“And So it Goes With God”:

Looking Beyond
the Horizon

A Thesis
Presented to the
Department of Literature
University of Santo Tomas
College of Nursing

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements in
Lit 101
World Literatures

LINA, Romella C.

March 2013
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DEDICATION

This research study is dedicated to all people who almost lose hope because of
the frustrations they encounter in life, to those who are facing the most difficult battle, to
those who almost let go of their faith and to those who feel that God has abandoned
them. This is intended to make us realize that even in the most difficult times of our
lives, God is watching us and God will always remain with us. We just have to look
behind the horizon for us to realize the real meaning behind our experiences.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research study will not be made possible without the utmost support, help,

trust, and guidance of the following:

First and foremost, the Almighty God, our Lord and Savior who showered

countless blessings, guidance, and love. Without Him, the researcher will not have the

chance to meet the people behind the success of this research study and she will not

have the opportunity to learn from her own mistakes and experiences;

The researcher’s parents, Mrs. Corazon C. Lina and Mr. Romulo A. Lina, for the

moral and financial support;

Dr. Elmer C. Hibek, the researcher’s Lit101 professor, for the pieces of advice

and for his patience and guidance throughout the conceptualization of this research

study and throughout the writing of the manuscript.

The researcher’s RLEmates for the companionship and suggestions;

And also, to the author of this book, Yann Martel, for letting the researcher

realize that God is always with her especially in the most difficult situation in her life and

that God will never abandon her if she will keep holding on to her faith.

With this, the researcher would like to extend her profound gratitude to these

people who made this research study a worthwhile endeavor.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ……………………………………………………………………………………… i

Dedication Page ……………………………………………………………………………… ii
Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………………………… iii
Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………….. iv

CHAPTER

1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

A. Introduction ………………………………………………………… 1-5

B. Statement of the Problem ………………………………………… 5
C. Significance of the Study ………………………………………… 5-6
D. Scope and Limitation of the Study ………………………………. 6-7

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Foreign Studies ……………………………………………………. 8-15

2.2. Synthesis…………………………………………………………….15-17

3 SUMMARY………………………………………………………………….18-22
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4 DISCUSSION

4.1. Man vs. Himself …………………………………………………..23 - 27

4.2. Religious Pluralism in the Formation of Faith and Being …... 27 - 31
4.3. Faith: Believing the Unbelievable ……………………………....31- 35

5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Summary …………………………………………………………. 36 - 37

5.2. Conclusion ……………………………………………………….. 37 - 38
5.3. Recommendations …………………………………………….... 38 - 39

BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………… 40 - 41

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR …………………………………………………. 42

CURRICULUM VITAE …………………………………………………………….. 43 - 44

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CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Background

A. Introduction

“Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love
– but sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast
with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very
bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up.” This cliché from
the book Life of Pi written by Yann Martel has a profound meaning about our faith
in God. There are times that people tend to lose hope and at the same time, they
also tend to lose their faith. People stop believing in the existence of God
because of human suffering. We have this notion that if God really exist, we will
not be able to experience pain and suffering because we expect that God is
always there to protect us as His creation. On the other hand, during those times
that we experience pleasure and happiness, we now tend to forget that behind all
of these is God’s love for us. We oftentimes forget to give thanks to Him for the
blessings and success we have received. In contrast, with pain and losing, we
think that it is God’s punishment and a sign of abandonment.

Human suffering is not merely about what we think it is. It is a very

important factor in the formation of our being if we just look deeply and find
meaning in it. God allows us to face difficult battles not to punish us but to help
us learn great lessons in life and to strengthen our faith in Him. We always ask
“Does God really exist? Then why me?”. We don’t realize that with all the
problems we face, God is always with us and He will not give any problem we
cannot bear. He wants us to carry our cross and leave the rest to Him. All we
need to do is to hold on to our faith while He makes his plan for us.
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Furthermore, we have always viewed losing someone or something as a

negative aspect of our lives. We always think that failure is God’s way of saying
‘no’ and is the end of everything. We don’t realize that with every failure we
encounter, God tells us that we just have to wait because what we wish for will
be given at some point of our lives and not at this time. It is also part of His plan
because something better will come. We just need to be patient and keep our
faith in Him.

On the other hand, suffering also lets us realize that we are human beings
and we are not and we can never be Him. It is a way of reminding us of our
infirmity and we are mere creations of a supreme being. Some people have this
ambition of being their own God that they consider themselves as those who are
mainly responsible for what their fate will be. They do not acknowledge the
presence of higher beings; hence, they are referred as the autotheist. Pain and
suffering make these people humble and make them surrender themselves to
God. Another value of human suffering is that it makes us recognize the
presence of a higher being as a source of help and comfort. It also teaches us
how to pray. Furthermore, suffering can also be considered as a result of a sin or
a sinful act. An epitome of this is the beginning of human history which revolves
around the story of Adam and Eve who disobeyed God and as a result of their
disobedience, suffering descend to their offspring and became a part of human
life.

Aside from the above mentioned values of human suffering, pain also lets
us appreciate the little things around us which we have ignored before. With pain
and suffering, we learn to find meaning even in the simplest experience we
encounter, including the singing of birds, the beautiful flowers, the sound of the
waves and the blowing of the wind. The meaning of these things becomes more
vivid than how we viewed it before because the grandiosity of our possessions
before we experience failure has overshadowed our sense of appreciation.
Nevertheless, suffering also helps us develop compassion for others because
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our hearts become more open to help people who had the same experience
because you’ve been in the same situation and you know how painful it is. Even
so, suffering also tailors courage. It helps us learn to face life no matter how
difficult it may be. Though hardships target our weakest spot, once we have
endured it, we will surely become a stronger person. With all of these, suffering
and pain can never be valid reasons to let go of our faith.

