Religion In Life Of Pi

He tells his faith, he tells them why but, they just question and tell him it is silly. Although, in the end, he had God by his side and an impressive story to tell that made them all believe in God. In a world contrasting between love and hate, light and darkness, Piscine Molitor (Pi) Patel marks his way into the nature of religion to guide himself of every step he takes of his life changing journey. God leaves Pi stranded, stranded in a cramped lifeboat with four wild, ferocious animals and stranded with no family left. As an important aspect of Pi’s survival, religion is used as a way to find meaning through combining the worlds of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity which results in Pi finding his true identity. From the days of a newborn, Hinduism plays a big part and acts as an obstacle throughout the course of Pi’s life.
He sheds tears for the fish he murders and never forgets the pain of taking the soul away of an animal as being vegetarian.
On the other hand, Christianity compels Pi to keep Richard Parker, a four hundred fifty pound Royal Bengal tiger alive just as Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to keep his people alive due to his love and passion for them. At last, about fourteen years old, Pi discovers the beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion, Islam. He loses his family on the sinking of TsimTsum, a storm hits him, lighting batters near the incredibly small lifeboat but, yet he is still dedicated to keep himself and his comrade alive throughout his expedition of endurance, danger and emotion due to Islam. Religion contributes to the audacious young boy as he develops into a man with a stronger and independent identity and is now known as the sole survivor of the tragic TsimTsum
shipwreck.
A burst of colour decorates the room, enlightening eyes with bright hues. The steady beats of Indian drums, the sweet fragrance of the pretty, pink garlands and the deafening sound of breaking freshly bought coconuts brings the people together as one in Pi’s home, the Hindu Temple. Through the eyes of a newly born infant, Pi was taken into the holy spiritual world of Hinduism by auntie Rohini who had more of a traditional mind. Hinduism indeed affects Pi’s survival, Pi Patel was born a Hindu, he discovers the stories of Vishnu, Sage Markandeya which he uses to reflect on his adventure. “I felt like the sage Markandeya, who fell out of Vishnu’s mouth while Vishnu was sleeping and so beheld the entire universe, everything that there is.” (Martel, 196) Pi correlates the well known Hindu tale of Sage Markandeya and Lord Vishnu to his despair as he wakes up during the middle of the night, looking up at the clear sky with a bright crescent. He believes his hardship is no where near as significant or meaningful as Sage Markandeya who fell out of an entire universe. Instead, he considers stranded in a lifeboat with a ferocious tiger insignificant and finite. The story of the great Hindu Lords make Pi stronger and determined to survive as his struggle is nothing compared to the stories of his Gods. Pi develops as he realizes that his suffering is minor in comparison to the legend but, it still does matter and he craves to keep himself and Richard Parker alive.
Christianity is the second of the three religions he seeks. At fourteen years old, Pi steps into a church of Munnar finding Father Martin. He expands his knowledge about Jesus Christ, a figure of Christianity, who sacrificed himself for the mortals due to his love and passion for them. Pi undergoes the religion of Christianity and God through his adversity. “Orange Juice lay next to it, against the dead zebra. Her arms were spread wide open and her short legs were folded together and slightly turned to one side. She looked like a simian Christ on the Cross. Except for her head. She was beheaded. The neck wound was still bleeding. It was a horrible sight to the eyes and killing to the spirit.” (Martel, 145) Pi witnesses an intense battle between the hyena and the orangutan in the lifeboat during his ordeal. The young boy is terrifified as he examines the dead body of the orangutan, Orange Juice. Suspense is created while the two ruthless zoo animals are feuding recklessly trying to murder one another as Pi wonders which animal will be victorious. Even though, Pi felt a sense of relief since he had God by his side, he was in a gloomy and anxious environment as he is a child with no family helpless, with zoo creatures. Pi symbolizes Orange Juice as Jesus Christ due to the fact it reminds him of the gruesome pain the God’s son experienced. “High calls low and low calls high. I tell you, if you were in such dire straits as I was, you too would elevate your thoughts. The lower you are, the higher your mind will want to soar. It was natural that, bereft as I was, in the throes of unremitting suffering, I should turn to God.” (Martel, 314) Pi departs from the mysterious, algae island after finding it was carnivorous. Then, just before Pi reached Mexican land, Pi reaches for God during his lowest point of his life. He once again focuses on the suffering between himself and God forming a firm bond between himself and religion, foreshadowing that God will protect Pi. The quote displays suspense as Pi waits for God to save Pi, making the readers wonder how Pi’s journey will finally come to an end. Overall, Christianity is an assist to Pi’s survival as the religion reminds Pi of pain and keeps him determined to stay alive.
Soon enough Pi is intrigued as he explores the Muslim quarter in his hometown, Pondicherry. He comes across Kumar Safi, a warm, welcoming man who educates Pi of the meaning of Islam (a beloved religion of brotherhood and devotion). As the only animal left on the lifeboat