Life Of Pi Animal Symbolism

Throughout literary history, animals have been utilized in tales to convey moral ideologies. Frequently, these animals interact with the human race. This literary technique is modeled in the novel Life of Pi. This novel details the adventure of Piscine "Pi" Martel as he is stranded in the Pacific Ocean with a hyena, a zebra, a orangutan named Orange Juice, and a tiger named Richard Parker. Pi is polyreligious; he is a Hindu, Christian, and Muslim. Pi's religious beliefs aid him in his struggle to survive. The animals also play an interesting part in Pi's religious involvement. The animals are an "essential component of the story" because they "decenter human beings" and "put animals back in the center of our secular and religious imaginations"
While on a family vacation, Pi visits a Catholic Church and a Islamic Mosque. He hides in the shadows afraid to cause a scene. Slowly, he adapts to the environment and speaks to holy men employed by both sanctuaries. Pi is fascinated by these religions and wishes to understand them; he finds comfort in the prophets, gods, and ideologies that follow. While on vacation, Pi is confronted by group consisting of a representative from of each of the faiths because they were not aware that he was attempting to practice three religions. Pi's parents and brother are oblivious to the fact that he frequents a church and mosque. Similar to the holy men, they are shocked. Everyone but Pi's mother demanded that he chooses one religion to practice; however, his refuses stating that he finds comfort in all three religions, much to their chagrin (Martel). During this encounter, Pi states, "Bapu Gandhi said, "All Religions are true,' I just want to love God" (Martel 69). Once home, Pi continues to practice Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. This faith based foundation propels Pi to survive while stranded at sea with feral animals. When hope seems lost, he reverts to his religious practices, prayer, and