World Views in Life of Pi and the Universe Next Door

Worldviews: Pi -- simply a glimpse from a universe next door

The Life of Pi suggests that despite the many different religions, and indeed different species that exist in the world, all religions and all living creatures are essentially 'one.' Despite the many divisions that exist in society and the differences that exist between individuals' and species' faiths and bodies, one must be respectful and seek to understand these differences, rather than being overly judgmental in one's philosophical orientation and embrace a worldview that is tolerant of difference, yet sees some similarities between all creatures.

The main character of the novel, named Pi Patel is the son of a zookeeper. This may seem like a strange occupation for a man in a book that revolves around religion. However, as with all things in The Life of Pi, even the strangest details are highlighted for a reason. This detail is included so that Pi can gain an early understanding about animals. Despite the fact that animals may seem fierce, his father warns him that "the most dangerous creature in the zoo is the animal as seen through human eyes" an animal that is perceived as "cute,' 'friendly,' 'loving,' 'devoted,' 'merry,' 'understanding,'" and is thus not being understood on its own terms, but in the narrowest of human terms. (Martel, p.31)

In other words, one must only perceive both animals and humans and human religious worldviews in their own context. One must not project one's desires upon other creatures -- a lesson that stands Pi in good stead when he is trapped in close quarters with some of the animal kingdom's most fearsome creatures! This lesson about animal lore, however, is also true about religions. Pi begins the novel in India, a nation torn by religious strife. Over the course of his sixteen years in the land, Pi explores a variety of worldviews, including the religions of Christianity and Islam as well as his own native Hinduism. Pi examines different faiths with enthusiasm. Pi has a tolerant perspective, rather than seeking to view religions in terms of right and wrong. Pi instinctively believes that all religions are one, as he accepts the religions of others on the believer's terms, just as he was urged to see animals for what they were, not in anthropomorphic terms. Pi notes "Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians [in Pi's mother's ironic phrase about these believers], just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims." (Martel, p.50) In other words, people might look different, but they are the same beneath their strange-looking beards and hats.

When Pi is cast adrift because of a shipwreck, he is trapped on a boat with a number of wild animals, a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and tiger. Pi gains a new respect for animal difference, as he watches the Tiger named Richard Parker attempt to catch fish for food. There is no trace of human superiority in this environment. The tiger has been born to catch fish as a carnivore. Pi marvels, many fish "were eaten live and whole, struggling wings beating in his mouth ... It was not so much the speed that was impressive as the pure animal confidence, the total absorption in the moment." (Martel, p.223) It is this total absorption in survival that Pi seeks to learn from, something that he does not possess, but the tiger does.