In connection to this, this book written by Yann Martel entitled Life of Pi

tells a lot about suffering and keeping our faith in God. It also tells us that beyond
human suffering is a better story which will teach us life’s great lessons. This
novel also focuses on man’s choice between defeat and endurance until death
because death is inevitable. It is a matter of how we deal with these struggles. If
we give up, then we lose and if we continue fighting, standing up in front of our
enemies will be the greatest reward. Our ability to face these struggles with
courage makes ourselves our own heroes. The story presented by Yann Martel
in this book is claimed as a true story which he himself heard while backpacking
through Pondicherry. This novel is considered as an adventure story with the
features of both fiction and nonfiction writing. The animals with some traits which
are comparable to that of man and the island with trees that devour human
beings is considered as a feature of fiction writing. On the other hand, the parts
of the story which can be considered as features of nonfiction writing are the first
person narration and the interview transcripts of two Japanese interrogators.

The reason why Yann Martel came up with this book is that his second
book which came out in Canada did not catch the eyes of readers. It did not
receive any compliment from reviewers and the people just ignored it. It just lined
up the shelves of bookstores. Hence, he decided to work on another story which
was set in Portugal, but still, he just earned a little profit from his work. Because
of this, he decided to go to Bombay because of low cost of living and he thinks
that his money will go a long way there. He reached Pondicherry where he met
an elderly man in an Indian Coffee House on Nehru Street. They had an informal
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conversation and when he was about to leave, the elderly man asked him if he
wants to hear a story that will make him believe in God. After hearing this, he
became interested in listening to the story. He paid attention to the elderly man
and after their conversation, he was asked to talk to the main character of the
story named Pi Patel. He looked for the name of Mr. Patel in the directory and
called him up. Though it happened a very long time ago, Pi Patel agreed to share
his story. Hence, they met each other in Toronto.

Pi Patel and Yann Martel may have something in common especially in

their way of dealing with struggles in life. They both endured hardships –
hardships in the Pacific Ocean for Pi Patel and hardships as a writer for Yann
Martel. They both faced it with courage and as a result, they were rewarded – gift
of life for Pi and success in his career as a writer for Yann Martel. In Pi Patel’s
story, we could see that he is a man of many faiths considering that he believes
in three religions – Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. These three religions helped
him survive the tragedies he experienced during his journey in the Pacific Ocean.
He was unsure whether he could still live or not but this doubt and uncertainty
made him sure of one thing – God was always the shining point of light in his
heart which made him continue loving.

Despite the failures experienced by the author of this book, he still

continued searching for a new beginning. With his courage and patience, he
came up with this captivating masterpiece which touched the hearts of its readers
and made a change in their lives from the simplest to the most elaborate way.
Yann Martel himself is an epitome of courage which made him successful in life
as a writer.

This manuscript was given the title “And So It Goes with God: Looking
Beyond the Horizon” because it focuses on human suffering as a lesson and a
factor which makes our faith grow. It also emphasizes on the role of hardships as
something that deepens our faith and trust in God. It may be unclear to us what
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God plans for us. We may even doubt His existence and wisdom because what
we are experiencing is not according to what we want or what we plan. On the
other hand, by merely reading this book, we may not be able to fully understand
its message. Hence, this research study also aims to analyze some of the
remarkable lines presented in this novel. Through this, the readers will better
understand the message that the author would like to convey.

B. Statement of the Problem

Generally, this research study aims to relate the novel Life of Pi written by
Yann Martel in real life. Aside from this, it also seeks to answer the following
questions:

1. How does one become an enemy to himself?

2. How can religious pluralism affect one’s faith and being?
3. How can man believe the unbelievable especially those that are not
perceived by his senses?

C. Significance of the Study

This research study has both theoretical and practical applications. One
of these is that it broadens our knowledge about world literature, especially the
influence of culture and experience of the author on his writing style. In a novel,
we can see the meaning of each event superficially. However, there is a deeper
meaning behind the ideas presented in a novel which can only be unveiled
through a literary thesis. It also allows the student to understand the importance
of writing styles in making a captivating story. For example, in this novel written
by Yann Martel, he both used fiction and nonfiction writing which added a twist in
the story, caught the interest of the readers and sustained the flow of the story.
On the other hand, this research study also helped the researcher developed
critical thinking skills as some of its parts may puzzle the reader. Hence, this
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research study may also help other readers of this novel understand its content
and meaning. Furthermore, since there are some lines which are not clearly
explained, this research study will also find meaning behind these lines.

On the other hand, the practical applications of this research study are
mainly about understanding human suffering as a test of our faith and God’s way
of strengthening our relationship with Him. As this study presents remarkable
quotes from the novel, the analyses of these quotes may inspire us and touch
our hearts. It will also help us realize the meaning of life that behind a tragic
story, there is always a better one.

D. Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study only includes one novel written by Yann Martel which is Life of
Pi. This was written in the year 2002 which became one of the bestsellers and
received the prestigious Manbooker Prize Award which is awarded each year to
the best English-language novel written by a Commonwealth or Irish author. In
connection to this, this research study focuses on the values of human suffering
as an important factor in the formation of our being and in strengthening our faith.
It also deals with the importance of patience and courage in defeating all the
odds even how difficult it may seem. The major themes emphasized in this study
are human suffering, religion, faith, love, gratitude, heroism, will to live and the
nature of man. It also includes the symbols that made it a captivating story. In
addition, considering that Pi is a man of many faiths, this research study also
includes the role of his religions in his ability to endure all the hardships during
his journey. It also includes the comparison of the author to the main character of
the story in relation to their way of dealing with challenges and struggles. In
addition to the discussion about religion, this research paper also tackles
religious pluralism and how it affects one’s faith and being.
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On the other hand, this study also involves some of the remarkable quotes
that left a mark on the heart of the researcher. Aside from this, these quotations
are also considered by the researcher as a means of getting inspiration in
dealing with all the struggles in life. These quotes may seem mere ordinary lines
said by the narrator of the story but in fact, these lines may have the most
profound meaning that can be considered as a part of reality.

