In Life of Pi, how does Pi's faith contribute to his survival?
Since Pi practices faith in three major religions, he draws upon all of them to pull him through his suffering on the lifeboat. Not only does his commitment to three different religions show that Pi bears great love and faith within himself, it also proves to be the foundation from...
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which he draws the strength and the desire to survive his ordeal. During times when Pi wants to give up hope, he prays or remembers a story from one of the religions he knows so well. He is strengthened to keep on fighting for his life. In chapter 60, Pi wakes up in the middle of the night and is overwhelmed with feelings of insignificance. He remembers a Hindu story of a character named Markandeya:
I felt like the sage Markandeya, who fell out of Vishnu's mouth while Vishnu was sleeping and so beheld the entire universe, everything that there is. Before the sage could die of fright, Vishnu awoke and took him back into his mouth (177).
Vishnu saves the sage in this story, and Pi awakes in the morning revitalized to continue fighting for his life. He says, "I mumbled words of Muslim prayer," which shows how he also draws strength from mixing religious prayers and practices. Furthermore, in chapter 63, Pi's daily schedule is listed, and his prayers and rituals play a vital role in giving him something to do. By having religious practices to accomplish each day, he keeps his mind active and his hope alive. In chapter 74, Pi explains how his religious practices bring him comfort:
At such moments I tried to elevate myself. I would touch the turban I had made with the remnants of my shirt and I would say aloud, "This is God's hat!" . . . Despair was a heavy blackness that let no light in or out. It was hell beyond expression. I thank God it always passed (209).
In Life of Pi, how does Pi's faith contribute to his survival?
On a superficial level, Pi's faith contributes to his survival by providing daily ritual. On a deeper level, Pi's faith contributes to his survival through answered prayers.
Let's explore Pi's survival on the physical level first. If you look closely at chapter 63, you will see that exactly how much keeping busy with daily rituals contributes to Pi's survival. This chapter contains Pi's daily agenda. In regards to your specific question, what is the most interesting is the number of times Pi has recorded the word "prayers." Pi prays more than he does anything else on the raft. He prays no less than five times every day. Pi considers these prayers just as important as any other physical, survival preparations: "I kept myself busy. That was one key to my survival."
Now let's explore Pi's survival on a spiritual level. As a scholar of the religions of the world, I am going to suggest a deeper meaning here. Keep in mind that the deeper meaning I suggest is purely subjective (and not necessarily the opinion of the author). This is because I believe that Pi actually survives because of the deity/deities in which he calls upon. There are two instances where Pi (probably even subconsciously) calls upon these deities from the three major world religions of which he has combined: Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Both of these instances involve life or death situations.
Interestingly enough, the first instance involves Richard Parker's survival and the second instance involves Pi's survival (spared FROM Richard Parker).
I could see [Richard Parker's] head. He was struggling to stay at the surface of the water. "Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good to see you, Richard Parker! Don't give up, please. Come to the lifeboat! ... Swim, swim!"
Here, Pi is absolutely ecstatic to see Richard Parker. They knew each other from the zoo, of course. Pi is happy to have any creature survive with him. (In reality, even after almost a year at sea, Pi will admit that this kinship with the tiger is the very thing that kept Pi from death.) Pi's prayer is answered when Richard Parker enters the lifeboat.
The next prayer is a bit different, to say the least:
My heart stopped and then beat triple speed. I turned. "Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu!" I saw a sight that will stay with me for the rest of my days. Richard Parker had risen and emerged. He was not fifteen feet from me. Oh, the size of him! The hyena's end had come, and mine.
Here it is Pi who is on the point of death. Richard Parker, a deadly animal, could have easily killed Pi. However, due to Pi's prayer, Pi is saved. A miraculous rat "appeared out of nowhere" that Pi is able to fling at Richard Parker who, already a bit hesitant to leap on the less than firm tarpaulin, accepts the rat as an "offering" and flops back down on the bottom of the lifeboat.
In Life of Pi, how does Pi combine and use religion and science to survive on the lifeboat?
I'll start with a broad overview of Pi and his knowledge of science and religion. First, Pi's knowledge and usage of religion is quite broad and tolerant. That's why he is able to combine Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Pi takes bits and pieces of each religion in order to make himself feel better, have more hope, and have a more positive outlook on life.
"Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God," I blurted out, and looked down, red in the face.
As for Pi's knowledge of science, his knowledge doesn't cover as wide of a spectrum as his knowledge of religion. His scientific knowledge is firmly rooted in animal behavior. He might be able to explain a bit of chemistry or genetics here and there, but his useful scientific knowledge is from animal behavior. Pi uses this knowledge to a great extent on the lifeboat so that he can co-exist with Richard Parker. Pi makes sure that Richard Parker never sees Pi as possible prey. That would be the end of Pi, and Pi knows how to establish this basic scientific environmental organization and relationship. As for religion and faith while on the lifeboat, Pi admits that he used his faith beliefs and rituals in a way that brought him hope and comfort.
