficult, but, according to Pi, it is not nearly as difficult as dealing with the mix of emotions constantly running through your mind. The gut-wrenching feeling of pain or fright so extensive you cannot move mixed with sudden moments of ecstasy over something as simple as a sip of water would certainly take a toll on your mental health. As Pi figures out, being in the company of other people who you can interact with is another luxury that we take for granted. It is because Pi is so alone that his mind frequently wanders towards the thought of death and the hopelessness of his situation. The fact that Pi leaves the comfort of the island in order to improve his mental state speaks to the extent that human interaction influences our lives. Sometimes it is nice to get away from people and just be by yourself, but being in the company of people who love us is something we should never take for granted.