Nevertheless, there are also some limitations acknowledged in this

research study. First is the limited time that was allotted for the study which
involves the reading of the book, searching for reliable sources such as scholarly
research papers, and the writing of the manuscript. Second is the researcher’s
limited knowledge about world literature and her reliance on own understanding
of the novel. Lastly, lack of reliable resources and previous research studies also
made the study difficult to accomplish.
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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Foreign Studies

a. Life of Pi: Faith in God, Jonathan Feng (2007)

The novel emphasizes on animals as a sign of religious faith and miracles of
God. The animals on the lifeboat has religious symbols. The zebra represents the
martyr for world’s brutality while Richard Parker represents the mighty image of God.
Along with Pi’s religious faith, the novel also centers on his will to live despite the
fact that he is with a 450-pound Bengal tiger in the lifeboat and sharks are around
his raft which could devour him anytime. Yet, Pi clings to his faith in God to survive
this tragedy. He also relies on rituals to forget the feeling of despair and isolation.
Some of these rituals are solitary masses without priests or consecrated communion
hosts, darshans without murtis and pujas with turtle meat for Prasad and acts of
devotion to Allah without knowing where Mecca is (Chapter 74). Aside from these
rituals, Pi elevates himself by proclaiming God’s ownership of the lifeboat. Through
his journey, he combats his worst enemies – fear and despair.

b. An Exploration of Faith in Life of Pi, Anna McCollum (2011)

The novel Life of Pi is a story of a man named Piscine “Pi” Molitor Patel who
grew up in Pondicherry, India in 1960’s and 1970’s. He unveiled his story through an
interview which can be divided into three parts. The first part of his story is about
him, his name and his family and their way of living in Pondicherry. The second part
indicates what happened during the shipwreck and his 277 days aboard the lifeboat
drifting in the Pacific Ocean with a 250-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
The third and last section is about his interview with the two Japanese officers who
wanted to know the cause of the sinking of the cargo ship Tsimtsum. In this novel, Pi
also explores different religions though he was born a Hindu. The first religion that
he discovered was Christianity where he became skeptical about what kind of God
do Christians worship because he saw that the son of God was sacrificed and made
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to suffer for the sake of other people. With Father Martin’s stories, Pi came to love
Christianity. After this, Pi also discovered Islam faith from Mr. Kumar, his teacher
because it is a religion of brotherhood and devotion. Pi decides that he cannot
choose between these religions. Hence he followed the teachings of Hinduism,
Christianity and Islam with much ease and synchronicity. He may seem indecisive in
his beliefs but in fact, he is very firm in his faith.

c. Bamboozled: Chaos Theory and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Marie Tichborne (2010)
Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi incorporates in his work the art of story telling
through its layered narrative complexity. A linear relationship between the narrator
and reader which makes them more involved in the story sets this novel apart from
other works. Traditional texts only involve reader’s response as either appreciative
or unappreciative. However, in the novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel invites the readers
directly on the construction of the story. The story was not narrated in a clearly-
defined manner. Instead, it welcomes the readers’ personal interpretation. For
example, the name Richard Parker would let the us wonder if it is a name of a man
or an animal or even a representation of Pi himself. The readers may also think if the
meerkat island is true or just an imagination or if Pi’s meeting with the blind
Frenchman real or if Pi himself is a real person or just Yann Martel’s creation.
Essentially, Chaos Theory is the notion that “simple systems give rise to complex
behavior; complex systems give rise to simple behavior” (Gleick 304). This concept
is easily seen in the literary world, where one line of a poem can prove to be more,
or just as, complex as an entire novel; or, that novels, while seemingly complex, may
be reduced to simple ideas, themes, and so forth (Tichborne, 2010). The reader’s
interpretations are neither wrong or right. This participation allows us not to view the
story as a mere source of entertainment but to view this story as something that will
bring a great impact on our lives.
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d. “Hollow at the core”: Deconstructing Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Florence Stratton
(2004)
Although reviewers of Life of Pi praised Yann Martel for his wonderful
work, they found Martel’s idea of religion unpersuasive. According to Peter
Whittaker, this book did not make him believe in God but it reinforced his faith.
With this, Stratton claimed that Martel’s point in his novel is not to prove the
existence of God. Rather, to justify the belief of God’s existence. God’s existence,
in other words, is a matter neither of fact nor of faith, but rather is a better story
than the one told by those who doubt or deny God’s existence (Stratton, 2004).
With Pi’s great love for God that he embraced three religions, he did not think of
the “big questions”. Instead, he devoted his time in thinking what he must do to
survive and overpower the 450-pound Bengal tiger.
Life of Pi revolves around the philosophical debate about reason over
imagination, science over religion, materialism over idealism and fact over fiction
which was represented in the latter part of the novel when the two Japanese
government officials interviewed Pi. Mr. Okamoto, the head of the investigation,
exemplifies the positivist view of truth as an objective reality that can be
uncovered and verified by the methods of science. The debate was resolved after
Mr. Chiba and Mr. Okamoto answered his question about the “better story”. What
his considered choice would seem to indicate is that he has undergone a
transformation: a development of his imaginative capacity. The
reason/imagination binary having been deconstructed, Pi is then able to draw his
analogy: “And so it goes with God.” (Stratton, 2004).

e. Anthropomorphism in Literature as Reflected in “The Life of Pi” by Yann Martel,

