Life of Pi

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1. 
   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   Symbols in The Life of Pi include, the main character's name, a letter in the Greek alphabet, Pi also has significance in mathematics.  The color orange is symbolic in a religious way, with the orangutan and the big cat, Richard Parker being very significant in the story.

   "Pi renames himself after a mathematical abstraction (pi expresses the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter)"

   "Pi's very name is symbolic of his approach to the universe. For him, mysticism and science—the two pillars of π (pi)—form a construct that will shelter him from the universe."

   "Pi sees Orange Juice as a "simian Christ on the Cross" when she is killed. This indicates both his wish to think that suffering has meaning and his recognition that in some ways she did die to save him."

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/life-pi/characters

   http://www.enotes.com/life-pi/summary-analysis-part-one-c...

   http://www.enotes.com/life-pi/summary-analysis-part-two-c...

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   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Sunday June 22, 2008 at 7:44 AM
   
   

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