Seminar Paper

On
Role of God and Religion in Life of Pi
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Award of Degree of
B.A. (H) English
Canadian Literature

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Aditya Kumar Singh Dr. Reena Singh

A0706121052 Assistant Professor II

Amity Institute of English Studies and Research

AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH

India
Introduction

Religion as a socio-cultural system has infiltrated almost every aspect of life: from eating

habits to law. Defined as a system of belief in a superhuman power like a God or gods, it has

often been a subject of debate and considered a rather sensitive subject in general, as it carries

a notorious reputation of causing social and political strife and has historically been

employed as a propagandist tool that has resulted in communal bias, majoritarianism and

genocide. However, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, explores the themes of gods and religious

beliefs with an aim to understands its significance on a more personal level.

"Life of Pi" is a novel by Yann Martel that tells the extraordinary tale of Piscine Molitor

Patel, known as Pi. After a shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean, Pi finds himself marooned on a

lifeboat with only a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for company. The story unfolds

through two parallel narratives: one is Pi's harrowing struggle for survival as he faces hunger,

thirst, and the constant threat of the tiger, while the other delves into Pi's earlier life in India.

God and Religion in Life of Pi

The protagonist of the novel is an individual practising multiple religions simultaneously,

thus, embodying the idea of religious pluralism. Practicing Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam

at the same time reflects the diversity of religious beliefs in the world and highlights Pi's

openness to different faiths. It suggests that, for Pi, religion is not about choosing one path

but about finding spirituality and meaning through a variety of lenses.

Although Pi does heavily rely on science, religion is used in many parts of the book and is a

source of strength for Pi, he is able to weave together Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam

together in order to be able to love God as much as he can. Yann Martel defends the choice to

believe in multiple religions at once and the compatibility of religion and science through Pi’s
admiration for both religion and zoology. His faith and beliefs are the most important things

in his life. A vegetarian because he loves and respects all of the things God has made, he has

gone through a long religious journey with many obstacles in order to be so strong in his

faith. In every one of these obstacles, he has put his faith in God first, including all of the

hardships he endured while being lost at sea.

Pi’s religious journey began when he was born, as he has been a devoted Hindu since he was

born, he will never stop believing in Hinduism as it taught him how to see the beauty around

him and in the world. Through everything, Pi has gone through and no matter what situation

he is in, Hinduism helps him in finding the beauty and positivity in his life, as well as the

world.

Pi encountered his next religious belief as he was walking by a Christian cathedral. He

entered, thinking he would be told to get out, but instead found a priest who listened to him

and explained to him Christianity’s religious message. The priest taught him how Jesus was

love and that everyone is welcome in the eyes of Jesus. Pi liked the way Christianity loved

God and decided to be baptized. Christianity played a role in Pi’s hardships as well; the

religion taught him how to suffer and see the spirituality in suffering.

When Pi is stranded at sea for 227 days with only a Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, these

religious beliefs become crucial to his survival. His daily rituals of prayer and devotion

provide him with structure and a sense of purpose in the midst of isolation and danger.

Allowing him to see his suffering abroad the lifeboat as a spiritual experience and help him

cope with the hardships abroad the lifeboat. He even saw the beauty in the ferocious tiger

with whom he shared the sea. This demonstrates how religion can serve as a source of inner

strength and resilience in times of extreme hardship.

The novel also challenges the reader to consider whether Pi's story of surviving with a tiger is

an allegorical fable or a factual account. This ambiguity prompts questions about the role of

storytelling and faith in shaping one's reality. Pi's willingness to tell a fantastical story to the

Japanese investigators at the end of the novel raises the idea that faith and storytelling can be

intertwined, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Stories and religious beliefs are also

linked in the novel as Pi asserts that both require faith on the part of the listener or devotee.

Surprisingly for such a religious boy, Pi admires atheists. To him, the important thing is to

believe in something, and Pi can appreciate an atheist’s ability to believe in the absence of

God with no concrete proof of that absence. Pi has nothing but disdain, however, for

agnostics, who claim that it is impossible to know either way, and who therefore refrain from

making a definitive statement on the question of God. Pi sees this as evidence of a shameful

lack of imagination. To him, agnostics who cannot make a leap of faith in either direction are

like listeners who cannot appreciate the non-literal truth a fictional story might provide.

Pi's spiritual journey is also a search for meaning and understanding in life. His encounters

with different religious traditions demonstrate his desire to find a deeper connection with the

divine. This mirrors the human quest for purpose and the need to make sense of the world's

complexities through religion. The novel suggests that religion is a matter of interpretation

and personal belief. Pi's ability to find elements of truth and beauty in various religions

illustrates the idea that faith is subjective and can be shaped by one's own experiences and

perspectives.

Conclusion
In conclusion, God and religion in Life of Pi play a multifaceted role that extends far beyond

mere belief systems. They are portrayed as sources of profound strength, essential tools for

survival in the harshest of circumstances, avenues for exploring the deepest questions of

existence, and powerful instruments of storytelling. Pi's journey showcases how faith can be a

resilient anchor in the face of adversity, offering solace and purpose when all seems lost. It

underscores that religion is not just about rituals; it's about the human need for something to

hold onto when everything else is stripped away. Moreover, the novel encourages readers to

reflect on the blurred lines between reality and fiction in the narratives we construct. Pi's

ability to weave a captivating story, blending elements of faith and imagination, prompts us to

consider how storytelling can shape our perception of the world. In essence, "Life of Pi"

invites readers to delve into the complex interplay between faith, survival, meaning, and the

power of narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of how religion can influence our

understanding of reality and our place in the universe.