Religion, tiger, boat: these three distinct words merge together to create a tale of survival, struggle, heartbreak, and mystery. Yann Martel sets the stage of “Life of Pi” by introducing his readers to Piscine Molitor Patel, also known as Pi, who has a passion for zoology and theology. Martel uses symbolism to connect Pi’s experience in the Pacific to his life as a whole. Throughout Pi’s life, his relationships help to mold his religious aspirations and impact his survival, both spiritually and physically.
Martel gave us insight into Pi’s past and the origin of his religious fervor. Pi met Mr. Kumar, an atheist, who imposed his ideas of science and disbelief toward Pi; however, Pi learned that “atheists are [his] brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks faith” (28). Martel used logos here to sway, not only Pi, but his readers to consider the scientific point of view. Pi came to the realization that as long as someone has beliefs, no matter what they are, then life has meaning and purpose. Throughout his childhood, Pi continued to expand his …show more content…
To begin, Pi became stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious tiger named Richard Parker, with scarce resources, and with no escape from the vast Pacific Ocean. Losing hope and spirituality, Pi began to turn away from God, but “a voice made itself heard in [his] heart … so long as God was with [him], [he] will not die” (Martel 148). Martel portrays a sense of hope and survival through divine intervention. Pi began to lose faith in God and in himself, but “faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love- but sometimes it was so hard to love” (208). Martel displayed pathos here because Pi experienced an intense emotional battle of whether to believe in something purely on faith or to concede due to its intangible
Martel gave us insight into Pi’s past and the origin of his religious fervor. Pi met Mr. Kumar, an atheist, who imposed his ideas of science and disbelief toward Pi; however, Pi learned that “atheists are [his] brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks faith” (28). Martel used logos here to sway, not only Pi, but his readers to consider the scientific point of view. Pi came to the realization that as long as someone has beliefs, no matter what they are, then life has meaning and purpose. Throughout his childhood, Pi continued to expand his …show more content…
To begin, Pi became stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious tiger named Richard Parker, with scarce resources, and with no escape from the vast Pacific Ocean. Losing hope and spirituality, Pi began to turn away from God, but “a voice made itself heard in [his] heart … so long as God was with [him], [he] will not die” (Martel 148). Martel portrays a sense of hope and survival through divine intervention. Pi began to lose faith in God and in himself, but “faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love- but sometimes it was so hard to love” (208). Martel displayed pathos here because Pi experienced an intense emotional battle of whether to believe in something purely on faith or to concede due to its intangible