Nicole Smith (2011)
Anthromorphism is a common theme used in literature which is directed
towards young people in order for them to easily connect with the story and
involving too many human characters may appear overwhelming. Hence, stories
involving animals fall under low-level reading. With this, adult readers feel
demeaned when they are given such story. Throughout the history of
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storytelling—from the oral traditions of primitive peoples to the canon of modern

literature—animals have been represented extensively. Fables employed
animals to present moral lessons and animals have also been depicted in a more
postmodern sense to glorify or mourn this “loss of touch” with the natural world
(Smith, 2011). However, in the novel “Life of Pi” written by Yann Martel,
anthromorphism played a significant role in the complexity of the story which also
involves the themes of quest for spirituality, truth and the meaning of life.
With this, there are some questions to be answered to address this
concern - Why are animals confined, in the mind of many adults, to the children’s
literature genre? What is it about animal and human interactions that are not
suitable for the adult world? To answer these questions, adult fiction writer Ursula
K. Le Guin stated, “it appears we give animal stories to children and encourage
them to be interested in animals because we see children as inferior, mentally
‘primitive,’ not yet fully humanized, thus pets and zoo animal stories are ‘natural’
steps on the child’s way up to adult, exclusive humanity—rungs on the ladder
from mindless, helpless babyhood to the full glory of intellectual maturity and
mastery” (Le Guin, 2004). Le Guin also acknowledged one of the deepest truths
about children and their relation to animals—they have not yet learned that
animals don’t really speak or communicate, not because they are mentally
inferior and underdeveloped, but because they still proudly display the
empathetic connection with the animal world while adults are more likely to
dismiss the idea that animals are similar to us and are capable of mirroring our
darkest secrets (Smith, 2011).

f. Complex Religious Identity in the Context of Interfaith Dialogue, Karla Suomala

(2012)
Interfaith dialogue involves more structured and formal conversations
between representatives, usually religious scholars, clergy, and institutional
officials) from at least two clearly defined religious traditions with the primary
objective of mutual understanding rather than conversion (Suomala, 2012).
Interfaith dialogue is best represented in the novel “Life of Pi” written by Yann
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Martel during the conversation of the priest, the imam and the pandit with his
parents whom Pi encountered at the age of 16 years when he had enduring
interest in three religions – Hindu, Christianity and Islam. Within this model, Pi is
unlikely to be invited into the conversation because he identifies himself in these
three religions.
In connection to this, Catholic theologians Peter Phan and Catherine
Cornille are among those who considers religious pluralism as a factor that may
affect interfaith dialogue. According to Phan, “interreligious dialogue… may
militate against multiple religious belonging since as a matter of methodology it
requires that participants in interfaith dialogue preserve their distinctive religious
doctrines and practices, and that they show how these are not only similar to but
different from those of other faiths”. This claim was supported by Cornille with her
statement “All religions are based on particular beliefs and practices that at some
level or another are mutually incompatible,” and as a consequence, “for most
participants in dialogue, one religion in fact remains the primary object of
religious identification.” (Suomala, 2012).
Religious pluralism may not be accepted by our society today but if people
like them will remain excluded from interfaith dialogue, the exchange of ideas
may be too narrow and may just privilege the few. It is too easy, argues Diana
Butler Bass, “to accuse these people [with complex religious identities] of sloppy
thinking or spiritual silliness, or participating in a thoughtless mélange of post-
modern goofiness,” when this is not necessarily (or even usually) the case.
Taking people with complex religious identities seriously and recognizing the
contributions they can make to interfaith dialogue may be the more difficult, but
definitely the more honest, and ultimately the most fruitful, course of action.”
(Suomala, 2012).

g. Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and the Evolution of the Shipwreck Narrative, June Dwyer
(2005)
According to George Landow (1975), stories about romance, satire and
adventure have always relied on shipwreck to isolate the main character and
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place him in a new setting. He also considers this aesthetic as a “timeless”

metaphor which reflects “the topos of the life-journey”. This shipwreck narrative is
still subject to validity because this can no longer be considered as a mere
literary device since a critic living in the twenty-first century does not accept
shipwreck without considering ecological concerns.
Yann Martel’s prizewinning novel, Life of Pi (2001) provides a new
paradigm, reversing the trend toward human dominance over animals that
develops in children’s literature involving shipwreck and the already established
pattern of human dominance in the shipwrecks of adult literary history. In terms
of children’s literature, animals have traditionally been treated as equals –
friends, even - but as the readers and protagonists grow older, the affinity
dwindles, and the dominance of human over nonhuman animal emerges.
However, with Life of Pi, the domination paradigm is replaced with a more
ecologically acceptable one of respect (Dwyer, 2005).

h. Revisiting the Implied Author Yet Again: Why (Still) Bother?, Maria Stefanescu
(2011)
Although he expands at length on the array of postmodern elements in
Martel's novel. The wolf is led to believe these are mere points of departure for a
text which "testifies to rather different norms" and celebrates "a profoundly un-
postmodern and seemingly 'unfashionable' center of meaning: religious belief as
a 'better option' in comparison to skepticism and atheism". Pursuing a close
reading of the novel. Wolf traces the stages during which what might have
become another postmodernist story of migration, multicultural hybridity and
decentering of identity and meaning actually unfolds as "a spiritual rite of
passage". After professing faith in Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam as religions
that variously reveal the loving kindness of God, Pi undergoes his experience as
a Pacific castaway, which forces "the same problem of the theodicy onto him
which had once beset his teacher of biology during a severe illness". Unlike the
latter. Wolf argues. Pi — although having now fully experienced anger,
desolation, despair and a sense of abandonment — does, to the end, "cling to his
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faith" and (in the protagonist's own words, cited by Wolf) "would go on loving"
and trusting God. Against the background of a highly secularized and rationalist
Western world. Wolf contends. Martel employs postmodernist self-reflexivity to
build a counter-discourse committed to the belief that "both poetic and religious
faith . . . is still possible and can persuasively be linked to ethics". (Stefanescu,
2011)

i. Life of Pi: An Analysis of the Psychological Aspects of Survival, Jonathan R.

