Life of Pi Analysis

Life of Pi Analysis
Ashley
Ashley
Bast
Bast
The Topics
The Topics

Imagery
Imagery

Tone
Tone

Symbols
Symbols

Setting
Setting

Theme
Theme
Religious Imagery
Religious Imagery
Orange Juice is compared to the Virgin Mary as she floats up to Orange Juice is compared to the Virgin Mary as she floats up to the the
boat boat
She came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of light, as She came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of light, as lovely as the Virgin lovely as the Virgin
Mary. Mary. (123) (123)
Pi spends three days and three nights on the extended oar just a Pi spends three days and three nights on the extended oar just as s
Jesus spent three days and nights in his tomb and Jonah three da Jesus spent three days and nights in his tomb and Jonah three days ys
and nights in the belly of the whale and nights in the belly of the whale
Pi smears himself with fish scales like Hindu Pi smears himself with fish scales like Hindu Tilaks Tilaks
I wore these spots of shine and silver like I wore these spots of shine and silver like tilaks tilaks, the marks of , the marks of colour colour that we Hindus that we Hindus
wear on our foreheads as symbols of the divine wear on our foreheads as symbols of the divine (217) (217)
Many of Pi Many of Pi s killings have ritualistic undertones s killings have ritualistic undertones
Pi suffers throughout the journey in the same way that god Pi suffers throughout the journey in the same way that god- -touched touched
prophets and mystics suffer in holy writings across different re prophets and mystics suffer in holy writings across different religions ligions
Significance
Significance
The use of religious imagery in the novel is important because a The use of religious imagery in the novel is important because at times t times
it reads as a defense of religion. Pi proves that science and re it reads as a defense of religion. Pi proves that science and religion can ligion can
coexist and compliment each other just as they do in him. coexist and compliment each other just as they do in him.
By having a protagonist who is not just deeply religious but is By having a protagonist who is not just deeply religious but is a Hindu, a Hindu,
Christian and Muslim at the same time shows that faiths don Christian and Muslim at the same time shows that faiths don t always t always
contradict each other and can work together just as science and contradict each other and can work together just as science and
religion can religion can
Pi suffers in a manner reminiscent of Christ, devotes himself to Pi suffers in a manner reminiscent of Christ, devotes himself to God God
simply and wholly like a Muslim and continues to keep doing Hind simply and wholly like a Muslim and continues to keep doing Hindu u
rituals while on the boat rituals while on the boat
The use of imagery from multiple religions shows that with toler The use of imagery from multiple religions shows that with tolerance ance
many different faiths can compliment each other many different faiths can compliment each other
Life of Pi Life of Pi is not strictly an allegory is not strictly an allegory
Examples of
Examples of
Tilaks
Tilaks
(pertaining to point no.3 on the Imagery slide) (pertaining to point no.3 on the Imagery slide)
Tone
Tone
Martel writes in a whimsical, tolerant tone that mirrors Pi's ou Martel writes in a whimsical, tolerant tone that mirrors Pi's outlook on tlook on
life. Pi life. Pi s narrative voice is optimistic and uses casual, unpretentious s narrative voice is optimistic and uses casual, unpretentious
language. By contrast, the book is filled with gory accounts to language. By contrast, the book is filled with gory accounts told in ld in
unflinching detail (i.e. the hyena killing the zebra and Orange unflinching detail (i.e. the hyena killing the zebra and Orange Juice) Juice)
Over the course of the novel Pi kills scores of animals, goes bl Over the course of the novel Pi kills scores of animals, goes blind from ind from
malnutrition and consumes Richard Parker malnutrition and consumes Richard Parker s excrement, all of this is s excrement, all of this is
told in plain terms that don told in plain terms that don t shield the reader from anything t shield the reader from anything
However, the novel also has understated moments of philosophy (l However, the novel also has understated moments of philosophy (like ike
when Pi is talking to Father Martin) and sudden beauty, like thi when Pi is talking to Father Martin) and sudden beauty, like this s
passage when Pi is killing a dorado passage when Pi is killing a dorado
The dorado did the most extraordinary thing as it died: it began The dorado did the most extraordinary thing as it died: it began to flash all kinds of to flash all kinds of
colours colours in rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickere in rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and d and
shimmered neon shimmered neon- -like on the surface as it struggled. like on the surface as it struggled. I felt like I was beating a I felt like I was beating a
rainbow to death. rainbow to death. (205) (205)
Significance
Significance
From an interview with From an interview with Yann Yann Martel Martel
Q: In describing the deaths of the zebra, the hyena and the Q: In describing the deaths of the zebra, the hyena and the orang orang- -utan utan you don you don t t
spare any gory details. Why is that quite so strong? spare any gory details. Why is that quite so strong?
