The Struggle and Self-Defense Mechanism of The Main

Character in The Novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

JOURNAL

Submitted to English Literarture Program

Faculty of Cultural Science, Khairun University
In The Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements of Sarjana Sastra
Degree

By
Ratna Sahie
(06211911077)

English Literature Program

Faculty of Cultural Scienses
Khairun University
Ternate
2023
The Struggle and Self-Defense Mechanism of The Main
Character in The Novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

JOURNAL

Submitted to English Literarture Program

Faculty of Cultural Science, Khairun University
In The Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements of Sarjana Sastra
Degree

By
Ratna Sahie
(06211911077)

English Literature Program

Faculty of Cultural Scienses
Khairun University
Ternate
2023
 ABSTRAK

Ratna Sahie, 2023. The Struggle and Self-Defense Mechanism of the Main
Character in the Novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel (Dibimbing oleh Dahrun
Sarif dan Indra Purnawan Panjaitan).

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membahas 1). Bagaiman Martel

menceritakan perjuangan tokoh utama dalam novel “Life of Pi”. 2). Apa saja
bentuk-bentuk mekanisme pertahanan diri tokoh utama dalam novel “Life of Pi”.
Penelitian ini menggunakan dua jenis pengumpulan data: primer dan
sekunder. Sumber data primer adalah novel “Life of Pi” karya Yann Martel.
Sedangkan data sekunder adalah bahan-bahan lain yang diambil dari buku,
pencarian internet, jurnal, artikel dan e-book yang berhubungan dengan
penelitian. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif kualitatif
untuk menggambarkan masalah dalam bentuk naratif dan kualitatif. Adapun
pendekatan yang peneliti gunakan adalah pendekatan Psikologi Sastra dan teori
yang digunakan adalah teori Psikoanalisis, Sigmund Freud. Dengan teori ini
peneliti dapat mengetahui kepribadian seseorang dalam melakukan perjuangan
dan mekanisme pertahanan diri.
Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa dalam novel "Life Of Pi" karya
Yann Martel terdapat beberapa permasalahan, yang pertama adalah perjuangan
internal dan perjuangan eksternal. Perjuangan yang dilakukan oleh Pi (tokoh
utama) dari segi internal terdiri dari keyakinan untuk bertahan hidup dan
berusaha melawan rasa takut. Sedangkan perjuangan eksternal Pi (tokoh utama)
adalah berdamai dengan alam dan menjinakkan harimau benggala (Richard
Parker). Permasalahan kedua, yaitu bentuk-bentuk mekanisme pertahanan diri
yang dilakukan oleh tokoh utama (Pi) terdiri dari pengakuan penuh harapan,
pengarahan, dan berpikir rasional. Bentuk-bentuk mekanisme tersebut dilakukan
oleh Pi untuk menyelesaikan masalahnya, sebagai bentuk penguatan diri atau
benteng pertahanan untuk bertahan hidup ketika ia berada di ambang kematian
untuk tetap mencapai tujuan yang ingin ia capai atau bertahan hidup. Meskipun
sulit dipercaya bahwa ia tidak akan mampu bertahan hidup. Ketiga mekanisme
pertahanan ini akan membantu Pi ketika ia terombang-ambing di lautan lepas
Samudera Pasifik.

Kata Kunci : Perjuangan, Internal, Eksternal, Mekanisme, Sigmund Freud

 ABSTRACT
Ratna Sahie, 2023. The Struggle and Self-Defense Mechanism of the Main
Character in the Novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel (Dibimbing oleh Dahrun
Sarif dan Indra Purnawan Panjaitan).

This research aims to discuss, 1) how Martel tells the struggle of the main
character in the novel "Life of Pi". 2) what are the forms of self-defense
mechanisms of the main character in the novel "Life of Pi"
This research uses two types of data collection: primary and secondary. The
primary data source is the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. While secondary
data are other materials taken from books, internet searches, journals, articles
and e-books related to the research. The research method used is descriptive
qualitative method to describe the problem in narrative and qualitative form. The
approach that researchers use is the Literary Psychology approach and the
theory used is the theory of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. With this theory,
researchers can find out a person's personality in carrying out struggles and self-
defense mechanisms.
The results of this study show that in the novel "Life Of Pi" by Yann Martel
there are several problems, the first of which is internal struggle and external
struggle. The struggle carried out by Pi (the main character) from an internal
perspective consists of the belief to survive and trying to fight fear. While Pi's (the
main character) external struggle is to make peace with nature and tame the
Bengal tiger (Richard Parker). The second problem, namely the forms of self-
defense mechanisms carried out by the main character (Pi) consists of hopeful
confession, direction, and thinking rationally. These forms of mechanisms are
carried out by Pi to solve his problems, as a form of self-strengthening or a
fortress of defense to survive when he is on the verge of death to still achieve the
goals he wants to achieve or survive. Although it is hard to believe that he will not
be able to survive. These three defense mechanisms will help Pi when he is
adrift on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean.
Keywords: Struggle, Internal, External, Mechanism, Sigmund Freud
A. Background to survive in a critical situation,

