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Life of Pi Analysis Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Ashley Bast Bast

Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

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Page 1: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Life of Pi AnalysisLife of Pi Analysis

Ashley Ashley BastBast

Page 2: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

The TopicsThe Topics

►►ImageryImagery

►►ToneTone

►►SymbolsSymbols

►►SettingSetting

►►ThemeTheme

Page 3: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Religious ImageryReligious Imagery

►► Orange Juice is compared to the Virgin Mary as she floats up to Orange Juice is compared to the Virgin Mary as she floats up to the the

boatboat““

�� She came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of light, asShe came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of light, as lovely as the Virgin lovely as the Virgin

Mary.Mary.”” (123)(123)

►► Pi spends three days and three nights on the extended oar just aPi spends three days and three nights on the extended oar just as s

Jesus spent three days and nights in his tomb and Jonah three daJesus spent three days and nights in his tomb and Jonah three days ys

and nights in the belly of the whaleand nights in the belly of the whale

►► Pi smears himself with fish scales like Hindu Pi smears himself with fish scales like Hindu TilaksTilaks

�� ““I wore these spots of shine and silver like I wore these spots of shine and silver like tilakstilaks, the marks of , the marks of colourcolour that we Hindus that we Hindus

wear on our foreheads as symbols of the divinewear on our foreheads as symbols of the divine”” (217)(217)

►► Many of PiMany of Pi’’s killings have ritualistic undertoness killings have ritualistic undertones

►► Pi suffers throughout the journey in the same way that godPi suffers throughout the journey in the same way that god--touched touched

prophets and mystics suffer in holy writings across different reprophets and mystics suffer in holy writings across different religionsligions

Page 4: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

SignificanceSignificance

►► The use of religious imagery in the novel is important because aThe use of religious imagery in the novel is important because at times t times

it reads as a defense of religion. Pi proves that science and reit reads as a defense of religion. Pi proves that science and religion can ligion can

coexist and compliment each other just as they do in him.coexist and compliment each other just as they do in him.

►► By having a protagonist who is not just deeply religious but is By having a protagonist who is not just deeply religious but is a Hindu, a Hindu,

Christian and Muslim at the same time shows that faiths donChristian and Muslim at the same time shows that faiths don’’t always t always

contradict each other and can work together just as science and contradict each other and can work together just as science and

religion canreligion can

►► Pi suffers in a manner reminiscent of Christ, devotes himself toPi suffers in a manner reminiscent of Christ, devotes himself to God God

simply and wholly like a Muslim and continues to keep doing Hindsimply and wholly like a Muslim and continues to keep doing Hindu u

rituals while on the boatrituals while on the boat

►► The use of imagery from multiple religions shows that with tolerThe use of imagery from multiple religions shows that with tolerance ance

many different faiths can compliment each othermany different faiths can compliment each other

►► Life of PiLife of Pi is not strictly an allegory is not strictly an allegory

Page 5: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Examples of Examples of TilaksTilaks

►► (pertaining to point no.3 on the Imagery slide)(pertaining to point no.3 on the Imagery slide)

Page 6: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

ToneTone

►► Martel writes in a whimsical, tolerant tone that mirrors Pi's ouMartel writes in a whimsical, tolerant tone that mirrors Pi's outlook on tlook on life. Pilife. Pi’’s narrative voice is optimistic and uses casual, unpretentious s narrative voice is optimistic and uses casual, unpretentious language. By contrast, the book is filled with gory accounts tolanguage. By contrast, the book is filled with gory accounts told in ld in unflinching detail (i.e. the hyena killing the zebra and Orange unflinching detail (i.e. the hyena killing the zebra and Orange Juice)Juice)

►► Over the course of the novel Pi kills scores of animals, goes blOver the course of the novel Pi kills scores of animals, goes blind from ind from malnutrition and consumes Richard Parkermalnutrition and consumes Richard Parker’’s excrement, all of this is s excrement, all of this is told in plain terms that dontold in plain terms that don’’t shield the reader from anythingt shield the reader from anything

►► However, the novel also has understated moments of philosophy (lHowever, the novel also has understated moments of philosophy (like ike when Pi is talking to Father Martin) and sudden beauty, like thiwhen Pi is talking to Father Martin) and sudden beauty, like this s passage when Pi is killing a dorado passage when Pi is killing a dorado �� The dorado did the most extraordinary thing as it died: it beganThe dorado did the most extraordinary thing as it died: it began to flash all kinds of to flash all kinds of colourscolours in rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickerein rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and d and shimmered neonshimmered neon--like on the surface as it struggled. like on the surface as it struggled. I felt like I was beating a I felt like I was beating a rainbow to death. rainbow to death. (205)(205)

Page 7: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

SignificanceSignificance

►► From an interview with From an interview with YannYann MartelMartel

�� Q: In describing the deaths of the zebra, the hyena and the Q: In describing the deaths of the zebra, the hyena and the orangorang--utanutan you donyou don’’t t

spare any gory details. Why is that quite so strong?spare any gory details. Why is that quite so strong?

