Life of Pi Analysis Essay

In Life of Pi, Yann Martel creates a profound journey for Pi Patel. After the Tsimtum

sank, Pi is throw into an adventure across the Pacific Ocean, and 227 days later, he ends up on

the coast of Mexico. Pi offers two different and vague stories of his adventure. However, his

transpacific journey allowed him to grow and develop a stronger sense of spiritual realization.

Martel uses Pis physical and vague journey across the Pacific to show that humans take many

different and individualized paths in becoming deeply connected to faith. The story of Pi reveals

his religious development from the moment the ship sank, his coming to terms with life, and his

final destination of complete spiritual awareness.

The instant the Tsimtum sank, Pi was thrown into a completely chaotic mess. He barely

survived the raging waters and climbed aboard a lifeboat with predatory animals. The fear Pi

experiences during this time represents his doubts in religion and in God. Pi says once they

threw me overboard, only then did I begin to have doubts (105). This chaotic scene of fear

shows Pis dwindling hope and confusion in the power of God. At this moment, Pi embarks on

his journey to reconnect and find the true meaning of faith.

The months between the sinking of the ship and Pis arrival in Mexico was a long

spiritual realization journey. Pi, once a strict vegetarian who cringed at the sound of opening a

banana, had to learn to survive by killing fish. Pi had to come to terms with his current situation

and realized he has a fierce will to live (148). During this time, Pi finds comfort in God, so

long as God is with me, I will survive (148), and even prays for the first he kills. Pi uses his

time in the Pacific Ocean to develop a deeper understanding of life and survival which allows

him to realize religions true place in life. As Pi moves from one point to another across the

ocean, Pi realizes that he must change his ways both physically and mentally to survive.
 When Pis journey concluded and he reaches Mexico, Pi is finally able to fully believe in

faith. The physical final destination of Mexico is also Pis spiritual destination and the end of his

mental journey with God. Pi reflects, It is important in life to conclude things properly. Only

then can you let things go (285). At the end of the novel, Pi no longer has any doubts about

religion. He has come to the final destination of complete belief in God and full awareness of

religion in his life. In Mexico, Pi believes this journey has shaped him into a completely different

person. He may have physical changes such as weight loss, but his changes mentally were

greater. Through his adventure, Pi has finally ended his journey with God 227 days later.

Not only was Pi Patels journey across the Pacific Ocean physical, but it was also a long

spiritual journey. During the months at sea, Pi had to find ways to cope with his dire situation

and find the will to live. Although the exact details of Pis adventure are not clear and there are

two alternate stories, it led him to discover the truth of religion and his full enlightenment. Pis

journey shows that mankind does not follow a single straight path into religion, but rather

multiple individualized journeys to spiritual realization.