his marriage, his old age, and his

Literature is an imagination
death (1966: 12-13).
born from the power of human

thought and then developed by Like the novel, is one type of

describing events, struggles, literary work written in the form of a

experiences, or adventures, in a narrative that contains certain

life event. Which of course can conflicts in the life stories of the

never be separated from characters in the story. (F. Scott

problems or conflicts. Then Fitzgerald) sees the novel as "the

packaged in the form of fiction, story of one or more people who

such as novels, poems, short face internal or external conflicts and

stories, or dramas. And very grow or change as a result of the

popular with literature lovers. But experience." Whether a person

in essence, these literary works grows or not is seen in how he

can happen in someone's real responds to every problem. as stated

life. Kenney in his book How to in the novel "Life of Pi". This novel

Analyze Fiction, explains that a tells the challenging life story of a

work of fiction deals with events sixteen-year-old boy who struggles

that occur in time sequence, one on the high seas with a tiger for 227

after another. The story of a days in the Pacific Ocean, and he is

person's life, for example, the only survivor of a shipwreck that

includes his birth, his growing up, killed his family. Pi, (the main

the events of a person struggling character) uses the knowledge and

experience he has gained when any effort directed at

experiencing a crisis problem that managing stress including

afflicts him. And did all the struggles direct problem-solving efforts

and self-defense mechanisms for his and defense mechanisms

survival, to survive when drifting in used to protect themselves.

the free sea of the Pacific Ocean. Defense mechanisms used to

protect themselves.
"Life of Pi" is an award-
Meanwhile, according to
winning novel written by Yann
Keliat (1999), defense
Martel, a Canadian author.
mechanisms are ways that
This novel is a modern classic
individuals solve problems,
novel that is raised in this
adjust to changes, and
study, with the theme or title
respond to threatening
"The Struggle and Self-
situations.
Defense Mechanisms of The

Main Character in The Novel The researcher chose

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. In this topic because the novel

this study, the author deals with many philosophical

discusses the struggle and themes, including religious

self-defense mechanisms by self-determination, and the

overcoming various struggles changes in behavior that

or resistance. According to humans experience when

Stuart and Sundeen (1997), facing death. The novel also

self-defense mechanisms are tells how a person struggles

 with self-defense mechanisms defense mechanisms. Several

and finds inner strength in related scientific writings were found

critical situations that must that analyzed several novels from

require a revision of life views almost the same point of view. There

in oneself, and also are two researchers who studied

appreciates the meaning of almost the same thing, namely:

life. The researcher also First, research conducted by

found that not many have Mohamad Sahril (2013) in this

examined the struggle and journal focuses on the identity of the

self-defense mechanisms of main character in the novel "Life of

the main character in the Pie" by Yann Martel. This research

novel "Life of Pi" by Yann uses Sigmund Freud's

Martel, that have been done psychoanalysis theory. By using a

in previous studies, therefore literary psychology approach. The

the researcher chose the topic results of this study, namely, show

to fill the gaps in the research. the development phase of the main

character from childhood to

B. Literature Review
adolescence to find out his
To support this study,
personality, conflicts, and factors that
researchers tried to look at several
influence the search for identity, and
previous studies that discussed the
the efforts made by the main
same thing but in different novels
character in the search for his
and authors but related to the human
identity. The main character in Yann
struggle to survive by using self-
Martel's Life of Pi is extroverted, Holden uses at least six self-defense

intelligent, earnest and energetic. He mechanisms namely, denial (denial),

is a devout believer of three reaction formation, compensation,

religions: Hinduism, Christianity and release (movement), regression, and

Islam. He is also a lecturer at the rationalization.

University of Toronto, and an animal This research and the previous

lover. research above, have similarities

The second, research was and differences. The similarities

conducted by Dyah Ayu Naomi between this research and the first

Masitha (2021) in her thesis "Anxiety review, namely both researching

and Defense Mechanism as Seen in novels and the same theory

the Novel The Catcher in the Rye by difference is in the focus of research,

J. D. Salinger" The approach used in the first review the focus of research,

this research is psychoanalytic namely the search for identity from

criticism. The research method used childhood to adolescence while the

in this research is a literature study focus of this research, namely self-

and uses the theory of defense mechanisms. The equation

Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud. of this research with the second

This research aims to analyze the review above uses the same theory

forms of anxiety that Holden and almost the same research focus

experiences and the layers of self- but examines different novels.

defense mechanisms he uses. The This research is expected to add to

results of this study found that the understanding of literature

enthusiasts, especially regarding by setting literary work as the owner

struggle and self-defense of a more dominant position. From

mechanisms. Previous research is this, it can be seen that literary

relevant to this research because in psychology not only provides a

this research it is also found how a research model but also includes

person carries out all kinds of creative forms in this its approach

struggles and self-defense through a text.

mechanisms to survive in a critical However, some obstacles hinder

situation even on the verge of death. the development of literary

The researcher hopes that this psychology. When researchers take

research can be used as a source of is approach, it is done with excessive

reference and comparison material. enthusiasm, meaning that the

discussion is too focused on

C. Teoritical Basis
psychological aspects and often
1. Literary Psichological
ignores the nature of literary works.
Approach
Another obstacle is the inability of
The literary psychology
literature teachers to understand the
approach is one of the approaches
psychological concepts that should
used to analyze literary works in
be used in literary studies. Therefore,
terms of psychological aspects.
literature teachers need to
Accoarding to (Ratna, 2011: 349), a
understand and deepen the theories,
literary psychology approach is a
concepts, and definitions related to
form of creativity presented through
literary works. Psychological fiction is
an interdisciplinary research model
a term used to describe novels that (Endraswara, 2013 : 96).