Durden (2012)
In Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, the narrator and protagonist Pi is placed
in a life or death situation which tests his faith and morality. In the story, Pi is a
young man who believes in three religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. From
these religions he has developed a deep sense of morality and a kindness
towards all living things (Durden, 2012). However, during his journey in the
Pacific Ocean, he has to give up this morality. He needs to kill living creatures in
order to survive. Thus, the first time he killed a fish, he cried.
Towards the end of the novel, when pressed by the authorities to tell them
what really happened, Pi recounts a more realistic and far more morbid story.
The animals used in the first story all have human counterparts whose actions
closely replicate those of the animals. While interpretation of this story is left
open to the reader, one theory interprets the animals as a defense mechanism
used by Pi in order to survive the conditions of being lost at sea while preserving
his sense of morality. In addition to the animals behaving strangely, there is
considerable anthropomorphism used heavily throughout the story. This is a
strong indicator that Pi mentally sees people on the raft as animals. And when
you consider the things that were going on between the people on the lifeboat,
Pi’s actions make sense. Given that he has a great deal of experience with
zoology it is only natural that he would choose to interpret these terrible actions
performed by people as performed by animals (Durden, 2012).
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j. Meaning, Faith and the Life of Pi, Moses Ma (2012)

To understand the jewel of wisdom buried deep within the story – which is
pronounced to be “a story that will make you believe in God” – we need to
understand that the story is actually about wrestling not with a physical tiger, but
metaphoric one... with questions of meaning and faith. This story is a gedanken
experiment for the worst case scenario, a modern day story of Job, all about how
you can find spirituality and the meaning of life in the throes of all that is horrible
and terrible in the world today. It is by surviving and making sense of all that goes
wrong in the world, that uncovers the meaning of man (Ma, 2012).

The moral of the story is pretty clear, and revealed at the end when Pi is
forced to tell alternate version of the story to Japanese investigators… with a
sailor with a broken leg, a French cook, Pi, and Pi’s mother. Eventually, we realize
that the zebra is the sailor, the hyena is the cook, and the orangutan is Pi’s
mother, and the tiger, Richard Parker, is actually Pi. The details of cannibalism
and savagery are gruesome. Finally, Pi simply asks the author, “Which story do
you prefer?” (Ma, 2012).

Clearly, Pi preferred the better story, a massive extrapolation of positive

thought, that leads him to make sense of things, that carries him to a new life with
a loving wife and family. The other story, where humans are reduced primal terror,
could lead only to a brutally shattered life. In this story, you could see the entire
story as an abandonment by God… but at the same time, it becomes evident that
God was actually present at every moment. And in the end, he realizes that
Richard Parker is actually his savior (Ma, 2012).

2.2. Synthesis
Yann Martel’s novel “Life of Pi” published in 2002 involves three literary
concepts and theory including Chaos Theory, anthromorphism and the shipwreck
narrative. Chaos theory involves a linear relationship between the writer and the
reader. The reader in this sense is more involved in the story which sets it apart
 P a g e | 16

from traditional texts. It does not limit their response as either appreciative or
unappreciative. This goal is achieved by making the story not narrated in a
clearly-defined manner. Hence, it welcomes the readers’ personal interpretation
of what each event implies. On the other hand, some adult readers consider
anthromorphism as a distinct feature of children's literature. Thus they classify
this type of literature as low-level reading. However, animals are not used in
children's literature merely because they are not capable to understand complex
ideas involving human characters but because they still proudly display the
empathetic connection with the animal world while adults are more likely to
dismiss the idea that animals are similar to us and are capable of mirroring our
darkest secrets (Smith, 2011). Lastly, shipwreck narrative is considered as a
“timeless” literary theme which became a writer’s method of isolating the main
character and placing him in a new setting.
On the other hand, the major themes of this novel revolve around religion
and faith. Since the main character of the story identifies himself in three
religions, some of the critics regard this act as an exploration of faith while others
consider this as unpersuasive. At a young age, Pi Patel had an enduring interest
over Hindu, Christianity and Islam. The practices and rituals he learned from
these three religions helped him survive his journey in the Pacific Ocean.
According to Peter Whittaker, this book did not make him believe in God but it
reinforced his faith. With this, Stratton claimed that Martel’s point in his novel is
not to prove the existence of God. Rather, to justify the belief of God’s existence.
God’s existence, in other words, is a matter neither of fact nor of faith, but rather
is a better story than the one told by those who doubt or deny God’s existence
(Stratton, 2004).
In connection to religious pluralism, including people with multiple religions
in an interfaith dialogue remains questionable. According to Phan, “interreligious
dialogue… may militate against multiple religious belonging since as a matter of
methodology it requires that participants in interfaith dialogue preserve their
distinctive religious doctrines and practices, and that they show how these are
not only similar to but different from those of other faiths”. This claim was
 P a g e | 17

supported by Cornille with her statement “All religions are based on particular
beliefs and practices that at some level or another are mutually incompatible,”
and as a consequence, “for most participants in dialogue, one religion in fact
remains the primary object of religious identification.” (Suomala, 2012).
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CHAPTER 3

SUMMARY

The novel “Life of Pi” was narrated in first person by Pi Patel himself whom the
author met in Pondicherry, India.

PART ONE: Toronto and Pondicherry

In this part of the novel, Pi Patel, the main character of the story, narrates his life
after the shipwreck. With his interest in animals and in religion, he continued his
religious and zoological studies in University of Toronto where he performed well as a
student. He also mentioned in this part that he studied Isaac Luria’s cosmogony theory
as his thesis in religious studies. On the other hand, he also became very interested in
the study of sloths and how these creatures survive despite their slow and dull
movement. He also mentioned that though he came to love Canada, he still misses
India – the place where he grew up.
Piscine Molitor Patel or simply called Pi was brought up in Pondicherry India. His
name was derived from the name of a pool in Paris. Though his parents did not like
water, he learned how to swim with the help of a family friend named Francis
Adirubasamy whom Pi calls Mamaji. On the other hand, Pi’s father named Santosh
Patel, used to run a zoo and as he grew up, he thought that the zoo was a paradise.
With this, he was able to recognize the ritualistic habits of zoo creatures. He also
believes that animals are better kept in a zoo because in this place, animals live a life of
luxury and constancy unlike in the wild, they are in the mercy of nature.
On the other hand, as a child who typically goes to school, Pi was also bullied by
his classmates. He was given the name “Pissing” as it sounds like his first name
“Piscine”. Thus, he trained his classmates as well as his teachers to call him Pi instead
of “Piscine” by writing his name on the chalkboard several times and representing it with
the symbol π = 3.14. During his school-age, Pi also developed a deep kinship with his
mentor named Mr. Kumar, an atheist communist. With this, Pi even said that atheists
are simply people of different faith and with strong beliefs. At this stage of his life, Pi
 P a g e | 19

