Other Theme

When the realization hits Pi that the sailors threw him onto the lifeboat not to save his life, but to try to use him as bait to get the hyena off, it is evident that sacrifice comes in many forms. Pi originally has difficulty killing a flying fish, and the rough sailors have no problem sacrificing an innocent boy to save their own lives. The idea that killing another human being out of fear and selfishness is something that Pi is not accustomed to, and as a result it horrifies him and instills in him, stronger values while on the boat, as well as later in life. Because he is aware that all that crossed his path while on his lifeboat sacrificed for him in some way, Pi prayed and continued to pray, for each person, or creature, knowing each one led him to safety. Also, letting Richard Parker stay with him when he could have left him on a carnivorous island, illustrates the strong morals which he gained by watching the selfish sailors sacrifice not out of necessity, but out of fear. The different forms of sacrifice come into play often in the novel, but no matter how desperate he becomes, Pi never loses his morality or values and continues to act only out of necessity. Had he behaved like the sailors, Richard Parker’s teeth would be the ones found in the tree.

Other Themes in Life of Pi

Throughout the novel, Pi is consistently faced with obstacles when trying to be rescued. For instance he is stranded on a small life boat with a Bengal Tiger, the flares left on the boat aren't getting anyone's attention, and he is at the mercy of the open sea. Pi's willingness to survive creates the theme that hope is one of the surest elements of survival. There is a point in the novel where Pi comes to terms with his approaching death, but something inside of him gave him hope to wait to be rescued. For instance that hope led him to face Richard Parker and explore the boat for food. That hope also gave him the incentive to leave the island he was washed up on. Because he knew that if he stayed on the island, he would never be discovered, Pi left, giving himself another chance to be rescued. Pi was stuck on the life boat for 277 days, along with a sense of creativity to survive, his hope of being rescued became his overall drive.

Poetry

Despite no explicit reference to poetry, the importance of prose is vividly portrayed in Martel’s, Life of Pi. Throughout the novel, Pi devours any book he can get his hands on. He reads about religion, philosophy, animals, and essentially anything he comes across. His mother knows his weakness and oftentimes would attempt to sway him away from conversational topics of which she did not approve, by introducing him to novels he had yet to read. Because poetry is not explicitly mentioned, some aspects of allusion can be inferred. The trials Pi faces are seemingly similar to those of Odysseus, from the epic poem, The Odyssey. The Odyssey tells the tragic tale of Odysseus of Ithaca, a man who left home for war, and on his return lost almost everything except for his life. He faced witches and sirens, monsters and Greek gods, but his will to survive surpassed even the greatest obstacles. Paralleled in both stories is loss, Pi, his family and his animal friends, and Odysseus his men. This loss of loved ones is the first of many similarities. Pi struggles with a hungry tiger on board a 26 foot lifeboat, and Odysseus has to find a way to escape from a hungry Cyclopes’ prison. Both men manage to dupe their beasts and ultimately gain some form of freedom. In addition, Pi finds himself on what appears to be a beautiful, lush, supply wielding island, when in reality it is a carnivorous death trap. Despite its supply of food and fresh water, it was deadly. Likewise, Odysseus finds himself under the enthralling spell of the Sirens. The songs of these mermaids seduce listeners into joining them on their island, when in reality it is surrounded by rocks and is a death trap just like Pi’s island. What appears to be beautiful, like the songs of the sirens and the supplies of the island, is just a trick that masks the true desire to kill. Pi and Odysseus are both constantly struggling just for their survival, but they manage to live by sheer force of will. Just like Odysseus in the epic poem, The Odyssey, Pi overcomes all odds and lives to tell his amazing story.

Comparing Characters

Cause and Effect

Bridge Map

Life of Pi's Song

When asked to pick a song that represents the novel Life of Pi, we came up with a few ideas:

Message in a Bottle - The Police

"No-one here but me More loneliness

Than any man could bear

Rescue me before I fall into despair

Ill send an sos to the world"

This song deals with the same emotions that Pi faces while on his raft. This is when he is seperated from Richard Parker and in complete solitude.

Come Sail Away - Styx

"I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory

Some happy, some sad

I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had

We live happily forever, so the story goes"

This song expresses many of the same feelings Pi dealt with on his life boat. Feelings of happiness, stress, wonder and a little hope for the future.

Swallowed in the Sea - Coldplay

"And I could write it down

And spread it all around

Get lost and then get found

or swallowed in the sea"

This song represents some of the same ups and downs Pi went through on his life boat. Many times he imagined himself dying at sea, but survived with the little hope he had of being rescued.

Plot

Other theme

Beyond the themes relating to art, religion, and science, Life of Pi also focuses a great amount of attention on Pi’s struggle to survive, and this creates another theme. Life threatening situations force people to push themselves to the limits of their physical and mental ability, and invite contemplation on philosophical subjects. Pi’s hostile environment, with Richard Parker, harsh sun, and limited food and drink, causes this conflict between Pi and nature, and as a result, Pi must give up vegetarianism, must learn to catch and prepare sea creatures with limited equipment, and must train Richard Parker, all feats which he has never done before. All this time alone on the boat also allows Pi to think about many philosophical topics, such as the meaning of life, the nature of God, and more.