del with the struggling, spiritual, Psychoanalytic theory is the most

emotional, and psychological comprehensive or all-embracing

aspects of the characters. Therefore, among other personality theories,

the study in this research focuses on but is has also received both positive

the struggle and self-defense and negative responses. The

mechanism of the main character in important role of the unconscious

the novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. and its sexual and aggressive

Using a literary psychology approach instincts in the regulation of

can be a guide in interpreting literary behavior, and was an important

works that contain elements of discovery for Sigmund Freud. The

psychology or a person’s psyche systematics used by Freud in

without losing the essence of a describing personality into three

literary work. main points, namely: personality

structure, personality dynamics, and

2. Sigmund Freud Theory of
personality development. In this
Psychoanalysis
study, the researcher focuses on
The author will capture the
personality dynamics, especially the
symptoms of the soul then process
theory of ego defense mechanisms.
them into the and equip with his soul.
The researcher chose Sigmund
The projection of one’s own
Freud's psychoanalytic theory to
experience and the experience of life
analyze one of the problems in the
around the author, will be projected
novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
imaginary into the literary text
Similarly, this study discusses the problems, adapt to change, and

personality of the main character by respond to threatening situations.

using all kinds of struggles and forms Therefore, self-defense

of self-defense mechanisms. to find mechanisms can also be interpreted

out the behavior or personality of the as individual efforts to deal with and

main character (Pi). control stressful situations arising

from the problems they face by

changing their conditions and

behaviors to put themselves in a

3. The Concept of Self-Defense
sense of security. Like the self-
Mechanism
defense mechanism carried out by
Self-defense mechanisms are a
the main character in the novel “Life
form of self-regulation that protects
of Pi”, which uses several forms of
individuals from anxiety, relieves the
mechanisms to survive in critical
pain of failure, and maintains self-
circumstances.
esteem. According to Stuart and
4. The Forms of Ego Defense
Sundeen (1997), defense
Mechanism (Sigmund Freud)
mechanisms are all efforts directed

at managing stress, including efforts Forms of ego defense

to solve problems immediately and mechanisms according to Sigmund

defense mechanisms used to Freud in the book Psychology of

protect themselves. According to Literature by Albertine Minderop

Keliat (1999), defense mechanisms (2010). It consists of nine ego

are the way individuals solve defense mechanisms namely

Repression, Sublimation, Projection, Sublimation occurs when

Displacement, Rationalization, socially beneficial actions replace

Reaction Formation, Regression, uncomfortable feelings. Sublimation

Aggression and Apathy, and finally is a form of diversion. As done by Pi

Fantasy and Streotype. But in this (the main character) in the novel

study, researchers only used several “Life of Pi” by using a diversion to

ego defense mechanisms namely: avoid anxiety when hearing, or

seeing something very scary.

a. Projection

c. Rationalization
Unconscious mechanisms that

protect us from recognizing of the Rationalization serves two

condition is called projection purposes: first, it reduces

(Hilgard, in Minderop 2010). In the disappointment when we fail to

novel “Life of Pi”, Pi (the main achieve a goal. Second, provides us

character) faces situations or things with an acceptable motive for

that are undesirable and behavior (Hilgard, in Minderop,

unacceptable. Then delegate it to 2010). Rationalization is a defense

another reason. That is, admitting it mechanism that involves a

by stopping hoping for help, and then reinterpretation of our behavior to

he continues to try without thinking make it more rational and acceptable

about it. He does this to look better. to us. Acceptable to us. We assess a

threat through an action that

b. Sublimation
persuades us that something is

more rational.
5. The Concept of Struggle while adrift in the open sea, the

Pacific Ocean.
Struggle is something that a

person does with great hope to Sayuti (2000: 42-43) divides

achieve a goal or dream. As conflict or struggle into three types.

explained by (Harmon, 2014), First, internal conflict or struggle, in a

"Struggle is a way in which we enter person (character). Second, conflict

into a process that is intended to or struggle, between people or a

move us from a place that limited person and society. Third, external

capacity to a place with unlimited conflict or struggle (between humans

potential and possibilities.” The and nature). However, this research

meaning of this sentence or only focuses on two conflicts or

statement is that a person who is struggles, namely internal conflict or

struggling has his own target that he struggle and external conflict or

wants to achieve, and struggle is the struggle.

most important step and must be

a. Internal Conflict or
completed after someone has given
Struggle, Conflict Within a
him motivation or confidence. Like
Person (Main Character)
the struggle of the main character in
This conflict is often also
the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
called psychological conflict or
who has a target in the form of the
psychological conflict. This type
struggle he carries out for his
of conflict usually occurs in the
survival in order to achieve his goal,
form of a character's struggle
namely to survive in an emergency
against himself, so that he can when the characters cannot

overcome and determine what to control and/or utilize and cultivate

do. Like in the novel "Life of Pi" the natural surroundings as they

how Martel is the main character. should. Like in the novel "Life of

In the novel "Life of Pi" how Pi" how the main character

Martel brings to life the emotions continues his journey and gathers

of the main character. When Pie tremendous strength to keep

was at sea alone and as an fighting to prevent death. Then he

orphan, what was even worse tried and made peace with nature

was Pi, along with the wild for his survival.

animals that accompanied him.

