Life Of Pi (Movie Analysis)

Title: 

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Genre:

Fiction (Realistic)

Characters:

* Pi Patel

Piscine Molitor is the protagonist around whom the book revolves, known as Pi. He grew up in Pondicherry, but left for Canada with his family. He is named after an Olympic swimming pool in Paris ‘Piscine Molitor’. He is interested in religious studies and adopts Christianity and Islam apart from Hinduism. He considers himself to be a bright student and double majors in Religion and Zoology.

* Santosh Patel

He is Pi's father. Before moving to Pondicherry and directing a Zoo, he ran a hotel in Madras. He respects and loves his animals and is secular and modern person, unlike Pi, who follows three religions. He dies in the sinking of the Tsimtsum.

 * Gita Patel

Gita is Pi's mother. She is an avid reader who inculcates the habit of reading into Piscine she has a Hindu upbringing and a Baptist education; she does not share Pi’s religious beliefs. She too, dies in the sinking of the Tsimtsum.

 * Ravi Patel

He is Pi’s older brother who excels sports and is very popular. He teases his younger brother over his devotion to three religions.

 * The Frenchman

The Frenchman is another castaway, who meets Pi while rowing while they are both suffering from blindness. Desperate and hungry, he tries to kill and eat Pi, but Richard Parker kills him first.

  * Father Martin

A Catholic Priest who introduces Pi to Christianity.

Setting:

1960-1976. Pondicherry, India; the Pacific Ocean; Mexico; Canada

Plot:

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor ... a fearsome Bengal tiger.

Theme:

Religion

At times, Life of Pi reads like a defense of religion. Has science proved religion wrong? Here's a protagonist who believes passionately in both zoology and religion. What about the fact of multiple faiths? Don't these faiths contradict each other, cause wars, and other problems? Here's a protagonist who is Muslim, Christian, and Hindu – all at the same time. The book defends not only the common spirit behind these three religions, but the rituals and ceremonies of each. It's as if all three religions find harmonious common ground in this character. Seems unlikely, but then again, the protagonist argues passionately that the miraculous happens in our darkest moments.

Suffering

Suffering brings out the best and the worst in Life of Pi's characters. On the one hand, the characters care for each other when they very well could have killed each other. On the other hand, suffering drives a few characters to murder and cannibalism.

Symbolism:

Orange

Orange is the color of survival. The whistles, life jacket, lifebuoy, tarpaulin, and Richard Parker are orange. It is also the color of the second Hindu chakra.

Pi

Piscine’s nickname, Pi, has a symbolic relationship with the mathematical pi (p). The ratio of the circumference (circular) of a circle to its diameter (linear) is pi. The correlation between the linear journey to North America and the cycles of doubt and faith are experienced by Pi.

Algae Island

The island itself is symbolic as a Garden of Eden. It offers temporary salvation to Pi, but he must leave the island Eden once he discovers the black “forbidden fruit” on the twisted branches of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” His illusion of the island is shattered. There is a kind of heaven and hell associated with day and night. By day the meerkats eat without having to kill and show no fear, even of Richard Parker. At night, the island becomes carnivorous and the ecosystem feeds on itself.

1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?

Life of Pi simply tells the title itself. Pi narrates what happened about his life during his childhood  up to the present. The movie tells us how to overcome unbelievable struggles that may come in our lives and how God works in so many ways.

2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?

I can relate myself to Pi, in some aspects. Because I am not as brave as him, but I can relate to him my faith in God.

3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?

The part when he was saved from the ship wreck but his wasn't able to survive. As his lifeboat was floating away from the ship, he was screaming "I'm sorry". I really feel sorry for Pi, he really want to save his family but he can't. From that tragedy, his life changed.

4. What is the movie’s message?

For me, the message of the movie is to have faith in God no matter what will happen. Because God is God, He can make things possible, only if we have faith in Him. Pi couldn't make it through the Pacific ocean without God with him.

5. Did I like this in general? Why?

Yes, because the movie is very inspiring. Some people find it boring but for me it's not. I like it in many ways. I feel bad for Pi whenever he's in trouble with Richard Parker, but whenever he sees different sea creatures, it amazes me.

6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?

Yes, because religion played a very big role in the movie. We can see how religion and faith revolved around Pi. And sufferings as well. We see how Pi survived his life in Pacific ocean and how he suffered in the life boat with Richard Parker.

7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?

I dislike his brother, he always disagree with Pi. (Just sayin')

8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?

Yes, because it was not shown in the film what happened after how he started or recovered his life.

9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?

I can relate it to my life because in my life, I encountered storms, shipwrecks and big waves - problems in short. Life may bring us problems and sufferings, but we have to be strong and keep our faith in God.