Discussion Answers On Yann Martel's 'Life Of Pi'

The Life of Pi, an award-winning novel by Yann Martel, tells the story of Pi Patel, a young boy stranded at sea with an adult Bengal tiger. Marooned on a tiny lifeboat adrift in the Pacific Ocean, Pi finds himself struggling to survive. Faced with imminent suffering and death brought on by hunger, thirst, and an unending battle with the elements, Pi must make a decision between upholding his and society’s strict set of morals and values, or letting his survival instincts take over. Through compelling language and imagery, Martel gives Pi’s conflict between morals, fear, and survival a sense of excitement, suspense, and climax.

Firstly, Pi’s devotion for God was clear and he often seeks clarity from god. Throughout the novel, Pi’s love for God caused him to practice three major religion at the same time; breaking any barriers between Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. Pi believes all three religions are equally true and interconnective as “[Islam and Christianity] both claim Abraham as theirs. Muslims say the God of the Hebrews and Christians is the same as the God of the Muslims. They recognize David, Moses, and Jesus as prophets” (80, Martel). Pi was morally ambiguous, he did not know if one religion would bring him closer to God than another causing him to follow all three. When Pi was stuck on the life boat, he often called out for help from god as he feared death. As he was giving up, a voice inside of him spoke from his heart and said “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” (164). Pi was uncertain whether or not he was going to survive however, he hoped through praying, he would as his faith in God brought him comfort.

Humans generally face struggles in their lifetime. Such struggles could be within themselves or with someone or something else but commonly stem from some sort of opposition in lifestyle. In Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, Pi’s passion for personal survival conflicts with his moral obligations to himself internally, morphing his external character.

In the novel, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, the theme of truth is seen most prominently in the last part of the book when main character, Piscine Patel is being interviewed by two Japanese men. Pi defines truth as being relative and an invention of man, when the believability of his story is questioned. He argues that even stories, such as his, can still be true to some no matter how difficult to believe they are.

The way Pi acts throughout his journey suggests that having faith is one of the most important practises to learn as it can give an individual hope. Pi has a strong connection to all his practising faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Society is set to have many unspoken rules that we must abide by to

Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore, once said “you can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the protagonist, Pi, faces many challenges at sea while being accompanied by a tiger by the name of Richard Parker. This tiger, though a nuisance, proves to be essential in the role of Pi’s survival. Throughout the story, Richard Parker symbolizes survival, a reflection of Pi, and a being of God.

Pi advances this point to convey that animals are also creatures of customs. When animals first come across their new territory, in the wild or in a zoo, they ceremonially mark “it out in the normal ways of it’s species, with sprays of urine” (18). Once the animalistic ritual is complete, the being does not feel “like a prisoner, but rather like a landholder” (18). This simile, comparing zoo animals to landholders demonstrates Pi’s insight on the comfortableness animals actually experience in zoos. Pi carries on by saying that if animals possessed the intelligence to decide, they would choose the safe enclosures of the zoo over the wild because they are fed, kept comfortable and away from any

When writing, authors need to think of their audience and involve an element of surprise. Authors use plot twists in their writing to help them accomplish surprising the audience, allowing them to keep their audience’s interest. Not only do plot twists help keep the audience’s attention, they also make the audience question their beliefs about what they think of the story. Authors can use this tool to advance their themes. Yann Martel uses a crazy plot twist in his book, the Life of Pi, to suggest to readers that truth is relative.

Pi then goes on to compare zoos to religion as people think zoos and religions are a means of caging people into a particular way of life. Pi does not agree as he believes zoos protect the animals and provide them with what they need; similar to how with religion God protects man and also provides guidance. Pi has studied zoology and religion at the University of Toronto, which demonstrates how he is closely connected to these two aspects. Pi uses a metaphor in this quote in order to compare zoos to religion and animals to people, as well as how there is so much misunderstanding in regards to both things. Even though religion and zoos are at different ends of the spectrum, since zoos rely on science and religion relies on faith, Pi is able to connect the two and show us how they can work in unison.

To begin, Pi explains how zoo animals, contrary to popular belief, would not necessarily be happier if they were freed than if they remained in captivity. The common misconception is that the “animals in the wild are ‘happy’ because they are ‘free’”(15). However, Pi effectively explains why this is not the case. Even though a zoo limits an animal’s freedom, the animal is happier because it is protected from dangers that, in the wild, would be commonplace and supplied with necessities that would otherwise be much harder to come across.

Every problem we face we are given a choice, face it, or run away from it. Often times we choose to face it. With facing it comes integrity, responsibility, and more importantly will and determination. In the Life Of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi is in a shipwreck and stranded at sea for 227 days. Although he is faced with many challenges and the odds are greatly against him, his strong will and determination allow him to live.

Vampires are attractive and strong yet evil and selfish due to their bloodlust. Many believe that vampires greatly differ from mortal humans, but Yann Martel uses the vast differences between Richard Parker and Pi Patel to reveal how even humans can have two different sides to themselves.

A person needs many things to survive; like food, water and shelter. People also need to be mentally stable to make good decisions when necessary. In the novel, The Life of Pi, the author, Yann Martel, puts the main character, Pi Patel, in a survival situation where he needed to acquire all these things to survive. Pi Patel’s mental needs are the most important part to his survival because once his mental needs are met he makes smart decisions and then can proceed to fulfill his other needs. Pi’s mental needs are more important than his physical needs when he invites Richard Parker onto his lifeboat.

Often time children in their developing years, meet authorities who greatly influence their life decisions and who they grow up to be. Author (Yann Martel) does a spectacular job at defining this throughout the entire novel “Life of Pi”. Pi himself had two authorities that were very close to him, but also shaped the person he is today. “It was my luck to have a few good teachers in my youth, men and women who came into my dark head and lit a match” (Yann Martel, 27). He refers to them as Mr. and Mr. Kumar - their professions are teaching and baking. The two Kumar’s are similar in their way of influencing what Pi studies in university and how truly passionate they are of their views about God. Although they each have very different relationships

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a compelling, profound, and a well written book. The main character, Piscine Motor Patel is a particularly loving and caring boy, especially for animals. When Pi was younger, he “always shuddered when [he] snapped open a banana because it sounded to [him] as the breaking of an animal's neck.” (page 197). Throughout chapter 61 in Life of Pi, Pi demonstrates how humans act more as animals when put under the right circumstances.