also remembered the time when his father fed a live goat to a tiger named Richard
Parker to show them the danger posed by a wild animal. Through this, he was able to
understand that there is a minimum distance that an animal will tolerate a potential
predator or enemy and if their territory will be invaded, they can be possibly frightened
away. However, animals also respect the territory of other creature but they can be
aggressive of their particular area. With these lessons he learned from zookeeping, he
was able to conquer Richard Parker during their journey in the Pacific Ocean.
Aside from the fact that Pi was brought up in an environment where he is
surrounded by animals, he was also born a Hindu. Since he was an infant, his parents
involved him in religious rite and rituals. However, when he was fourteen, he came
across a Christian church where he met Father Martin who told him the story of Christ
on the cross which Pi found as strange. He became skeptical and asked for another
story. Yet, Father Martin told him that Christianity has only one story and it is about love.
Hence, Pi decided to become a Christian. At the age of fifteen, Pi learned the Islamic
faith as he met a Muslim baker, Mr. Satish Kumar, whom he saw praying and doing the
routine during a prayer. He told Pi that the Islamic faith is about the Beloved. After that,
Pi began to pray with Mr. Kumar and to visit the local mosque.
One day, when Pi’s parents are out at a seaside esplanade, the priest, the imam
and the Pandit whom Pi was practicing his religions with, approached them. Each of
them was shocked after hearing that Pi has been practicing three different religions. To
settle the issue, they asked Pi to choose one because it is not possible to believe in
three different religions. However, Pi refused and told them that all he wants is to love
God. His parents gave in and when he asked for a prayer mat, he treasured the rug his
parents gave him which he used to pray in his yard.
In 1970’s, India faces a political dilemma which may affect their zookeeping
business. Hence, Pi’s father decided to move to sell the animals and move to Canada.
They also made arrangements to bring some of the animals across the Pacific aboard
the cargo ship named Tsimtsum. Pi’s family left India on June 21,1977.
 P a g e | 20

PART TWO: The Pacific Ocean

Pi is sleeping when he heard a loud noise as if something exploded. He got curious
about it and tried to wake Ravi for them to explore. However, Ravi stays asleep. He
went to the main deck all by himself where he saw a heavy downpour. He felt afraid as
the cargo ship drifts in the Pacific Ocean. Hence, he attempted to go back to their room.
Unfortunately, the stairwell is already full of water. He decided to go back to the main
deck where he saw three Chinese crewmen who gave him a life jacket and throw him
over the side of the ship. He lands on the tarpaulin partially covering the lifeboat. After
him, a Grant zebra also jumped on the lifeboat before it land on the water. As the waves
move the lifeboat from side to side, Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger also
boards the lifeboat. Pi realized the danger of being with a wild creature in a small space.
Thus, he decided to throw himself into the water. However, Pi was also faced with the
danger of being with the sharks as he stays in the sea water. He hoists himself onto the
oar of the lifeboat which hangs on the edge of the ship. The cargo ship continued to sink
and disappeared.
Pi realized that he cannot withstand this position for several days. He tried to
change position and transferred to the tarpaulin cover where Richard Parker is hiding.
Pi notices that the zebra was still alive but it has a broken leg. A hyena suddenly
appears and Pi rationalizes that the tiger may have drowned. At this point, Pi thought
that the crewmen may have thrown him to the lifeboat to serve as a bait for the hyena
so that if he was already eaten, they can already use the boat to save their lives from
the sinking ship. The last animal that boarded the lifeboat was an orangutan named
Orange Juice which was seen in a floating raft made of bananas.
After that night, Pi saw the hyena eating the zebra while it was alive. On the other
hand, Pi observed Orange Juice looking into the water hoping that she will see her two
sons the same way that he hopes to see his family. The zebra finally died the day after
the hyena attacked it. Afterwards, Orange Juice was then attacked by the hyena. It tried
to fight the wild creature thumping it on its head but the hyena decapitates Orange
Juice. Pi was ready to kill the hyena to defend himself and Orange Juice. However, he
was frightened to see Richard Parker came out of the tarpaulin cover. Pi is certain that
the tiger will also kill him.
 P a g e | 21

Pi now felt thirst and hunger so he explored the lifeboat to get some emergency
supplies. He carefully opened the locker so as not to disturb Richard Parker. He tallied
his supplies: he had 31 cartons of rations and 124 cans of water. In order to survive, Pi
decided to keep distance from Richard Parker’s territory by building a raft using oars,
lifebuoy and lifejacket which he tethered from the lifeboat. As rain falls, Pi uses a rain
catcher to gather some fresh water for him to drink. While he was on the raft, he
devised some plans to kill Richard Parker. However, Pi noticed an unusual behavior
from the tiger which shows harmless intentions which is called prusten. With this, Pi
decided to tame Richard Parker with the use of whistle and shouts to prove his alpha
status. The sound of the whistle frightened the tiger. Richard Parker then now marked
his territory by urinating at a certain part of the lifeboat. Pi also did the same.
Pi busies himself by scheduling activities to free himself of despair. He routinely
feeds himself and Richard Parker, he cleans the vessel, and stimulated his mind with
prayers and rituals he learned from his three different religions. He also kept a diary
where he wrote all his experiences in the Pacific Ocean. During his journey, he was
able to tame a 450-pound Bengal tiger who served as his companion.
Pi’s condition continued to deteriorate. He became blind and during this time, he
met a Frenchman who is also a castaway. He boarded the lifeboat to join them and
cannibalize Pi. However, the Frenchman failed because he was devoured by Richard
Parker. When Pi rinsed his eyes, he saw the man’s butchered body and he cried.
The lifeboat came across an island covered with algae and inhabited by meerkats.
Pi and Richard Parker stayed here for a period of time where they eat the vegetation
and drink fresh water. However, during the night, Pi noticed that the island burns his
feet and he realized that this may be the reason why the meerkats stay on treetops.
One day, Pi discovered a fruit-bearing tree. He opened one fruit where he saw human
tooth in the center. This made him realize that they should not stay there for long and
they continue their journey to the Pacific Ocean. Before they left the island, Pi stored
dead meerkats and fishes, algae and fresh water which would last for several days.He
waited fro Richard Parker to come back before he pushed off into the sea.
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Their journey ended when the lifeboat reached a Mexican beach. He felt that he lost
a comrade after he saw that Richard Parker decided to go back to the jungle. He was
rescued by the villagers and took him to the hospital.

