Question

How does Pi's character development contribute to major themes in Life of Pi?
Themes: survival, faith, storytelling, freedom, and science versus religion.

Accepted Answer

Pi's character development contributes to these major themes in Life of Pi in that it is through Pi's character development that these themes are revealed. The theme of survival is linked to that of faith, as Pi relies on his faith to survive. The theme of storytelling is evident when Pi recounts his story others and they do not believe him. Just as Pi's belief in God is based in faith, his story simply cannot be proven.

Answer

The themes of survival, faith, storytelling, freedom, and science versus religion are integral to Yann Martel's masterpiece, and Pi's character develops in all these spheres.
The notion of survival requires no real explanation—the entire book is about how, in the aftermath of a shipwreck, Pi survives 227 days adrift on the Pacific Ocean with only a tiger for company. His will to live and ability to adapt show remarkable character development.
The themes of faith and science versus nature can be discussed together. As a man who practiced an amalgamation of Hindu, Islamic, and Catholic beliefs, Pi is a remarkably spiritual man prior to his ill-fated journey. While stranded at sea, however, Pi's faith is tested to its limits. At the same time, having his world reduced to just sky and sea is a spiritual experience in itself.
When it comes to storytelling, it is interesting to note that when he and Richard Parker eventually arrive on Mexican soil and his initial story—of being stranded with the tiger and happening upon a floating island of algae with carnivorous tendencies—is not believed, Pi is ready with another, more "plausible" story. The second story involved Pi being trapped on the lifeboat with his mother, a crippled sailor, and the ship's cook. Pi ultimately left the decision of which story was real to the Japanese businessman who was interviewing him.
In reaching dry land and bounding off into the jungle without a backwards glance, Richard Parker found freedom. For Pi, achieving his version of freedom takes longer. Ultimately, however, he recovers, settles in Toronto, gets an education, and marries, thereby obtaining a new life and a sense of freedom.

Answer

Life of Pi displays Pi’s courage in the face of danger and despair. Pi’s character changes according to the hardships he faces along the way to being rescued. His journey takes him from a young boy who has faith in God to a soul filled with despair. Throughout his ordeal, his faith is tested again and again. Pi is shipwrecked with only a Bengal tiger aboard a lifeboat with him. He does repetitious tasks such as cleaning the boat and writing to keep his mind occupied. He catches fish and feeds himself and the tiger.
At this point, all Pi can think about is survival. Despairing and alone on the lifeboat, he recalls that, “when I was beyond all hope of saving, he (God) gave me rest.” The themes of survival and religion are both intertwined here. Pi believes that his faith will save him and that he will be free from being lost at sea. Yet the longer Pi and the tiger are stranded, the angrier and more frustrated Pi becomes with himself and with God. He yells at God, asking him for his help.
When Pi is finally rescued and questioned about his ordeal, he tells his story as it actually occurred—being stuck on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The authorities don’t believe him, however, so Pi makes up another story with different characters facing the same unfortunate shipwreck. He tells a story of being alone on the lifeboat with his mother, the ship's cook, and a Chinese sailor. He discusses how the three others died and then states to the interviewers, “Solitude began. I turned to God. I survived." The theme of storytelling is evident here, as he tries to convince his rescuers that his stories are true. Even though Pi knows the truth, it cannot be proved—just like his belief in God. As Pi recounts, “above all . . . it is important not to lose hope."

Answer

It is through Pi's character development that Yann Martel grows and discusses each of these themes; he is the mode of communication through which the themes are shown.  Pi, at the beginning of the novel, had no idea how to survive in the terms that he would eventually be able to.  Throughout the novel, we see his character grow more hardened, efficient, and honed to the task of surviving.  Before he was forced to survive on the raft with the tiger, he was a soft-hearted boy who loved intellectual pursuits and hated confrontations.  As the novel progresses, his personality becomes more aggressive--he will confront challenges head-on instead of avoiding them, he will harden his heart against hard tasks and do them, and intellectual pursuits were abandoned in favor of daily, menial tasks.
His faith is also challenged; before his trials, he was filled with what he felt was faith, and it wasn't until he was tossed all alone into the ocean that he had to put his faith to the test.  Stories always appealed to Pi, which was why he loved all different religions; however, as the novel progresses, stories become less of a passing fancy and hobby, and more of a survival necessity.  The story becomes his coping mechanism, and we see his faith in stories solidify from being a nice thing to think about, to his realization that they are actually crucial to survival.
Those are just a few of the themes that are shown through Pi's character as it develops and changes throughout the novel.  I hope that they helped to get you started; good luck!

Life of Pi

How does Pi's character development contribute to major themes in Life of Pi? Themes: survival, faith, storytelling, freedom, and science versus religion.

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