Within Part One, Pi describes in detail the zoo his father owned and the lesson his father taught him about animals – “ every animal is dangerous if you aren’t careful.” Other than describing the zoo, Pi also describes how he came to know three different religions and how he feels about it all, how being involved in these religions effect the way he looks at life. Martel begins Life of Pi with a flashback to Pi’s childhood he uses this to explain his family’s situation, why they were moving to Canada, and Pi’s unique views on life. “It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names.” Throughout Part One of the novel, Martel talks as if this story is true – he even directly states in the Author’s Note that the story is true. In the Author’s Note, Martel explains how he spoke with Pi and met with him in order to learn about his story as if this was an actual event that had occurred. Life of Pi is a fiction novel, but Martel tells Pi’s story with a very realistic sense. He does this through the character of Piscine Patel, also referred to as Pi – who exhibits qualities such as, immense faith, inner strength, determination, and the will to live, which help him survive his 227-day voyage through the Pacific Ocean. Yann Martel wrote Life of Pi to reveal his ideas on faith and inner strength. A rare thing, here is a novel that will change your view of the world. Life of Pi takes the reader on an extraordinary journey – geographical, spiritual and emotional. As the ‘crew’ begin to assert their natural places in the food chain, Pi’s fear mounts, and he must use all his wit and daring to develop an understanding with Richard the tiger. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, one zebra (with broken leg), an orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker and Pi – a 16-year-old Indian boy.

A more in-depth read will have you examining the role of faith in providing a moral compass for humanity, animal survival instincts, and if we as humans can transcend our base nature when faced with impending death.Īfter the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wide, wild Pacific. A casual reading of this book will reveal a tedious, drawn-out story of a boy, his family, and living against the odds with a tiger. It is a triumph of storytelling and a tale that will, as one character puts it, make you believe in God. Yann Martel’s Life of Pi is a transformative novel, an astonishing work of imagination that will delight and stun readers in equal measure. Theme: Survival, Religion and Faith, Anthropomorphism Setting Place: Pondicherry, India, the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, and Toronto, Canada

Major Characters: Piscine Molitor Patel (aka Pi), The narrator, Richard Parker (aka Thirsty) The Tiger

Life of pi by yann martel