6. Structural Elements in Literary
At that time negative thoughts
Works
had taken over him. Then he
a. Intrinsic Elements
experienced a situation he had

never experienced at all. When Intrinsic elements are

he saw a hyena kill a zebra. the essential elements

contained in a literary work

b. External Conflict or
and form the core substance
Struggle (Conflict Between
of the work. (Deni Purbowati,
Humans and Nature)
2023). There are also
Conflicts like this are often intrinsic elements that will be
referred to as physical or element explained more clearly as
conflicts or natural conflicts. This follows:
type of conflict usually occurs
1. Theme influence the dynamics

The theme discusses of a story

the message or idea that 4. Character and

the author wants to Characterization

convery. It can be The character and

values, universal characterization in a

concepts, or views on literary work, consisting

life. of main characters and

supporting characters,

2. Plots can develop and have

characteristics that
The sequence of events
distinguish each other in
that form the framework
the story.
of the story which

includes the introduction, b. Extrinsic Elements

delopment of conflict,
Extrinsic elements are factors
climax, and resolution of
outside the text that influence
a problem.
the interpretation and judgment
3. Setting of the literary work. Extrinsic
The setting where and elements of a literary work can
when a story takes place be the reader’s interpretation,
that help create the historical context, or the
atmosphere and author’s influence on a work

(Deni Purbowati, 2023). Here

 are some extrinsic elements of make it easier for researchers to

literary works: solve a problem they want to study.

Descriptive research is a type of

1. Author Background
research that aims to describe or
Knowledge of the
describe existing phenomena, both
author’s life,
natural phenomena and man-made
background, and outlook
phenomena that can include
can provide insight into
activities, characteristics, changes,
the motivations and
relationships, similarities, and
intentions behind a
differences between one
literary work. The
phenomenon and another
author’s personal
(Sukmadinata 2017: 72).
experience is an

extrinsic element that is 1. Descriptive Qualitative Method

usually reflected in the
This research uses the
story, theme, or
Descriptive Analysis method
cahacters.
because descriptive analysis is a
D. Research Methods
method that is carried out by
In this study, researchers used describing the facts which are then
research methods in order to direct followed by analysis. This method
and also assist researchers in is directly focused on the problem to
studying problems related to what be studied, then the research
they wanted to study. researchers results are analyzed and
use descriptive analysis methods to
conclusions are made. This method famous Canadian writer, Yann

aims to make a systematic and Martel. This novel has 401 pages.

accurate description of the data

E. Data and ANALYSIS
under study based on existing
In this chapter,
phenomena and empirical facts.
researchers will try to discuss
The research used used library
and analyze the struggle and
research, because this research
self-defense mechanism of
was carried out by collecting various
the main character in the
references in the form of novels,
novel Life of Pie by Yann
theses on literature and sources in
Martel. That is how Pie or the
books related to literature.
main character in this novel
2. Data Source
struggles very hard to survive

The main data source for this in the free sea of the Pacific

research is a novel entitled “Life of Ocean. Then the researcher

Pi.” This novel has become a will analyze a deeper

modern classic, combining great discussion related to the

storytelling with deep exploration of novel, by answering the two

the timeless themes of faith and problem formulations above,

truth, fact and fiction, man versus namely the first is how Martel

nature and innocence. This novel tells the struggle of the main

was first published in 2001 by the character in the novel "Life of

Pi" and what are the forms of

the main character’s self-

 defense mechanism in the Ocean, specifically along the

novel "Life of Pi". equatorial countercurrent that

runs east to west along the

1. How Martel Tells The Struggle
equator. His faith and knowledge
of The Main Character in The
of animals helped him survive
Novel “Life of Pi”
227 days at sea in a lifeboat with
The novel is originally set in
a 450-pound Bengal tiger.
India in the late 1990s. The

author (Martel) has traveled to 1. The Main Character’s Internal

Pondicherry, a coastal city in the Struggle to Survive

former French territory of India, Every human being is

which joined Independent India in inseparable from struggles in life.