�� A: A: I live in a society that is in terrified denial of I live in a society that is in terrified denial of ‘‘unpalatableunpalatable’’ realities, realities I realities, realities I prefer to faceprefer to face

►► The unflinching realism in relation to a story that would seem The unflinching realism in relation to a story that would seem ‘‘too too

fantasticfantastic’’ to believe otherwise gives it an element of dept. Pi has a loveto believe otherwise gives it an element of dept. Pi has a love

of both science and religion, he describes events with scientifiof both science and religion, he describes events with scientific c

precision but with a prophetprecision but with a prophet’’s heart. The reason why the book is s heart. The reason why the book is

written with such a optimistic, tolerant viewpoint is because itwritten with such a optimistic, tolerant viewpoint is because it is is

reflecting Pireflecting Pi’’s own optimism and tolerances own optimism and tolerance

Page 8: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Examples of DoradoExamples of Dorado

►► (Pertaining to point no.3 on tone slide)(Pertaining to point no.3 on tone slide)

►► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf0sIKypI4ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf0sIKypI4g (flying fish clip)(flying fish clip)

Page 9: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Symbols: PiSymbols: Pi

►► Pi is the preferred short form of Piscine Pi is the preferred short form of Piscine MolitorMolitor Patel, but serves a Patel, but serves a

purpose in addition to being a nickname purpose in addition to being a nickname

►► Pi is a letter in the Greek alphabet which also contains alpha aPi is a letter in the Greek alphabet which also contains alpha and nd

omegaomega-- terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive

roles. Additionally, Pi is an irrational mathematical number, usroles. Additionally, Pi is an irrational mathematical number, used to ed to

calculate distance in a circle. calculate distance in a circle.

►► Pi is often shortened to 3.14 because it has an infinite number Pi is often shortened to 3.14 because it has an infinite number of of

decimal places that the human mind candecimal places that the human mind can’’t accurately grasp itt accurately grasp it

►► PiPi’’s name, like just as, the book argues, some realities are too dis name, like just as, the book argues, some realities are too difficult fficult

or troubling to face. or troubling to face.

Page 10: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

SignificanceSignificance

►► PiPi’’s name, like the book argues, shows that some realities are too s name, like the book argues, shows that some realities are too

difficult or troubling to face. difficult or troubling to face.

►► From an interview with From an interview with YannYann Martel:Martel:

�� PiPi’’ is something of a mystery in itself in that it represents the ris something of a mystery in itself in that it represents the ratio of a circleatio of a circle’’s s circumference to its diameter circumference to its diameter –– 3.14159263.1415926…… etc etc –– but it seems impossible to take it but it seems impossible to take it through to the last number after the point.through to the last number after the point.

Like Like ‘‘pipi’’, life is not finite. And so I didn, life is not finite. And so I didn’’t make the title The Life of Pi: I deliberately t make the title The Life of Pi: I deliberately left out the definite article. That would have denoted a single left out the definite article. That would have denoted a single life.life.

Page 11: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Examples of PiExamples of Pi

The 50 first digits of Pi written in orange at the forefront with nearly 75 000 digits written too small to see in the background

Page 12: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

SettingSetting

►► Life of PiLife of Pi takes place in the mid 1970takes place in the mid 1970’’s when India was under the s when India was under the leadership of leadership of IndiraIndira Gandhi and when the Tamil Nadu government is Gandhi and when the Tamil Nadu government is overthrown the Patel family decides to move to Canadaoverthrown the Patel family decides to move to Canada

►► The setting is initially wideThe setting is initially wide--open in Piopen in Pi’’s childhood, it is a time of Pi s childhood, it is a time of Pi diving headfirst into knowledge and learning about the zoo. Whendiving headfirst into knowledge and learning about the zoo. WhenGandhi comes into power and the political situation in India becGandhi comes into power and the political situation in India becomes omes worse the scope of the book mimics that. India becomes a totalitworse the scope of the book mimics that. India becomes a totalitarian arian micromicro--universe, the narrative almost goes in upon itself and Pi remarkuniverse, the narrative almost goes in upon itself and Pi remarkss�� But it was to Father the crowning touch in Mrs. GandhiBut it was to Father the crowning touch in Mrs. Gandhi’’s dictatorial takeover of the s dictatorial takeover of the nation. The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Fnation. The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Fatherather’’s back. (86) s back. (86)

►► The book reaches its smallest when Pi is on the lifeboat, by nowThe book reaches its smallest when Pi is on the lifeboat, by now it is it is essentially claustrophobic. However Pi and Richard Parker managessentially claustrophobic. However Pi and Richard Parker manage to e to turn the twentyturn the twenty--sick foot long boat into a temporary home where they sick foot long boat into a temporary home where they each have their own space and are free to act as they please.each have their own space and are free to act as they please.

