Symbolism in ‘Life of Pi’

Symbolism in Text

• Symbols in literary texts refers to themes, ideas or objects where the literal, conventional meaning is exceeded or negated by a nonliteral meaning.

• Literature sometimes has what is called “surplus meaning”. That is that there can be a variety, though not unlimited, number of interpretations.

• The meaning of a piece of literature resides in the reader's freedom to respond. For a reader's response to be more than idiosyncratic, the reader must engage in dialogue with other readers of that piece of literature.

Symbolism in ‘Life of Pi’

• Martel’s use of symbols is part of his ‘crafting’ of the text. • There are layers or complexity to the symbolism that add

to the ‘confusion’ of readers and the veils of interpretation.

• IMPORTANT – You need to be able to explain the symbolism in ‘Life of Pi’ yourself. Don’t use an interpretation that you don’t agree with or understand.

Water

• Used throughout the novel. • Symbol of renewal, rebirth, life. • Endless like Pi himself. • Embracing the ocean is Mamaji’s gift to Pi – embracing

the infinite, the possibilities of the infinite. If you can swim you are not fearful of the expanse of the ocean. In the same way if you understand the infinite you are not scared of it.

• Sea is indicative of life’s journey – supports life, but also challenges and destroys it.

Richard Parker

• Representative of death and a constant threat to Pi’s safety.

• “The one who scared him witless to start with” was the very same who brought him “peace” and “purpose” – Richard Parker completes Pi.

• Pi appeases Richard Parker with food and water as one might offer a sacrifice to higher being.

• Can be the physical manifestation of Pi’s animalistic tendencies. Taming of Richard Parker is Pi’s mastery of his own sense of aggression.

• Richard Parker provides strength and motivation.

Hunger

• Hunger and thirst become Pi’s obsessions as he struggles to survive during his journey across the Pacific Ocean.

• Pi’s strict vegetarianism is challenged as his desperate circumstances force him to eat fish and birds.

• Without access to cutlery, his table manners disappear and he eats ravenously with his hands. Pi’s eating of flesh signals his descent into savagery, confirmed when he admits to eating strips of the French castaway’s flesh (p.256).

• His animal-like obsession with food is noted by his Japanese interviewers as he stashes food under his bedclothes to protect it, just as an animal would.

The Tsimtsum

• 16th century Kabbalistic concept fist taught by Isaac Luria which explains the creation of the world.

• Hebrew word that means shrinking, withdrawal, contraction.

• God created a vacuum (a space where he was not) in order to fill that space with the created world and a greater space where He could find a place.

• Martel suggests that God was absent in the sinking of the Tsimtsum and challenges the need for us to blame God for the ‘bad’ things that happen in the world.

Orange

• In ‘Life of Pi’, the color orange symbolises hope and survival. It is the colour of whistle on the life vests and the lifebuoy.

• The Orangutan, Orange Juice, also evokes this colour both in name and colouring.

• Orange is the most sacred colour in Hinduism and the dominant colour of Richard Parker.

• Interestingly, Pi’s daughter Usha carries an orange cat – a miniature Richard Parker.

The Blind Frenchman

• Represents an aspect of Pi that he can not acknowledge – the part of him that will do anything to survive.

• Pi is literally and metaphorically blind to events that have taken place – the censored chapters of his own history.

Mathematical Symbolism

• Π is an irrational number. • It expresses the inability to find a common measure – an

exact ratio – between the circumference and diametre of a circle.

• Π is a number that goes on for ever. • Pi finds “refuge’ in that “elusive, irrational number”.

Religious Symbolism

• Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are the dominant religions of India. The embodiment of these three faith traditions represents unity and wholeness.

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Richard Parker

• Richard Parker represents Pi’s baser nature and animal instinct.

• When confronted with his circumstances, Pi becomes aware of a ‘beast’ within him which he must tame in order to survive.

Death

• RP as a metaphorical representation of death. • Pi begins his journey terrified of RP - terrified of RP. • Taming of RP is a mastery of Pi over his own fear. • People who are able to master their fear of death (and

have faith?) are better able to survive.

The Carnivorous Island

• Richard Parker’s and Pi’s ‘Garden of Eden’ – seemingly, everything they need to survive and be satisfied, yet there is an element of evil within it.

• Pi identifies the island as a place of “physical comfort and spiritual death”.

“May you reach the coast of Mexico...”