Symbolism

 

Pi - 3.14

Piscine Molitor Patel’s is more than a name that is just a shortened to PI (or Piss to make fun Pi, as shown throughout the story). Indeed, the word Pi carries a host of relevant associations. Known as a letter in the Greek alphabet. It is also has a meaning that contains an alpha and omega terms in relation to the novel context, which is used to denote dominant and submissive creatures. Furtheremore, as many already know is also is the irrational mathematical number used to calculate distance in a circle, which is  shortened to 3.14. Hence, Pi has so many decimal places that the human mind can’t accurately comprehend it, which is in alignment towards the story showcasing and arguing how some realities are just too difficult or troubling to comes to grib with. With such a wide variety of associations establishing the character Pi we can understand he is more then just the protagonist to the story, but also seen an an allegorical figure with multiple layers of meaning as well (25). 

Life Boat 

Richard Parker symbolizes Pi’s most animalistic instincts. Out on the lifeboat, Pi must perform many actions to stay alive that he would have found unimaginable in his normal life. An avowed vegetarian, he must kill fish and eat their flesh. As time progresses, he becomes more brutish about it, tearing apart birds and greedily stuffing them in his mouth, the way Richard Parker does. After Richard Parker mauls the blind Frenchman, Pi uses the man’s flesh for bait and even eats some of it, becoming cannibalistic in his unrelenting hunger. In his second story to the Japanese investigators, Pi is Richard Parker. He kills his mother’s murderer. Parker is the version of himself that Pi has invented to make his story more palatable, both to himself and to his audience. The brutality of his mother’s death and his own shocking act of revenge are too much for Pi to deal with, and he finds it easier to imagine a tiger as the killer, rather than himself in that role. (26)

 

Color Orange 

The color orange is a reoccuring sign throughout the story that symbolizes hope, survial, and protection. As the Tsimtsum cargo ship is sinking, a Chinese crewmen throws Pi an orange lifejacket with an orange whistle; on the boat, he finds an orange lifebuoy. The whistle, buoy, and tiger all help Pi survive. Additonally, just as Orange Juice the orangutan (Pi's mother) provides a measure of emotional support to Pi that allows him to maintain hope in the face of horrific tragedy. Furtheremore, readers and viewers can also note that it is a lucky colour as well- Pi’s young daughter Usha is holding an orange cat when the narrator goes to visit him. This is a reference to the large orange tiger- Richard Parker. It is at this point we realise that Pi has survived and managed to raise a family of his own (25 & 26). 

 

Algae Island

The carnivorous island that Pi manages to find while at sea had been mentioned to act as a symbol of the Garden of Eden in the Christian biblical story. This island offered Pi and Richard Parker a temporary salvation, but they felt the need to leave the island of Eden once Pi discovers the “forbidden fruit” (human teeth) hidden in a fallen branh off the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” This illusion and association of the island to the religious story can also symbolize the kind of heaven and hell trhough the transition from day and night. Especially, as by day there are meerkats that can be eaten without having to kill and show no fear, even of Richard Parker. While at night, the island becomes carnivorous and toxix ecosystem that feeds on itself on the life in its waters. (25) (And see Chapter 92)

 

Sinking of the Tsimtsum

The very name given to the cargo ship, Tsimtsum, comes from the Kabbalist concept which relates to how God withdrew his (or her) existance to make room for the creation of our universe. Thus, one can interpret the sinking of the ship to symbolize God withdrawing from Pi, so as an offering to make room for Pi to develop and grow as an independent creature. This draws furthere to show how the sinking of the Tsimtsum is therefore necessary for the creatures to become independent so they can freely choose a relationship with God. (25) (And see Chapters 35 and 37 Notes)