PART THREE: Benito Juárez Infirmary, Tomatlán, Mexico

During his stay in the hospital, two officials from the Maritime Department in the
Japanese Ministry of Transport, Tomohiro Okamoto and Atsuro Chiba, came to see him
and to know the cause of the sinking of the cargo ship. They interviewed him and Pi told
the story of the animals. They don’t believe Pi’s story because according to them,
bananas do not float, carnivorous trees are botanically impossible and that an island
which turns acidic at night has no scientific basis. They demanded a real story which
anyone could believe. Hence, Pi narrated a story where the characters are human. He
used his mother to represent the orangutan, the cook as the hyena, the sailor as the
hyena and Richard Parker as himself. The two interviewers noticed the parallelism of
the story but Pi cannot tell the reason why the cargo ship sank. So after the interview, Pi
asked them about which story do they prefer. Both of them preferred the story with
animals and find this story astonishing and unique. Pi thanked them and said “And so it
goes with God.”
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CHAPTER 4

DISCUSSION

4.1. Man vs. Himself

Man has been constantly facing inner struggles in his life as he makes decisions
for himself. There has been always a battle between right or wrong and good or evil. It
is a matter of how he solves this conflict as he considers the possible consequences it
may bring. There are also times when he becomes uncertain about doing things which
makes it hard for him to come up with a sound decision. Some internal factors may also
influence man’s decision, including fear, despair and faith and religion.

In the novel Life of Pi written by Yann Martel, the main character, during his
journey in the Pacific Ocean has been struggling with nature and with himself. He had
an experience which he considered as both tragic and rewarding. Being in a lifeboat
with a 450-pound Bengal tiger, Pi became certain that he will be killed once this
carnivorous creature got hungry. He also realized that trying to kill this wild creature will
just put his life at risk because he knows how strong this animal is. He tried to think of
many ways of how to conquer Richard Parker. However, his own fear became his true
opponent. In his narration, he even considered fear as the only thing that can defeat life
because it shows no mercy. It goes to a person’s weakest spot, which it finds with
unerring ease (Martel, 2001). Hence, we may conclude that one becomes an enemy to
himself as fear overpowers him.

This can be applied in a real life situation. We cannot deny that fear is part of
human nature, especially if we feel that someone or something dominates and are more
powerful than us. We also experience fear in certain situations that pose some risks. As
fear fills our heart, we become afraid to take a single step and we become preoccupied
with the thought about failing. Most of us have this fear of failure. We are afraid to
explore and go out of our comfort zone. We are even afraid to try new things and
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always have this question in mind – Will I do this? What if I fail?. These questions we
have in mind may hinder us from taking new possibilities. We are always worried with
our what if’s despite the fact that a single step may lead us to a new beginning.

On the other hand, despair can also be considered as an inner struggle which
makes man himself his own greatest opponent. This was evident in Pi’s journey in the
Pacific Ocean where he had a very devastating experience. He lost his family after the
shipwreck and though he survived, he was living with a wild animal which may devour
him anytime. He almost lost hope because in the vast Pacific, he believes that no one
can rescue him. There were even times that he questioned God’s existence and he felt
that he was abandoned. With his experience, Pi almost gave up and almost stop
holding on to his faith. However, his three religions made him survive the Pacific and
God remained the shining point in his life. He considered living with Richard Parker as a
challenge and faced it with all his strength and courage. He tamed the wild animal.
Fortunately, he succeeded and after 227 days of journey, he found a new beginning.
Hence, we may conclude that one becomes an enemy to himself as despair overpowers
him.

Same as fear, despair is a normal part of human existence. There are points in
our lives that we feel abandoned and we tend to lose hope. The frustrations we
encounter make us feel that the best thing that will end our suffering is by giving up.
However, as the cliché “To look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one’s life
away” goes on, despair can never be a solution to our suffering. Human sufferings are
made to strengthen us and prepare us for a more difficult situation. This is not given to
us just because God merely wants to see us in pain. First, human suffering was given to
us to let us recognize our infirmity and to make us humble. It makes us acknowledge
the presence of a supreme being and lets us seek for comfort which can only be given
by God.

On the other hand, faith and religion in some way can also make a man an
enemy to himself. In the case of Pi Patel, though he was born a Hindu, when he was
 P a g e | 25

fourteen years old, he became interested about Christianity and after a year, he decided
to adopt Islamic faith. He worshipped all the Gods from different religions and practice
all the rituals he learned from each of them. He identified himself on these three
religions and when he was asked to choose one, he refused and said that all he wanted
to do is to love God.

In this case, multiple religions may also be considered as a source of inner

struggle. One person who adopts multiple religions may become uncertain in making a
decision as he applies the teachings from each of these religions. Taking Pi Patel for
example, he adopts Hindu, Christianity and Muslim which are totally different from each
other. When this is applied in real life, when a person like Pi Patel decides to marry,
which of the teachings among these religions will he follow? Is it the one from
Christianity which tells that a man should only devote himself to one woman or is it the
teaching of the Islamic faith that man is allowed to have a polygamous relationship?
With this, a person with multiple religion will not come up with a certain decision
because he is guided by the teachings of three opposite religions.