A: A: I live in a society that is in terrified denial of I live in a society that is in terrified denial of unpalatable unpalatable realities, realities I realities, realities I
prefer to face prefer to face
The unflinching realism in relation to a story that would seem The unflinching realism in relation to a story that would seem too too
fantastic fantastic to believe otherwise gives it an element of dept. Pi has a love to believe otherwise gives it an element of dept. Pi has a love
of both science and religion, he describes events with scientifi of both science and religion, he describes events with scientific c
precision but with a prophet precision but with a prophet s heart. The reason why the book is s heart. The reason why the book is
written with such a optimistic, tolerant viewpoint is because it written with such a optimistic, tolerant viewpoint is because it is is
reflecting Pi reflecting Pi s own optimism and tolerance s own optimism and tolerance
Examples of Dorado
Examples of Dorado
(Pertaining to point no.3 on tone slide) (Pertaining to point no.3 on tone slide)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf0sIKypI4g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf0sIKypI4g (flying fish clip) (flying fish clip)
Symbols: Pi
Symbols: Pi
Pi is the preferred short form of Piscine Pi is the preferred short form of Piscine Molitor Molitor Patel, but serves a Patel, but serves a
purpose in addition to being a nickname purpose in addition to being a nickname
Pi is a letter in the Greek alphabet which also contains alpha a Pi is a letter in the Greek alphabet which also contains alpha and nd
omega omega- - terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive
roles. Additionally, Pi is an irrational mathematical number, us roles. Additionally, Pi is an irrational mathematical number, used to ed to
calculate distance in a circle. calculate distance in a circle.
Pi is often shortened to 3.14 because it has an infinite number Pi is often shortened to 3.14 because it has an infinite number of of
decimal places that the human mind can decimal places that the human mind can t accurately grasp it t accurately grasp it
Pi Pi s name, like just as, the book argues, some realities are too di s name, like just as, the book argues, some realities are too difficult fficult
or troubling to face. or troubling to face.
Significance
Significance
Pi Pi s name, like the book argues, shows that some realities are too s name, like the book argues, shows that some realities are too
difficult or troubling to face. difficult or troubling to face.
From an interview with From an interview with Yann Yann Martel: Martel:
Pi Pi is something of a mystery in itself in that it represents the r is something of a mystery in itself in that it represents the ratio of a circle atio of a circle s s
circumference to its diameter circumference to its diameter 3.1415926 3.1415926 etc etc but it seems impossible to take it but it seems impossible to take it
through to the last number after the point. through to the last number after the point.
Like Like pi pi , life is not finite. And so I didn , life is not finite. And so I didn t make the title The Life of Pi: I deliberately t make the title The Life of Pi: I deliberately
left out the definite article. That would have denoted a single left out the definite article. That would have denoted a single life. life.
Examples of Pi
Examples of Pi
The 50 first digits
of Pi written in
orange at the
forefront with
nearly 75 000 digits
written too small to
see in the
background
Setting
Setting
Life of Pi Life of Pi takes place in the mid 1970 takes place in the mid 1970 s when India was under the s when India was under the
leadership of leadership of Indira Indira Gandhi and when the Tamil Nadu government is Gandhi and when the Tamil Nadu government is
overthrown the Patel family decides to move to Canada overthrown the Patel family decides to move to Canada
The setting is initially wide The setting is initially wide- -open in Pi open in Pi s childhood, it is a time of Pi s childhood, it is a time of Pi
diving headfirst into knowledge and learning about the zoo. When diving headfirst into knowledge and learning about the zoo. When
Gandhi comes into power and the political situation in India bec Gandhi comes into power and the political situation in India becomes omes
worse the scope of the book mimics that. India becomes a totalit worse the scope of the book mimics that. India becomes a totalitarian arian
micro micro- -universe, the narrative almost goes in upon itself and Pi remark universe, the narrative almost goes in upon itself and Pi remarks s
But it was to Father the crowning touch in Mrs. Gandhi But it was to Father the crowning touch in Mrs. Gandhi s dictatorial takeover of the s dictatorial takeover of the
nation. The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke F nation. The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Father ather s back. (86) s back. (86)
The book reaches its smallest when Pi is on the lifeboat, by now The book reaches its smallest when Pi is on the lifeboat, by now it is it is
essentially claustrophobic. However Pi and Richard Parker manag essentially claustrophobic. However Pi and Richard Parker manage to e to
turn the twenty turn the twenty- -sick foot long boat into a temporary home where they sick foot long boat into a temporary home where they
each have their own space and are free to act as they please. each have their own space and are free to act as they please.
Significance
Significance
