Yann Martel’s Life of Pi

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After Christianity, it was a baker who ultimately introduced Pi into Islam. Once again Pi’s curiosity of viewing the baker partake in prayer intrigued Pi enough to ask the baker (Mr. Kumar) to teach him. A belief In the Islamic faith is that coexisting with all life on earth is a major priority. Pi’s world at sea consisted of Richard Parker, himself and the creatures of the sea. He managed the sea creatures but was tested with the tiger. Due to his Islamic beliefs the tiger was his brother, despite the emotions he felt towards him he knew that he needed to coexist in order to survive. Pi would practice his religious rituals such as guessing which way the Mecca was as he proceeded with his daily prayers, religiously praying up to five times a day. He used the Muslim prayer as a source of comfort.

Martel shows the importance of remaining thankful even in worst times. In the lifeboat, Pi turns to all his various religious philosophies hoping that one of them would save him from the ordeal he was faced. He called upon “Jesus, Mary, Muhammed, and Vishnu” (Martel, 2001, p. 123) to save him from the hell that he believed to be in. Through this ordeal Pi’s faith was tested, at one point he turned to Atheism as a reasoning to all the bad that was happening to him. Eventually, he brought God back into his life and trusted that he knows all things. It was Pi’s faith in God that got him through his ordeal.

References

Martel, Y. (2001). Life of Pi. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2001

The Significance Of Saffron In Hinduism. (2015, December 15). Retrieved March 8, 2017, from https://www.ishtadevatacom/blog/significance-saffron-hinduism.html

B. (2014, April 11). Truth, Faith and Hope in Life of Pi - A Philosophical Review. Retrieved March 9, 2017, from http://www.bethinking.org/truth/truth-faith-and-hope-in-life-of-pi

Martel, Y. (n.d.). Spirituality & Practice. Retrieved March 8, 2017, from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/reviews/view/5916