LIFE OF PI
BY YANN MARTEL
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yann Martel, a Canadian author best known for his Man Booker Prize-winning novel "Life of Pi,"
has also written "The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios," "Self," "Beatrice and Virgil," and
"The High Mountains of Portugal".
LIFE OF PI
Life of Pi is a novel by Yann Martel, published in 2001. It tells the story of Piscine Molitor "Pi"
Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry, India, who survives 227 days stranded in the Pacific
Ocean after a shipwreck, accompanied by a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
Genre: Adventure fiction, philosophical novel, magical realism
Published: 2001
Awards: Man-Booker Prize (2002)
Inspiration: Martel was inspired by a real-life survival story and his travels in India.
PLOT SUMMARY
Part One: Pi’s Early Life
Pi Patel, the protagonist, grows up in Pondicherry, India, where his family owns a zoo.
Fascinated by religion, he follows Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam simultaneously, seeking
spiritual meaning in all three. His father teaches him about animal behavior, particularly the
dangers of wild animals. Due to political changes in India, Pi's family decides to emigrate to
Canada with some of their zoo animals aboard a Japanese cargo ship.
Part Two: The Shipwreck and Survival
Disaster strikes when the Tsimtsum (the cargo ship) sinks in a storm. Pi finds himself on a
lifeboat, initially with several animals: a zebra with a broken leg, an orangutan named Orange
Juice, and a hyena. The hyena kills the zebra and Orange Juice, but is later killed by Richard
Parker, the Bengal tiger.
Now alone with Richard Parker, Pi learns to survive by catching fish, collecting rainwater, and
asserting dominance over the tiger. He marks his territory on the boat, trains the tiger using
food, and establishes a coexistence that keeps them both alive. At one point, Pi and Richard
Parker land on a mysterious floating island of carnivorous algae, but they leave upon realizing
its danger.
Part Three: Rescue and Alternative Story
After 227 days, the lifeboat washes up on the Mexican coast. Richard Parker vanishes into the
jungle without looking back at Pi. Japanese investigators later question Pi about the sinking of
the ship, but they find his story unbelievable. He then tells a different version: instead of
animals, he was stranded with his mother, a sailor, and a brutal cook who turns to cannibalism.
This second story suggests that the animals in the first version may represent people, with
Richard Parker symbolizing Pi’s primal survival instinct.
Additional Info.
The investigators, unsure which story is true, accept the one with the tiger, as it is more
compelling.
CHARACTERS
1. Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel
Protagonist and narrator of the novel. A deeply spiritual and intelligent boy who follows
Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. His resourcefulness and determination allow him to survive
227 days at sea.
2. Richard Parker (The Bengal Tiger)
A 450-pound Bengal tiger who shares the lifeboat with Pi. Originally a wild animal but becomes
Pi’s companion and survival motivator. Represents Pi’s primal instincts—his fear, aggression,
and will to live.
3. Santosh Patel (Pi’s father)
Owner of a zoo in Pondicherry and a rational thinker. Teaches Pi important lessons about
animal behavior and survival.
4. Gita Patel (Pi’s mother)
Loving and protective, she represents compassion and morality. In the alternate story, she is
one of the survivors but is killed by the cook, paralleling the death of Orange Juice (the
orangutan).
5. The Cook (The Frenchman)
A brutal and cannibalistic character in the alternative story. Likely represents the hyena, as he is
ruthless and predatory.
6. The Japanese Investigators
Question Pi about the sinking of the Tsimtsum. Serve as the rational voice of the audience,
skeptical of Pi’s fantastical story.
Other Characters
1. Orangutan named Orange Juice
2. Hyena
THEMES
Survival and the Will to Live – Pi must endure extreme hardship and adapt to stay alive.
The Power of Storytelling – The novel suggests that storytelling shapes reality and helps people
cope with trauma.
Faith and Spirituality – Pi’s belief in multiple religions helps him navigate both physical and
emotional struggles.
The Relationship Between Humans and Animals – The novel explores how humans and animals
interact, often mirroring each other.
Reality vs. Perception – The two versions of Pi’s survival story raise questions about truth and
imagination.
SYMBOLISMS
1. Richard Parker – Primal Survival Instincts
Represents Pi’s inner strength, fear, and survival instinct. His departure at the end signifies Pi
repressing his animalistic side to return to human society.
2. The Lifeboat – Isolation and the Journey of Life
The small boat symbolizes Pi’s isolation and his struggle against nature. Reflects the journey of
faith, where Pi must navigate hardships without certainty.
3. The Ocean – The Unknown and Faith
The vast and unpredictable sea symbolizes life’s uncertainties. Pi must trust in fate (or God) to
survive, mirroring religious faith.
4. The Floating Island – Temporary Salvation with Hidden Dangers
At first, the island appears to be a paradise, offering food and rest. Later, Pi realizes it is
carnivorous, forcing him to leave. Symbolizes false hope or a dangerous illusion of safety.
5. The Two Survival Stories – Truth vs. Perception
The two versions of Pi’s story reflect the novel’s theme of subjective reality. The first story (with
animals) is fantastical and inspiring. The second story (with humans) is more realistic but
horrific.
TAKEWAYS
Life of Pi is a novel about faith, survival, and the nature of truth. It challenges the reader to
decide whether the story with Richard Parker or the brutal human story is the real one—
highlighting the power of belief and storytelling. The book suggests that stories shape our
understanding of reality—we believe what brings us comfort.
GROUP MEMBERS:
FLORIAN FAITH AMAR
MARY JANE ANDAYA
MILCHEL BALIGUAT
BSED II ENGLISH