I practised religious rituals that I adapted to the circumstances—solitary Masses without priests or consecrated Communion Hosts, darshans without murtis, and pujas with turtle meat for prasad, acts of devotion to Allah not knowing where Mecca was and getting my Arabic wrong. They brought me comfort, that is certain. But it was hard, oh, it was hard. Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love—but sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up.
In Life of Pi, how does Pi combine and use religion and science to survive on the lifeboat?
In part 1 of the story, Pi is reflecting on his journey. He relays that he found peace in the harmony of religion and zoology. Pi’s father was a zoologist and sparked the interest in him. Pi was raised Hindu; however, he also practices Christianity and Islam.
Pi was able to use his knowledge of zoology to survive on the boat alone with a tiger, Richard Parker. He masters and trains the tiger so that the animal comes to understand him as the leader. He uses a whistle, similar to what his father showed him as a child, to control the tiger. In addition, he cares for the tiger and provides him food. Pi also uses his understanding of physiology and science to survive. For example, he is aware of the impact of dehydration and chooses to make finding water a priority. His knowledge of the environment is essential to his survival.
Pi prays every day on the boat and uses his faith to propel him forward. Pi’s practice of three religions was rejected by many religious leaders, and his family had some objections. However, it turned out that his deep understanding of faith through his plural practice of religion is what sustained his hope for survival.
In Life of Pi, how does Pi combine and use religion and science to survive on the lifeboat?
Science, especially in the form of zoology, helped Pi quite a bit in his survival on the lifeboat. Pi was able to use his knowledge of animals, especially in regards to the concept of "alpha males" and territorialism. As soon as Pi realized that he was alone on a life raft with a starving tiger, he knew that he had to establish himself as the alpha male, with very clear-cut boundaries, so that Richard Parker would not harm him. He very cleverly enlists the use of the whistle and intimidation tactics to establish boundaries, and the fact that he is the sole provider of food and nourishment for the both of them.
Pi also uses his knowledge of science in gathering water for drinking, in providing food for himself and Richard Parker, and in many other ways as he struggles to survive. Religion comes into play also; he still prays every day that he can on the lifeboat, and his faith keeps him from total and complete despair. Studies have shown that in survival situations, faith in God is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not someone survives. Pi, coming into the situation with faith in many different religions, had more resources than others in his attempts to survive.
Both science and religion were crucial factors in Pi's survival; Martel spent the entire first third of the book discussing both of those issues at length, because they did play such an important role. I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!
In Life of Pi, how do faith and imagination rescue Pi from his misery?
Pi’s belief in and love of God are made clear from the novel’s beginning. It is a love strong enough to go beyond religious divisions, and one he practices fervently in his worship as a Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. His devotion to God becomes less prominent during his time on the boat. This is due to the physical needs that dominate his focus. His faith in God, however, never seems to waver, even as he endures great physical and mental torment.
Faith is a significant factor contributing to Pi’s survival and rescuing him from misery. When he is at his lowest, it is his faith that rescues him. Faith allows Pi to recognize the miraculous nature of life and his survival on the boat. This can be noted in chapter 53:
I was giving up. I would have given up—if a voice hadn’t made itself heard in my heart. The voice said, “I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, so long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen.”
Pi’s faith in God and belief in God’s presence together prevent Pi from slipping into a depressive misery that could prevent him from proactively taking steps to ensure survival. Surviving on the boat is hard and physically taxing. However, the threat to Pi’s mental state is far greater. In chapter 74, Pi again discusses his struggle against despair and how faith is the light that pulls him from it:
Despair was a heavy blackness that let no light in or out. It was a hell beyond expression. I thank God it always passed. A school of fish appeared around the net or a knot cried out to be reknotted. Or I thought of my family, of how they were spared this terrible agony. The blackness would stir and eventually go away, and God would remain, a shining point of light in my heart. I would go on loving.
The fortuitous arrival of fish or a turtle contributes to Pi’s sense of awe in the world he believes God has created and from which he has faith God will provide for him. Even in the midst of the terrifying electrical storm at sea, Pi’s faith ensures he is able to avoid the misery of fear. Instead, he praises God:
“This is a miracle. This is an outbreak of divinity. This is ... this is ...” I could not find what it was, this thing so vast and fantastic. ... I remember that close encounter with electrocution and third-degree burns as one of the few times during my ordeal when I felt genuine happiness. (Chapter 85)
In relating the full horror of what occurs on the lifeboat, Pi describes how he is utterly alone and makes the following powerful statement: “Solitude began. I turned to God. I survived” (chapter 99). It is clear from this quote that his survival is dependent on his faith as much as it is on his ability to ensure he has enough food and fresh water.