1954. The Pondicherry region still These struggles can be within

has many French nationals, as themselves or with others or with

well as very diverse something else. But in general,

churches/places of worship. The this kind of thing stems from

author (Martel) then traveled to conflicts in people's lifestyles. In

Canada to interview Piscine the novel "Life of Pi", Martel

Molitor Patel (Pi) the protagonist portrays Pi's desire to survive

of the story. But little of the story that conflicts with his moral

is set there, Pi (the protagonist) obligations towards himself

grew up in Pondicherry in the internally. The internal struggle

mid-1970s, but the setting for in "Life of Pi" consists of survival

most of the story is the Pacific

 beliefs, and trying to overcome
anxiety.
a. Survival Beliefes
Survival is a common theme
embedded throughout the book
Life Of Pi, which can be seen
mentally through Pi (the main
character). When it comes to
survival, there is no plan, we just
try to get through the day without
any preparation. Such is the
case with Pi, who tries
convince himself to survive when
he is in a predicament that he
never expected. With
confidence and courage he had,
he kept his spirit to survive. As in
the quote below:
“I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it
through this nightmare. I will beat the
odds, as great as they are. I have
survived so far, miraculously. Now I
will turn miracle into routine. The
amazing will be seen every day. I will
put in all the hard work necessary.
Yes, so long as God is with me, I will
not die. Amen”. (Martel, 2001 : 186)
The quote above shows that
belief plays a very important role in
the continuity of our lives, even when
we are in difficult circumstances, with
confidence, courage, and strong self-
confidence will lead us to something
that we never regret even though the
end is not in accordance with the
expectations we want, as done by Pi
(Main Store) in the quote below:
to
“My set to a grim and determined
expression. I speak in all modesty as
I have a fierce will to live. It’s not
something evident, in my
experience. Some of us give up on
the life with only a resigned sigh. Others
figth a little, then lose hope. Still
others and I am one of those never
give up. We figth to the very end. It’s
not a question of courage. It’s
something constitutional, an inability
to let go. It may be nothing more
than life hungry stupidity”. (Martel,
2001 :186).
For someone who is in a situation
of survival alone for a long period,
the hardest thing to do is to maintain
mental health by keeping positive
thinking such as believing that we
will survive and not doubting it.
Similarly, when Pi finds out that there
is a tiger (Richard Parker) in the
lifeboat with him, he still believes that
everything will look fine even though
he knows that Richard Parker is a
wild animal. As in the quote below:
“Oncoming death is terrible enough,
but worse still is oncoming death
with time to spare, time in which all
the happiess that was yours and all
the happiness that might have been
yours becomes clear to you. You see
with u tter lucidity all that you are
losing”. (Martel, 2001 :185-186).
b. Fighting Fear
Fear is the Greatest Obstacle in
Life While most people see fear as
cowardice and lack of confidence,
they tend to overlook the idea that
fear causes and hinders many other
emotions as well as your life. Fear
appears as something
uncontrollable and even
unavoidable and takes over the
mind and heart. This fear seduces
us and does not allow us to think
clearly when facing these dangerous
obstacles. As expressed by Pi (the
main character), in the novel "Life of
Pi" the fear he feels can be seen in
the quote below:
“I must say a word about fear. It is
life’s only true opponent. Only fear
can defear life. It is a clever,
treacherous adversary, how well I
know. It has no decency, respects no
law or convention, shows no mercy.
It goes for your weakets spot, which
it finds with unerring ease. It begins
in your mind, always. One moment
you are feeling calm, self-possessed,
happy. Then fear, disguised in the
garb of mild-mannered doubt, slips
into your mind like a spy. Doubt
meets disbelief and disbelief tries to
push it out. But disbelief is a poorly
armed foot soldier. Doubt does away
with little trouble. You become
anxious. Reason comes to do battle
for you. You are reassured. Reason
is fully equipped with the latest
weapons technology. But, to your
amazement, despite superior tactics
and a number of undeniable
victories, reason is laid low. You feel
yourself weakening, wavering. Your
anxiety becomes dread”. (Martel,
2001: 203).
The quote above expresses the
opinion of Pi about the fear he
experiences. how Pi struggles with
fighting fear by using common sense
he fights the fear because fear is the
only true opponent of life. Only fear
can defeat life. Pi's self-confidence is
so big and strong that he fights
against it when he is tossed around
in the open sea with a Bengal tiger
(Richard Parker).
“The matter is difficult to put into
words. For fear, real fear, such as
shakes you to your foundation, such
as you feel when you are brought
