Survival In The Life Of Pi, By Yann Martel

Stranded and lost, deep in the Pacific ocean, with no direction or path to follow, with only a crazed hyena, a wounded zebra, a worried orangutan, and a fierce tiger for company. This is the situation that Pi finds himself in during the novel, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi), goes through many struggles and challenges throughout his journey in the lifeboat. There are some major beliefs that he learned during his childhood in India that helps him persevere through these struggles and survive to tell the tale. Three beliefs Pi learns in India that enabled him to survive on the lifeboat are that all animals are dangerous, that humans are the most dangerous animal, and to have faith in God.

Faith and science, two vastly different perspectives on the world, coexist throughout the book in a delicate balance. This novel of literary merit is filled with wonder. It has an aspect of purity that shows off a fresh look at our human traits, about religious topics, zoos and the wild, and the possibility of freedom. One thing that stood out about this novel is the way it perfectly blends religion and science, and then puts the two to the ultimate test in a treacherous survival situation. Life of Pi is an exploration of the beautiful mysteries that light up our

His religious beliefs from Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity give him a spiritual understanding of the world. He must combine his scientific facts from the zoo in conjunction with his religious beliefs to have the will and knowledge to survive in the lifeboat. The desire to survive is present from the point where Pi is thrown onto the lifeboat, to when Pi steps off the lifeboat. While at sea, Pi forfeits his vegetarian ways to survive on sea creatures.

Reflecting on Christianity Pi knows his faith in God would save him from damnation if he were to die, offering him some sense of comfort. “Pi's understanding of "God" is fundamentally altered by having to live so perilously close to the overwhelming forces of nature— including the sea and the tiger. His understanding of nature is likewise inevitably shaped by his practice of three religions” (Stephens 14). Reflecting back on atheism he knows he has to come up with a plan to survive and that he can’t just rely on God for his physical needs. Going back to Islam, which values animals as much as any other creature, Pi does some serious thinking about Richard Parker and figures out that his only way of not getting eaten by him is to take care of him. Lastly, Hinduism,“It seems orange—such a nice Hindu colour—is the colour of survival because the whole inside of the boat and the tarpaulin and the life jackets and the lifebuoy and the oars and most every other significant object aboard was orange. Even the plastic, beadless whistles were orange.” (Martel

Regarding the novel “Life of Pi” written by Yann Martel, there is a definite balance between the need for survival and belief of God. In my opinion, the primacy for survival is the most obvious theme in the novel. Although we know that Pi will survive his ordeal because of his story told as an adult, we witness Pi’s constant struggle against seemingly impossible odds. This is exemplified when Pi sacrifices his vegetarianism in order to have a source of food. He also commits gruesome deeds such as slaughtering aquatic animals to keep Richard Parker and himself alive. Throughout these events, one will see the extreme measures Pi experiences to survive, which evidently shows the theme of “will to survive”. On the other hand, belief in God is yet

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.

When considering the story, the “Life of Pi,” one begins to understand that one cannot undergo life without suffering, and one cannot encounter suffering without a certain amount of courage, determination, faith, and prayer. In the story, the “Life of Pi,” Pi experienced heartache through the death of his family, and underwent much suffering from witnessing the deaths of his mother, the Buddhist, and the cook. Pi also learned from his horrific experience how fragile life is and that one cannot control natural occurrences or change God’s plan. Although Pi faced much torment, he never lost his faith in God, nor did he give up on his own life. One of the more interesting ways that Pi described his suffering was through comparing the abnormal behaviors of his fellow escapees to the animals he studied at his family’s zoo. Therefore, because of his faith, courage, and determination, he defined himself more clearly than he would have if he had not experienced what he had.

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.

Pi values life and every organism placed in this world. That is why Pi chooses to be vegetarian. Even the sound of peeling bananas does not appeal to Pi. To him it sounds like an animal’s neck breaking. The first time Pi ever sees a life being taken away is when his father shows him and his brother a tiger’s ferocity. In this moment Pi realizes the importance of life and how quickly it can be taken away. “I don’t know if I saw the blood before turning into Mother’s arms or if I daubed it on later, in my memory, with a big brush but I heard” (45). Pi’s father shows Pi and his brother that even beautiful looking creatures could do great harm. The tiger is a majestic creature but tore through that goat like a madman. Life is precious and it can be easily taken from anyone. The death of the goat stuns Pi as much as when he learns about the death of Jesus Christ. To Pi it is impossible to injure a god, much less to kill one. How could someone so powerful die in such an embarrassing way? Pi now learns that death does not only happen in anger and sadness, but love as well. “Why would God wish that upon Himself? Why not leave death to the mortals? Why make dirty what is beautiful, spoil what is perfect” (68). Pi then understands that this death was out of love for all humans. An amazing selfless act allows Pi to see that love is in life and to cherish it. It makes him

Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices, worldviews, ethics, and social organisation that relate humanity to an order of existence. Religion gives people an outlook and a guide on how to deal with life. In the novel, “Life of Pi” Pi experiences many different struggles that test his faith and basic instincts. The author, Yann Martel, uses religion and zoology to explain Pi’s journey and survival throughout the novel. Martel’s novel is deeply religious and the protagonist Pi deals with his religious views and strong interest in zoology to survive.

The cost of survival is different in every scenario. Sometimes the cost can be small and materialistic like money, other times it can be something more pious like an individual’s identity. Whatever the cost is, a man’s first instinct is to sacrifice it and continue their life. For Pi, survival came at the cost of his principles and family. Pi, a vegetarian, had to kill the cook, the Frenchman and eat human and fish meat during his struggle on the lifeboat.

Pi’s dynamic persona is, first, demonstrated through his desire and will to live. As he states, “You may be astonished that in such a short period of time I could go from weeping over

Subject The Life of Pi by Yann Martel is full of conflict. Pi has to survive on a lifeboat in the middle of the pacific ocean accompanied by a full grown tiger. Pi must also keep himself poised while on the boat. He also must keep his beliefs that he followers which are Christianity, Muslum,and Hinduism.

It is difficult to talk about the Life of Pi text without making a reference to faith, and the same goes with explaining Pi’s survival. Pi’s belief in pluralism and acceptance of the three religions, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam aid his future and is a crucial part of his survival at sea. His faith in knowing “so long as god is with me, I will not die” gives him the mental strength and will power to survive his ordeal. Even in the middle of the ocean, Pi practices all his religious rituals such as ‘‘solitary masses without consecrated Communion Hosts’’