In the same way that the tone of the book mimics Pi In the same way that the tone of the book mimics Pi s outlook on life s outlook on life
the setting mimics the situation and emotions related to it. Pon the setting mimics the situation and emotions related to it. Pondicherry dicherry
is wide open and ripe for picking, Gandhi is wide open and ripe for picking, Gandhi s India becomes more s India becomes more
authoritarian and becomes associated with the emotion of fear, t authoritarian and becomes associated with the emotion of fear, the he
lifeboat is cramped and demands its occupants to work out a lifeboat is cramped and demands its occupants to work out a
compromise compromise
Containment also plays a large part; at the Pondicherry zoo the Containment also plays a large part; at the Pondicherry zoo the
animals have their own contained wilderness to be free in, all o animals have their own contained wilderness to be free in, all of India f India
is contained when the country is declared to be in a state of is contained when the country is declared to be in a state of
emergency and finally the lifeboat contains Pi and Richard Parke emergency and finally the lifeboat contains Pi and Richard Parker r
which separates them from the rest of the pacific ocean which separates them from the rest of the pacific ocean
Examples of Pondicherry
Examples of Pondicherry
Theme: Belief
Theme: Belief
Toward the end of the story Pi continually has to put up with pe Toward the end of the story Pi continually has to put up with people ople
who do not believe the story with the animals to be the true one who do not believe the story with the animals to be the true one
because it is too far beyond their breadth of knowledge to fatho because it is too far beyond their breadth of knowledge to fathom that m that
it may be true. In one case when Pi is angry about his story bei it may be true. In one case when Pi is angry about his story being ng
hard to believe hard to believe he lashes out and says he lashes out and says
Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is ask any scientist. God is
hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with har hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe? (330) d to believe? (330)
Pi also gets flack throughout the novel for being a practicing H Pi also gets flack throughout the novel for being a practicing Hindu, indu,
Christian and Muslim and for admiring atheists (Pi thinks that i Christian and Muslim and for admiring atheists (Pi thinks that it is very t is very
important to believe in important to believe in something something andcan andcan appreciate an atheist appreciate an atheist s ability s ability
to believe in the absence of God with no concrete proof of that to believe in the absence of God with no concrete proof of that
absence. absence.
Pi however, does not have friendly feelings towards agnostics wh Pi however, does not have friendly feelings towards agnostics who he o he
acknowledges as having a shameful lack of imagination acknowledges as having a shameful lack of imagination
Significance
Significance
From an interview with From an interview with Yann Yann Martel Martel
Q: Given that his travelling companion was a Bengal tiger, it se Q: Given that his travelling companion was a Bengal tiger, it seems predictable that ems predictable that
Pi Pi s story will be dismissed as fantasy. Why do you make it so far s story will be dismissed as fantasy. Why do you make it so far- -fetched? fetched?
A: A: In order to raise certain important questions. When he arrives a In order to raise certain important questions. When he arrives at the coast of t the coast of
Mexico after drifting across the ocean for 227 days, Pi gives ac Mexico after drifting across the ocean for 227 days, Pi gives accident investigators cident investigators
the whole story of his ordeal. However much he insists that it a the whole story of his ordeal. However much he insists that it all happened, they tell ll happened, they tell
him it is too fantastic to believe. Pi then gives a more plausib him it is too fantastic to believe. Pi then gives a more plausible version of events, le version of events,
which satisfies them. He had told them two stories. Both had the which satisfies them. He had told them two stories. Both had the same beginning: a same beginning: a
ship leaves India. Both had the same ending: there is only one h ship leaves India. Both had the same ending: there is only one human survivor uman survivor in in
either case, the investigators only have his word for what happe either case, the investigators only have his word for what happened. Pi asks the ned. Pi asks the
investigators, investigators, If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? If you stumble about believability, what are you living for?
Q: Q: Does Does Life of Pi Life of Pi reflect your own spiritual quest? reflect your own spiritual quest?
Religion doesn Religion doesn t deny reality, it explains it. Secular critics ask, t deny reality, it explains it. Secular critics ask, How can you believe? How can you believe?
This question doesn This question doesn t faze people with faith. Rationality is only part of the pictur t faze people with faith. Rationality is only part of the picture. e.
Science and religion don Science and religion don t have to collide t have to collide I see them as complementary, rather I see them as complementary, rather
than contradictory. Science can be a gateway to the greater myst than contradictory. Science can be a gateway to the greater mystery. ery.