Life Of Pi Religion Essay Religion

Religion can be a welcoming force to its loyal followers, providing comfort, support, and hope amid the darkest of times or a merciless power, refraining from pity and stripping its protection over those who do not abide by its customs and traditions. In Life of Pi, the peculiar island which Pi Patel and Richard Parker discover symbolizes religion. Just as religion, Richard Parker and Pi must perceive the island with an equilibrium of doubt and faith for it to be beneficial. The blessings the island provides for Pi and Richard Parker is a metaphor for religion and the comfort and support it bestows upon its loyal followers. Consequently, the discovery of the island to be “carnivorous, feasting upon anything on the ground at night,” demonstrates the power of religion to take away all its protection over followers whom do not abide by customs and traditions. Lastly, the island exhibits the perils associated with undeniable
The island’s predatory nature is conveyed as Pi discovers “thirty-two intricately wrapped human teeth,” eerily assuming the shape of fruits, and thus denoting the island as carnivorous. The entire island is essentially a metaphor. Freely dwelling upon the mysterious island among an abundance of nutritious supplies and sufficient protection, the meerkats symbolize the devotees of religion. Due to a process through which Pi corroborates “… that highly predatory algae turns acidic,” the sole inhabitants of the island [ meerkats ] must abstain from remaining on the ground throughout the night, therefore abiding by the rule of the island in order to live a blissful life. Similarly, religion strips all the comfort, protection, safety, and support from its followers whom do not abide by its customs. Therefore, Yann Martel successful concludes through the baffling algae island the unforgiving cruelty religion afflicts on those who disregard customs and