Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Life is a repeating cycle of endless trials and unexpected changes. No matter how many trials had been experienced, the test in faith never ends. This is very similar to the series of numbers that make up Pi; they always come in unexpected order and are recognized as an endless series. The story Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel, is a novel about how the influence of geometry had helped a boy hold his faith in God and survive the incredible shipwreck that shaped his life forever.

Piscine Molitor Patel is the main character of the story Life of Pi, known to as the nickname Pi. Mathematically, Pi is also a term referring to the series of endless numbers that is used to measure the circumference of a circle. People commonly used the number “3.14…” or the fraction “22/7” as Pi. Yann Martel had cleverly woven these numbers in between the stories. Throughout the novel, Pi had stated: “I survived 227 days. That’s how long my trial lasted, over seven months” (Martel 189). The 227 days that Pi Patel had survived symbolize the fraction “22/7” from the number Pi. This is an example of Martel implying geometric figures throughout the novel. In between the 227 days, a story had tested Pi in the knowledge and faith in God. Before the shipwreck happened, Pi Patel was introduced to three main religions: Hinduism, Christianity, and Islāmic. Hinduism was familiarized to Pi through his aunt since a very young age. Christianity though was introduced to Pi when he was fourteen years old and followed by a year later was Islāmic. Although these are three different religions, Pi believed that they all shared the same one God. Due to an argument with his mum, Pi stated: “I don’t see why I can’t be all three. Mamaji has two passports. He’s Indian and Fr...

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...nced on two parallel lines” (Martel 25). Being an atheist, Mr. Kumar does not believe in God. Ironically, Pi’s Muslim teacher was also named Mr. Kumar. The sense of biology versus religions contradicted each other. Yet, Mr. Kumar had introduced Pi to Islāmic and both Mr. and Mr. Kumar had made zoölogy and religions the center of Pi’s life.

In conclusion, geometry had played a major role in guiding Pi through his trials in faith. Even within the darkest situation, geometry had lead Pi to God. Each of the elements of geometry had shaped up Pi’s future tremendously. The number “3.14” individually had revealed Pi’s motivation for survival. Life of Pi tells the story of an endless faith, holding on to the essence of geometry, no matter how twisted faith had guided humanity through fate.

Works Cited

Martel, Yann. Life of Pi: A Novel. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, 2003. Print.