Pi and Science

Jacob Bagley

Kathy Cowley

Writing 150

10-5-2010

The Life of Pi: A Science Reflection

Historically the sea has been, in works of literature, a great metaphor for almost anything. It can represent isolation, or home; fear, or freedom. Truthfully, the sea is a paradox if ever one could be found. It is the source of immense amounts of life, yet through its power it also causes great destruction. It is the duality of this nature that has caused it to recur in literature as a powerful metaphor. In “Life of Pi” the sea is no different, it serves as both the life giver and the proving ground for Pi, his greatest asset and test combined into one. This modern metaphor for life, and faith within life, is canonized by Pi’s experience on the high sea, and his interpretation of it.

Pi is not the modern man. He believes in God, he chases morality and faith, and he loves to make and keep covenants with God. This attitude is symbolic of older, more antiquated notions of man’s existence, yet Pi throughout the novel does not seem false, or preachy. His identity as a modern person of faith is the defining point of his character; as later in the novel he is trapped in a “no-escape” kind of situation that, to many, may seem like a “punishment from God”. Historically, people have always blamed, or at least attributed, accidents on the high sea as “acts of God” or “providential”. It is within this context that we see Pi turn, not away from God, but to himself and his faith to solve his problem and survive.

The novel as a whole reads quickly; the pacing is well done and easy to follow. Yann Martel gives decent exposition, but wastes little time (only what is needed to explain Pi’s religious affiliations and upbringing) before diving (pardon the water pun) into the meat of his story: Pi’s life on the ocean with his faithful sidekick Richard Parker. The short length of the 1^st and 3^rd parts adds weight to what they say, and also serve to emphasize the main point of the story: Pi’s survival skills.

Perhaps the most interesting point of Yann Martel’s novel comes from the fact that he spends so much time on the middle section, only to cast shadows on what is said there by what is given in the 3^rd part, and also indirectly by what is said in the 1^st part. A fantastical tale of animals, algae, and high sea adventure is given in part 2, but an alternate explanation is offered that casts doubts on the truth of that entire part. Our question must be: why would Martel take so much time explaining part 2 if it were not what we were meant to believe? There is no simple answer, but perhaps we are meant to take from that what we are to take from Pi’s multiplicity of belief. Belief is real regardless of how perception accepts it; Pi believes his story to be true, and though the harsh light of reality may try to destroy that for him, his belief remains, and his faith as well.

I loved the book. Pi’s faith, his love for life, and his eventual banishing of the demons of loneliness, fear, and doubt stand as strong testaments to the reality of God and the reality of man’s faith in Him. The contrast between what the world constantly seeks to force Pi into; harsh dreams, one dimensional beliefs in God, and “the truth” is a metaphor for us: the youth of the world. We stand on uncertain ground, crossing an Ocean of falsehoods and disbelievers and we too, like Pi, reach a point where we tell our story. Sometimes, the world will not believe it. But we do, and like Pi, we keep our eyes out for Richard Parker.