Thoughts on Other Themes

Pi has conversations with the reader about the behavior of animals in captivity, which brings up a discussion of freedom in the natural world. Pi asserts that an animal in the zoo is as "free" as an animal in the wild, because it treats its artificial habitat the same way that it treats its natural one. In either situation it creates a territory that it calls home, and it's fine unless the new conditions are too foreign for it to process. It doesn't have a desire to explore or wander if it has a stable home. In arguing this, Pi cites numerous cases of animals escaping from the zoo and not really going anywhere, or staying when allowed to escape. In fact, he says, animals are more free in zoos, because they can do what they want without fear of predators.

Pi also discusses how animals are narrowly "programmed" for survival, so that they cannot handle situations drastically different from their usual surroundings. The hyena, for example, upon realizing it's on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, goes haywire and starts running around madly in circles. This is why zookeepers have to create a familiar habitat for animals--so they can comprehend what's going on around them.

Do these laws of nature apply to humans too? Are we really happy if we're confined in a comfortable environment? Pi presents one example, where he argues that evicting people from their houses and telling them to leave town does not make them happy. However, people certainly have a desire to explore things and make choices--and they're much more adaptable than other animals, as evidenced by Pi's survival on the life raft.

Setting

Sonnet for Richard Parker

What blazing fur, what wind-blown charcoal stripes--

You merely need to stand to earn my awe!

No need to move towards me--angry swipes

Would dirty up your pearly teeth and claws.

Though nobly sculpted your attack would be,

At a touch my bones would break or bend.

Such power is a waste on one like me--

You see me as a goat, but I'm your friend.

Look out at yonder gauntlet! Sharks and weather,

Tempestuous prison, satin walls of blue.

You see the Gods conspire to bring us together--

This wat'ry disk is meant for me and you.

But like the Earth and fiery tiger Sun,

You shouldn't swallow me to make us One.

Science and Religion

Life of Pi's protagonist has college degrees in both religious studies and zoology, which makes the novel well suited for a discussion of science and religion. Pi Patel embraces both of them to the fullest--he considers himself a full-fledged Christian, Muslim, and Hindu (much to the dismay of all three religions), and he is an expert on countless animals, having grown up in his father's zoo. Rather than seeing science and religion as being in conflict, Pi considers the natural world to be an expression of God's will. He voices this thought at the very beginning of the novel, when he describes how the three-toed sloth reminds him of God.

In the introduction to the novel, Martel scripts a conversation with a man in India, who says "I have a story that will make you believe in God" (x). No God actually appears in the story, no matter how delirious Pi gets on the lifeboat. Science seems to play the dominant role throughout the adventure. However, the sheer beauty of Pi's experience, coupled with the miraculous fact that he survived it, are evidence that God had a hand in things.

Setting Haiku

Long boat in the ocean
Tiger, dead bodies, young boy
Don't want to be next

Locker of treasures
Solar stills, life jacket, food
Life-giving supplies

Calm ocean surface
Flying fish, sharks, turtles too
Source of food and death

Gently swaying boat
Richard Parker gets seasick
Avast, landlubber

Character Bubble Maps

Art

While the author doesn't directly address art, it is clear that art has influenced the novel Life of Pi. Pi's descriptions of the book's settings are very lush, and full of metaphors. He talks about his surroundings, such as the ocean, Richard Parker, and passing fish, as if they were works of art. As a zoology major, Pi has a deep appreciation for the natural beauty in the different animals that he sees throughout his journey. While there isn't any man-made beauty aboard his life raft, Pi does benefit from the aesthetic beauty of turtle shells and fish scales.

The Music of Life of Pi

Considering that the majority of the plot takes place in the middle of the ocean, the typical music we normally think of is not present. Looking at music more abstractly, as a form of expression and a way to listen, the noises of the sea and of the animals on his life boat represent a form of music he is experiencing at the time.

About the Author

Yann Martel, born June 25th, 1963, has spent the majority of his life traveling. Educated in philosophy at Trent University, Martel worked various jobs before finally realizing his passion for writing. In 1993 his first novel, The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, was published, closely followed by Self in 1996. 2001’s release of his acclaimed novel, Life of Pi, gave Martel the Man Booker Prize and realized the extent of his writing ability. Still spending time traveling, Martel also focuses on yoga, volunteering, and writing. His 4th novel is expected soon.


http://www.randomhouse.ca/newface/martel.php

Lesser Characters

Lesser Characters:
Mother (dead) -Pi's mother, supportive, loving, and caring.
Father (dead) - Pi's father, non-religious, a business man, busy, and worrisome.
Ravi (dead) - Pi's older brother, athletic, teasing, and is also non-religious.
Orange Juice (dead) - Orangutan from the zoo that is trapped on the lifeboat with Pi. She was a former pet and is very gentle. She's soon killed by the hyena.
Hyena (dead) - Male hyena from the zoo that is trapped on the lifeboat with Pi. The hyena kills the zebra and Orange Juice before it is killed by Richard Parker.
Zebra (dead) - Zebra from the zoo that is trapped on the lifeboat with Pi. It has a broken leg and is the first to be killed by the hyena.