Page 13: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

SignificanceSignificance

►► In the same way that the tone of the book mimics PiIn the same way that the tone of the book mimics Pi’’s outlook on life s outlook on life

the setting mimics the situation and emotions related to it. Ponthe setting mimics the situation and emotions related to it. Pondicherry dicherry

is wide open and ripe for picking, Gandhiis wide open and ripe for picking, Gandhi’’s India becomes more s India becomes more

authoritarian and becomes associated with the emotion of fear, tauthoritarian and becomes associated with the emotion of fear, the he

lifeboat is cramped and demands its occupants to work out a lifeboat is cramped and demands its occupants to work out a

compromisecompromise

►► Containment also plays a large part; at the Pondicherry zoo the Containment also plays a large part; at the Pondicherry zoo the

animals have their own contained wilderness to be free in, all oanimals have their own contained wilderness to be free in, all of India f India

is contained when the country is declared to be in a state of is contained when the country is declared to be in a state of

emergency and finally the lifeboat contains Pi and Richard Parkeemergency and finally the lifeboat contains Pi and Richard Parker r

which separates them from the rest of the pacific oceanwhich separates them from the rest of the pacific ocean

Page 14: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Examples of PondicherryExamples of Pondicherry

Page 15: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Theme: BeliefTheme: Belief

►► Toward the end of the story Pi continually has to put up with peToward the end of the story Pi continually has to put up with people ople

who do not believe the story with the animals to be the true onewho do not believe the story with the animals to be the true one

because it is too far beyond their breadth of knowledge to fathobecause it is too far beyond their breadth of knowledge to fathom that m that

it may be true. In one case when Pi is angry about his story beiit may be true. In one case when Pi is angry about his story being ng

‘‘hard to believehard to believe’’ he lashes out and sayshe lashes out and says

►► Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe,Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is ask any scientist. God is

hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with harhard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe? (330)d to believe? (330)

►► Pi also gets flack throughout the novel for being a practicing HPi also gets flack throughout the novel for being a practicing Hindu, indu,

Christian and Muslim and for admiring atheists (Pi thinks that iChristian and Muslim and for admiring atheists (Pi thinks that it is very t is very

important to believe inimportant to believe in somethingsomething andcanandcan appreciate an atheistappreciate an atheist’’s ability s ability

to believe in the absence of God with no concrete proof of that to believe in the absence of God with no concrete proof of that

absence. absence.

►► Pi however, does not have friendly feelings towards agnostics whPi however, does not have friendly feelings towards agnostics who he o he

acknowledges as having a shameful lack of imaginationacknowledges as having a shameful lack of imagination

Page 16: Life of Pi Analysis Ashley Bast

Significance Significance

►► From an interview with From an interview with YannYann MartelMartel

�� Q: Given that his travelling companion was a Bengal tiger, it seQ: Given that his travelling companion was a Bengal tiger, it seems predictable that ems predictable that

PiPi’’s story will be dismissed as fantasy. Why do you make it so fars story will be dismissed as fantasy. Why do you make it so far--fetched?fetched?

�� A: A: In order to raise certain important questions. When he arrives aIn order to raise certain important questions. When he arrives at the coast of t the coast of Mexico after drifting across the ocean for 227 days, Pi gives acMexico after drifting across the ocean for 227 days, Pi gives accident investigators cident investigators the whole story of his ordeal. However much he insists that it athe whole story of his ordeal. However much he insists that it all happened, they tell ll happened, they tell him it is too fantastic to believe. Pi then gives a more plausibhim it is too fantastic to believe. Pi then gives a more plausible version of events, le version of events, which satisfies them. He had told them two stories. Both had thewhich satisfies them. He had told them two stories. Both had the same beginning: a same beginning: a ship leaves India. Both had the same ending: there is only one hship leaves India. Both had the same ending: there is only one human survivor uman survivor –– in in either case, the investigators only have his word for what happeeither case, the investigators only have his word for what happened. Pi asks the ned. Pi asks the investigators, investigators, ‘‘If you stumble about believability, what are you living for?If you stumble about believability, what are you living for?’’

�� Q: Q: DoesDoes Life of PiLife of Pi reflect your own spiritual quest?reflect your own spiritual quest?

�� Religion doesnReligion doesn’’t deny reality, it explains it. Secular critics ask, t deny reality, it explains it. Secular critics ask, ‘‘How can you believe?How can you believe?’’This question doesnThis question doesn’’t faze people with faith. Rationality is only part of the picturt faze people with faith. Rationality is only part of the picture. e. Science and religion donScience and religion don’’t have to collide t have to collide –– I see them as complementary, rather I see them as complementary, rather

than contradictory. Science can be a gateway to the greater mystthan contradictory. Science can be a gateway to the greater mystery.ery.