face to face with your mortal end,
nestles in your memory like a
gangrence: it seeks to rot everything,
even the words with which to speak
of it. So you must fight hard to
express it. You must fight hard to
shine the light of words upon it.
Because if you don’t, if your fear
becomes a wordless darkness that
you avoid, perhaps even manage to
forget, you open yourself to further
attacks of fear because you never
truly fought the opponent who
defeated you. (Martel, 2001: 204).
2. The Main Character's External
Struggle For Survival
The external struggle in the
novel “Life of Pi” especially in the
main character (Pi) is a struggle from
an external perspective where Pi
tries to utilize and civilize the
surrounding nature properly. For
example, Pi tries to make peace with
the free ocean which is very scary
and empty. Pi also makes peace
with the wild animls on the lifeboat
and under the sea, for example, the
deadly shark. Everything he did for
the sake of his survival when he was
on the verge of death. There are two
external struggles carried out by the
main character in the novel “Life of
Pi”, namely, making peace with
nature, and taming the Bengal Tiger
(Richard Parker).
a. Making Peace With Nature
“I awoke once during the night. I
pushed the canopy aside and looked
out. The moon was a sharply defined
crescent and the sky was perfectly
clear. The stars shone with such
fierce, contained brilliance that it
seemed absurd to call the night
dark”. (Martel, 2001 : 223)
 In the quote above, Martel tells
the main character Pi is enjoying a
night full of emptiness in his life, how
he enjoys the ups and downs of the
changing weather, and how there is
a loss of beautiful nights and bad
nights. Although he is frustrated with
what has happened to him, Pi still
enjoys a long night full or povetry
and hopelessness to be saved for
his survival.
“There are many examples of
animals coming to surpsrising living
arrangements. All are instances of
that animal equivalent of
anthropomorphism: zoomorphism,
where an animal takes a human
being, or an other animal, to be one
of its kind”. (Martel, 2001: 106)
b. Taming the Bengal Tiger
(Richard Parker)
On a night filled with
emptiness and heavy rain and as the
day wore on the sea became more
and more violent, in this kind of
situation Pi was tormented as he
enjoyed the worst night he could
ever imagine. All he does in such a
situation is he enjoys this bad night
and then tries to make peace with
the situation. Pi drank the rainwater
even though he was not thirsty, and
was forced to drink the rainwater. Pi
also took a container from the
lifeboat and collected rainwater to
make drinking water when he was
thirsty. But under such
circumstances, he never forgot that
he was in a lifeboat with a tiger and
Richard Parker. Pi made Richard
Parker his friend and tried to tame
him. As in the quote below:
“I had to tame him. It was at that
moment that I re- alized this
necessity. It was not a question of
him or me, but of him and me. We
were, literally and figuratively, in the
same boat. We would live-or we
would die together”.(Martel,
2001:206)
The meaning of the quote above
is that Martel tries to tell how Pi
convinces himself to be friends with
Richard Parker even though his
desire seems stupid and impossible.
Even though he initially wanted to kill
Richard Parker, now Pie prefers to
tame him. Because for him he wants
to survive because of Richard
Parker. The same thing is in the
quote below:
“I will come clean. I will tell you a
secret: a part of me was glad about
Richard Parker. A part of me did not
want Richard Parker to die at all,
because if he died I would be left
alone with de- spair, a foe even more
formidable than a tiger. If I still had
the will to live, it was thanks to
Richard Parker”. (Martel, 2001 : 207)
As said in the quote above,
Martel tells the external struggle of
the main character Pi who tries to
tame a wild animal, or Richard
Parker who weighs 450 kilo grams.
Because for Pi, the only person in
this world he has is Richard Parker.
Even though at first he wanted to kill
him, Pi realized that Richard Parker
was now part of his family.
For the sake of survival, Pie also
uses his wits and thoughtson how he
can tame Richard Parker. In the end,
Pi decides to decide to catch fish to
feed Richard Parker because the
robber is a meat-eating animal. And
it was also for his sake to survive in
a critical situation. As in the quote
below:
“I fished with a variety of hooks at a
variety of depths for a variety of fish,
from deep-sea fishing with large
hooks and many sinkers to surface
fishing with smaller hooks and only
one or two sinkers. Success was
slow to come, and when it did, it was
much appreciated, but the effort
seemed out of proportion to the
reward. The hours were long, the
fish were small, and Richard Parker
was forever hungry”. (Martel, 2001:
245).
Even though sometimes Pie
doesn't manage to catch a lot of fish,
he still tries his best to feed Richard
Parker who is always hungry, and
also himself for the sake of his
survival. In this kind of context,
Martel tells the external struggle of
the main character who tries to make fortress in overcoming feelings of

