In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi Patel is a member of three different religions. He believes that all these religions are the same, they all work towards an afterlife, and when it is all boiled down to it, each of simply wants to love God. Pi uses this beautiful faith in God as a vital coping mechanism to survive the vast Pacific Ocean. His faith in God proves to be a crucial part in Pi’s survival as it guides him through his ordeal.
Throughout the novel religion is an aspect that weighs heavily across Pi’s life. Towards the very beginning of Pi’s journey he states that:“many people seem to lose God along life’s way. That was not my case” (59) already he is giving the reader insight into how interested of a believer he is in many …show more content…
For instance, Pi 's belief in a "leap of faith," and his ability to survive, relying on his religions to pass the time, and to give him the faith to carry on. Specifically, Pi often narrated a prayer that he used quite often while on his raft: ”So long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen."(256) Nonetheless, despite Pi’s passion for religion, he had difficulties comprehending how they could coexist with one another. As a practicing member of three religions, in the past he was often and is disciplined by religion heads for being a member of the other faiths. In consequence, Pi begins to question why he cannot practice all of them: “I just want to love god”(155). This circumstance of not knowing what religion is the correct one becomes very significant at the end of the novel. Martel demonstrates that religion can provide for a more believable story and gives a deeper truth, using two very different stories to show the importance of religion. One story describing a trial of struggle and determination to survive, involving human-like animals, while the other describes a horrific tale of death and cannibalism between people. When analyzed from this perspective, it really gives meaning to Pi’s theory of having as many religions as you want. Both stories ended up getting Pi to the same place in the end
Throughout the novel religion is an aspect that weighs heavily across Pi’s life. Towards the very beginning of Pi’s journey he states that:“many people seem to lose God along life’s way. That was not my case” (59) already he is giving the reader insight into how interested of a believer he is in many …show more content…
For instance, Pi 's belief in a "leap of faith," and his ability to survive, relying on his religions to pass the time, and to give him the faith to carry on. Specifically, Pi often narrated a prayer that he used quite often while on his raft: ”So long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen."(256) Nonetheless, despite Pi’s passion for religion, he had difficulties comprehending how they could coexist with one another. As a practicing member of three religions, in the past he was often and is disciplined by religion heads for being a member of the other faiths. In consequence, Pi begins to question why he cannot practice all of them: “I just want to love god”(155). This circumstance of not knowing what religion is the correct one becomes very significant at the end of the novel. Martel demonstrates that religion can provide for a more believable story and gives a deeper truth, using two very different stories to show the importance of religion. One story describing a trial of struggle and determination to survive, involving human-like animals, while the other describes a horrific tale of death and cannibalism between people. When analyzed from this perspective, it really gives meaning to Pi’s theory of having as many religions as you want. Both stories ended up getting Pi to the same place in the end