The distinction between the beautiful power of imagination and crudity of reality is really at the foundation of the two stories Pi narrates to the investigators. Pi’s imagination was a tool he harnessed in order to survive the traumatic ordeal of witnessing the destruction of the Tsimtsum, the loss of his family, the brutal murder of his mother, the horror of sharing the boat with a cannibal, and his own cruelty, which was sparked by his survival instincts. After facing all these traumas, it is almost expected that Pi will sink into the depths of misery. However, he uses his imagination to create the alternate story that, in his opinion, is a better one, and that alleviates the misery of his experience somewhat. That is why Pi so strongly defends his imaginative story to the investigators:
I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you see higher or further or differently. You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality. ... You want a story without animals. (Chapter 99)
The animals Pi imagines in his survival story are the means by which he can make sense of his trauma. Though Pi’s experience training, feeding, and cleaning up after Richard Parker exists in the realm of imagination, the tiger still offered concrete support for Pi’s survival as a castaway.
Pi's faith and use of imagination are what allow him to mentally and emotionally avoid endless misery. Instead, he is able to survive and build a new life for himself.
In Life of Pi, how do faith and imagination rescue Pi from his misery?
Much of the information gained on Pi's perceptions of religion and faith are revealed to the reader in the chapters in which he discusses his journey as an adult. While he is at sea for 227 days, he describes his surroundings. The narrator of the novel hears Pi's story many years later, having heard from Mr. Adirubasamy that Pi's experience will make him "believe in God." To the narrator, Pi expresses his belief that Richard Parker was crucial to his survival. I'm referring to the creative ways in which Pi learns to live on the lifeboat with Richard Parker—thinking of creative ways to obtain food for the tiger, train him, and assert a sort of dominance through this training. This keeps Pi alert and fills his days, thus distracting him from his misery. Many literary experts interpret Richard Parker as a manifestation of God, guiding Pi and saving his life. Pi tells the narrator that he never lost faith during his journey, which is why Mr. Adirubasamy believed it was a story about God.
In Life of Pi, how do faith and imagination rescue Pi from his misery?
Imagination enabled Pi to take what was an awful tragedy, a horrific experience, and a living nightmare, and turn it into an endearing tale of survival, friendship, and endurance. The harsh reality that Pi had to deal with--the brutal, violent loss of his mother, having to surive with a cannibalistic mad-man on a raft, and then fight to the death for his own survival--was just too much to endure. Any person faced with such brutality and trying circumstances would want to escape, would want to deny reality, and find a coping mechanism that would allow them to survive with the least amount of damage possible.
Pi's imagination saves him. He takes the situation, and converts it into a tale that is amazing and fascinating. In the creation of Richard Parker, he is able to be okay with the fact that he had to violate many of his beliefs and morals in order to survive. Pi doing those things was unthinkable; Richard Parker doing them was understandable and expected. He created a reality where it was okay to be what he was as he struggled to survive.
In addition to his imagination creating a reality that allowed him to survive, his faith helped him to create that alternate reality. He was prone to believing great stories, based on faith, and that helped him to believe his own. He also prayed every day on the raft, had a firm grasp of what forgiveness meant, and didn't feel alone because of his faith. It enabled him to make it through his ordeals without feeling totally alone and desolate.
I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!
In Life of Pi how do Pi's religion and storytelling play a factor in his survival?
At the end of the story, Pi is met by two Japanese officials who interview him regarding the shipwreck. After they refuse to believe the story that has been told throughout the book, he tells them a second, far more gruesome tale. The implication is that the second story is true, the first being something of a psychological defense mechanism.
Pi creates a story involving animals being violent rather than have to process the reality of humans behaving like violent animals themselves. In this story, it would be Richard Parker who would have to commit a violent act in self-defense rather than Pi himself.
Pi's commitment to not just one religion, but three, gives him hope and comfort throughout his time on the lifeboat. It allows him a beautiful means of escapism and to make sense of a situation that was senseless.
In Life of Pi how do Pi's religion and storytelling play a factor in his survival?
Both Pi's dependence on religion and his affection for storytelling help him to survive because they provide an element of escapism for him. Pi goes through a terribly traumatic experience, one that should have emotionally scarred him beyond repair. However, because he is able to introduce the entire experience as a story in his mind—one that involves Richard Parker doing all of the dirty work and the animals being the ones that are inhumane—he is able to survive it. He is able to pretend that it is all just a grand story, instead of a horrifying reality. That helps him to cope emotionally and go on to live a normal life. It is a defense mechanism for his psychological health.
Pi's religion is helpful in the fact that it gives him something to cling on to during the tough times on the lifeboat and to add meaning to his life after the incident. His religions provide explanations and comfort regarding his family's death and where they might be afterwards. Pi's reliance on three different religions also set him up well for the love of stories and the use of them as a way to make sense of our world. That is exactly what he does with his lifeboat experience—create a reality that makes the experience bearable. Pi is already practiced at being faithful in those religions, so it isn't too far of a leap to be practiced at believing his own version of the events.