peace with nature and the animals depression, anxiety, stress, or

around him. Pi tries to utilize all his resolving a conflict. Which consists

knowledge, struggles to get food, of hopeful confession, direction, and

and overcomes storms and thinking rationally.

disasters, then Pie makes peace

a. Hopeful Confession
with the open sea and also a tiger. Below is an example of

“I was Richard Parker who calmed confession Pi (the main character) in

me down. It is the irony of this story
that the one who scared me witless carrying out self-defense
to strart with was the very same who
brought me peace, purpose, I dare mechanisms, can be seen from the
say even wholeness”. (Martel, 2001 :
204) quote below:

“I had to stop hoping so much that a

2.The Forms of Main ship would rescue me. I should not
Character's Self-Defense count on outside help. Survival had
to start with me. In my experience, a
Mechanism castaway’s worts mistake is to hope
too much and do too little. Survival
starts by paying attention to what is
Self-defense mechanisms are close at hand and immediate. To
look out with idle hope is tantamount
ways that individuals use to to dreaming one’s life away”. (Martel,
2001 : 212).
overcome feelings of depression,

anxiety, and stress, or resolve In the quote above, there is a

conflicts, either consciously or confession of Pi (the main character)
unconsciously. In this study, Pi (the in carrying out a self-defense
main character) uses forms of self- mechanism, namely by confessing.
defense mechanisms as a form of When he stopped hoping that a ship
strengthening or self-defense would save him. Without realizing it,
this is one of the mechanisms that
can make him continue to survive in
the Pacific Ocean. Pi managed to
think, and make a confession, that
he had to stop hoping that a ship
would come to save him. This
recognition made him make more
effort than waiting to be rescued.
“Oh, what it was to bask in it! Things
would work out yet. The worst was
over. I had survived the night. Today
I would be rescued. To think that, to
string those words to gether in my
mind, was it self a source of hope.
Hope fed on hope. As the horizon
became a neat, shapr line, I scanned
it eagerly. The day was clear agai
and visibility was perfect. I imagined
Ravi would greet me first and with a
tease”. (Martel, 2001 : 150)
The quote above shows how Pi
(the main character) performs a self-
defense mechanism with a
confession that all he has is hope
that he made it through a difficult day
yesterday even though today is still
the same. Pi also hopes that Ravi's
brother will come to him and joke
with him.
b. Diversion
This mechanism aims to
replace uncomfortable feelings as a
form of diversion to defend against
anxiety. The diversion mechanism
carried out by Pi (the main character)
can be seen in the quote below:
“Strange as it might sound, it was
only after a long time that I looked to
see what was happening in the
lifeboat. The hyena had attacked the
zebra. Its mouth was bright red and it
was chewing on a piece of hide My
eyes automatically searched for the
wound, for the area under attack. I
gasped with horror”. (Martel, 2001 :
150)
This defense mechanism works
as a diversion when Pi (the main
character) feels very emotional
towards a hyena but for the sake of
his survival, even though he is very
emotional towards a hyena Pie can
only divert it with emotional feelings
without doing anything as in the
quote below:
“I must be honest about that. I didn't
have pity to spare for long for the
zebra. When your own life is
threatened, your sense of empathy is
blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger
for survival. It was sad that it was In the quote above there is an
suffering so much-and being such a
big, strapping creature it wasn't at ego defense mechanism at work
the end of its or deal-but there was
nothing I could do about it. I felt pity when he is bullied by his
and then I moved on. This is not
something I am proud of. Iam sorry I schoolmates. This time, without
was so callous about the matter. I
have not forgotten that poor zebra realizing it the mechanism that works
and what it went through. Not a
prayer goes by that I don't think of it”. on him is sublimation or a deversion
(Martel, 2001 : 151)
that makes him sometimes pretend

The direction made by Pi (the not to hear what his friends are

main character) is a feeling of saying. Hear what his friends say

resignation and sadness because of about him. He tries not to indifferent

the thousands of struggles he has to the ridicule given to him. But even

made to survive, now he cannot help though he was indifferent or

a zebra that was pecked by a hyena. indifferent, the hurt that she

Because he could not do anything in experienced could not go away

this condition even though he was quickly.

very upset with the hyena he was

c. Thinking Rationally
more concerned with himself to stay

safe. But he still keeps the zebra in Rationalization serves two

his memory. purposes: first, it reduces

“I would freeze or, the contrary, disappointment when we fail to

pursue my activity, pretending not to
have heard. The sound would achieve our goals. Second, it
disappear, but the hurt would linger,
like the smell of piss long after it has provides us with an acceptable
evaporated”. (Martel, 2001 : 26).
motive to behave (Hilgard, in

Minderop, 2010). Think Rationally is

a defense mechanism that involves
reinterpreting our behavior to make it
more logical and acceptable to us.
Acceptable to us. We assess a
threat through an action
convinces us that there is something
more rational. The
mechanism used by the character Pi
can be seen in the quote below:
“Fear and reason fought over the
answer. Fear said Yes. He was a
fierce, 450-pound carnivore. Each of
his claws was a sharp as a knife.
Reason said No. the tarpaulin was
sturdy canvas, not a Japanese paper
wall.” (Martel, 2001: 135).
From the quote above, it can
be seen that when Pi
uncomfortable with Richard Parker's
presence on the lifeboat,
subconscious scrambles to find the
real answer. His fear says that
Richard Parker is a beast with claws
as sharp as knives. However, this
common sense/mechanism says that
the tarp on the lifeboat is made of
sturdy canvas because the tarp is
made of canvas. canvas, because
the tarp is made of sturdy canvas, it
is impossible for Richard Parker to
that tear the tarp with his nails. That is
the mechanism of rational thinking
rational carried out by the character Pi, but
this mechanism unconsciously runs
or already exists in every human
being to cover up the anxiety that
exists in him.
“I will come clean. I will tell you a
secret: a part of me was glad about
Richard Parker. A part of me did not
want Richard Parker to die at all,
because if he died I would be left
alone with de- spair, a foe even more
feels formidable than a tiger. If I still had
the will to live, it was thanks to
Richard Parker”.(Martel, 2001 : 207 )
Pi (the main character) thinks
his
rationally by convincing himself to be
friends with Richard Parker even
though his desire looks stupid and
impossible. Although initially she
wanted to kill the tiger (Richard
Parker), now Pie prefers to
rationalize her thoughts logically by
taming him. Because for her, she struggles, first internal

wants to survive because of Richard struggles and external

Parker. The same thing is in the struggles. The struggle

quote below: carried out by Pi (the main

"I love you!" The words burst out character) from an internal
pure and unfet- tered, infinite. The
feeling flooded my chest. "Truly I do. perspective consists of the
I love you, Richard Parker. If I didn't
have you now, I don't know what I belief in survival and trying to
would do. don't think I would make it.
No, I wouldn't. I would die of fight fear. Which discusses
hopelessness. Don't give up, Richard
Parker, don't give up. I'll get you to the desire to survive in an
land, I promise, I promise!" (Martel,
2001 : 298) emergency and fight fear for

the sake of survival when

F. Conclusion
adrift on the high seas. The
After analyzing the struggle from the external
selected novel, the researcher perspective is in the form of
concluded the two problem making peace with nature and
formulations above, namely: taming the Bengal tiger

The conclusion is that (Richard Parker). the struggle

there are two kinds of for survival. in the Pacific high

problems in this study, namely seas along with four animals,

first, how Martel tells the and only the (wild) tiger was

struggle of the main character left. Then Pie tries to make

in the novel "LIfe of Pi", peace with the situation with

namely there are two kinds of the surrounding nature.

 The second problem is The following are suggestions

how the forms of self-defense that researchers give to the parties

mechanisms carried out by involved in this research. First,

the main character (Pi) students can increase their

consist of hopeful confession, knowledge and insight by analyzing

direction, and thinking or studying literary works, especially

rationally. These forms of the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.

mechanisms are carried out Second, for readers, the results of

by Pi to solve his problems, this analysis can increase their

as a form of self- knowledge and understanding of

strengthening or a stronghold literary works, especially for novel

to survive when he is on the fans. Third, for researchers, the

verge of death to still achieve results of this research can serve as

the goals he wants to achieve a guide in conducting research on

or survive. Although it is hard literary works, especially for those

to believe that he will not be who want to study the same novel or

able to survive. These three use the same theoretical approach.

defense mechanisms will help However, the researcher realizes

Pi when he is adrift on the that this research is still far from

high seas of the Pacific perfect, because the researcher

Ocean. actually only covers a small part of

all aspects that can be studied in

G. Suggestion
depth from literature studies.
Therefore, there are still many things ress.com/category/review-
film-life-of- 09. ferbruary
that need to be added and improved 2023 pie/).
to achieve perfection. Researchers Aditiya Putra. "Sinopsis & Review
Life of Pi, Perjalanan
ask for suggestions and comments
Spiritual di Lautan (Access
on this research, but researchers on 09, 2023.
bacaterus.comhttps://bacat
also ask that information, erus.com > review- life-
Sinopsis & Review Life of
suggestions or criticism be given Pi, Perjalanan Spiritual di
Lautan).
tactfully and politely. If a researcher
Diki Febrianto. Purwati Anggraini.
receives suggestions or even (2020). "Mekanisme
Pertahanan Diri Dalam
criticism that wants to encourage the
Novel Kaki Langit Talumae
researcher to be better, the Karya Wishnu Mahendra".
(Vol. 16 No 2. 2020).
researcher will accept it with open
Diren Ashok Khandhar, Hardev
arms. Kaur Jujar Sigh, Rosli Talif,
Zainor Izat Zainal. (2020).
BIBLIOGRAPHY “Eco-psychology and The
Role of Animals to Heal
Adelin, Gledys. (2016).
Trauma in Life of Pi” (Vol.
"Kecemasan dan
12, No. 1, January-March,
Mekanisme Pertahanan Diri
2020). Universiti Putra
Alice Howland dalam Novel
Malaysia.
Still Alice Karya Lisa
Genova (Vol. 4. No. 4 Echols, John M and Hassan
Oktober 2016) Manado: Shadily. Kamus Indonesia
Jurnal Skripsi S1 Inggris: Edisi Ketiga.
Mahasiswa Universitas Sam Jakarta:PT. Gramedia, 1992.
Ratulangi Fakultas Ilmu
Budaya Manado. Ferina Tri Wulandari, Sutarto
Sutarto,Irana Astutiningsih.
Aimd Arihim. (2016). "Psikologi (2014). "Searching Cultural
Kognitif. Review Film Life of Identity In Yann Martel's
Pie". (Access on Life of Pie Pencarian
https://kognitifkelasb.wordp Identitas Kultural di Dalam
 Novel Life of Pie Karya Martel, Yann. 2001. Life of Pie.
Yann Martel (Vol. 2 No 3 Kanada. Random House of
November 2014). Program Canada.
Studi Sastra Inggris,
Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Minderop, Albertine. (2010).
Jember. "Psikologi Sastra: Karya
Sastra, Metode, Teori, dan
Fandhy Pandey. "Pengertian, Contoh Kasus". Jakarta:
Fungsi, dan Jenis-Jenis Yayasan Pustaka Obor
Pertahan Diri (Self Defense Indonesia anggota IKAPI
Mechanism (Access on 09, DKI Jakarta.
2023
https://handypandey.com/p Nurul Azmi Aprianti. (2022). "An
engertian-fungsi-dan-jenis- Analysis of Education Value
jenis- mekanisme- and Defence Mechanism
pertahanan-diri-self- "Life of Pie" Novel by Yann
defense-mechanism-17867). Martel" ( Vol. 5, No. 1, April-
July 2022). English
George C. Boeree. (2017). Language Education,
"Personality Theories: Postgraduate Program-
Melacak Kepribadian Anda Universitas Indraprasta
Bersama Psikologi Dunia". PGRI
Jogjakarta: Prismasophie.
Terry Angela Monica, Jepri Jepri,
Gracia Purnomo. (2019). “The Ulum Janah. (2020). "Self
Maturity Process of Pi in Defense Mechanism as an
“Life of Pi” (Vol. 7, No. 3, Overcoming Tool of Anxiety
2019). Petra Christian in the Novel Me Before You"
University. (Vol. 6 No 1. 2020). Faculty
of Letters, Balikpapan
Hartono, M. Hum. "Beberapa University.
Pendekatan Pengkajian
Sastra". (Access on 09,
2023. Beberapa Pendekatan
Pengkajian Sastra).

Martel Yann. (2001). "Life Of Pie".

Kanada Knopf Canada.

Martel, Yann. 2013. "Life of Pi".

Jakarta: PT Gramedia
Pustaka Utama.