Lastly, time can also make a man an enemy to himself. In the novel Life of Pi, the
main character became a cast away for 227 days after the shipwreck. Within this very
long period of time, there came a point in his life that he wanted to give up thinking that
as the days pass by, there was less chance of being rescued. He also thinks that the
emergency supplies he was able to acquire from the lifeboat would not last for a long
time. He thinks that sooner or later, when Richard Parker became hungry, he will be
devoured which marks the end of his life. However, Pi was not defeated by time. He
kept himself busy which became one of the keys to his survival. Through this, he was
able to forget the notion of time. For him, time is only an illusion that makes us pant
(Martel, 2001). He spent each day by engaging himself in prayers and taking care of
himself and Richard Parker.

If we will apply this in real life situation, we can say that most of us worry about
time. Sometimes, we don’t even make use of our time or we prefer to do things that is
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not even worth it. We forget that there are more important things to do and at the latter,
we regret that we are not able to do what we are suppose to do. However, if we will look
at a different perspective, we will realize that there are other people who still needs time
but they were not given this precious gift. Most of these people are the terminally ill
patients who were only given months to live. They even try to defeat time and endure
the battle with their illness just to have more time with their family. Thus, most of them
were able to cherish all the moments they can have as they remain here on earth. At
least, at their last breath, they have nothing to regret.

Man’s will to live can also be considered as an inner struggle. In the novel, Pi
Patel faced different struggles in the Pacific Ocean which made him think whether he
would still live or not. In addition to the effects of nature such as storm and drying heat
of the sun, Pi Patel is also staying with a ferocious 450-pound Bengal tiger which
sooner or later will also become hungry. At first, he almost lost hope and wanted to let
go of his will to live considering that his family had died and even if he survive, there is
no more purpose for living. This was clearly defined in the novel as Pi stated “To lose a
brother is to lose someone with whom you can share the experience of growing old,
who is supposed to bring you a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews, creatures to
people the tree of your life and give it new branches. To lose your father is to lose the
one whose guidance and help you seek, who supports you like a tree trunk supports its
branches. To lose your mother, well, that is, like losing the sun above you. It’slike
losing- I’m sorry, I would rather not go on.” However, as Pi clings to his faith, he was
able to maintain his will to live. He finds purpose in his journey and make use of his time
instead of waiting in depression, anger and weariness . Through this, hopelessness was
not able to defeat him.

In real life situation, will to live can also be considered as an inner struggle. In
fact, it is comparable to hope. Many people nowadays have failed to realize the beauty
of life. Some of them attempts to commit suicide because of the pain and suffering they
are experiencing. Some also wants to end his life because they have lost someone very
dear to them. However, death is not the solution to all these pains. It is a matter of
 P a g e | 27

enduring all these. Every end, there lies a new beginning and at the end, we will also
realize that through these, we became a better and a stronger person.

Man may be faced with inner struggles which can make him confused as how to
come up with a decision. He may be unsure of what course of action to take or he may
be afraid to fail which will hinder him from taking the initial step. He may also be
uncertain on how to put his decision into action because in his heart, there remains a
big room for doubt. Nobody can be sure of what may happen in the future. However, he
can be certain of one thing – what may possibly happen remains in his hand. The only
thing he has to do is to be prepared for whatever consequences his final decision may
bring.

4.2. Religious Pluralism in the Formation of Faith and Being

Religion plays a vital role in the formation of our faith and being. It affects our
beliefs, our perceptions about our experiences in life and our way of dealing with human
suffering. It also reflects one's culture and tradition. Each religion is considered distinct
from one another. Though similarities can be found, there is still a gap between them.

The novel Life of Pi written by Yann Martel involves faith and religion as part of
its major themes. It highlights Hindu, Christianity and Islam as the main character, Pi
Patel, identifies himself in these three different religions. He practices all the routines
and rituals he learned from the imam, the priest and the pandit. They argued that it is
impossible for Pi Patel to believe in three religions. However, when he was asked to
choose one, he told them that all he wanted was to love God. The religious leaders as
well as his parents gave in to what Pi requested. Thus, he continued his life as a Hindu,
a Christian and a Muslim at the same time.

This event in the novel conveys religious pluralism which is defined as building of
personal spiritual doctrine on a wide variety of traditional religious beliefs. Rather than
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subscribing to one particular religious sect, pluralists pick and choose which beliefs
resonate with them, regardless of the source (Ellis, 2013). Religious pluralism has
remained unaccepted in our society. Many people believe that a person should have a
strong conviction on a certain religion and they cannot engage themselves in multiple
religions because the teachings of one religion may not be true to the other. As a result,
many religious pluralists have been stuck in the middle of some debates regarding a
certain religion. However, leaders of Christian faith also view religious pluralism as a
way to promote unity between the many different doctrines of Christianity. Many
proponents also argue that since many religions have a similar basic goal or belief, it is
better that they work together (Ellis, 2013).

Every part of the world has been faced with religious pluralism. However, there are
different points that should be emphasized with regard to religious pluralism. First,
pluralism is not merely a diversity but it is the energetic engagement with diversity.
Today, religious diversity is a given, but pluralism is not a given; it is an achievement.
Mere diversity without real encounter and relationship will yield increasing tensions in
our societies. Another point is, pluralism is not tolerance but the active seeking of
understanding across lines of difference. Tolerance is a necessary public virtue, but it
does not require Christians and Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and ardent secularists to know
anything about one another. Tolerance is too thin a foundation for a world of religious
difference and proximity. It does nothing to remove our ignorance of one another, and
leaves in place the stereotype, the half-truth, the fears that underlie old patterns of
division and violence. In the world in which we live today, our ignorance of one another
will be increasingly costly. Third, pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of
commitments. The new paradigm of pluralism does not require us to leave our identities
and our commitments behind, for pluralism is the encounter of commitments. It means
holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in
relationship to one another. Fourth, pluralism is based on dialogue. The language of
pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism.
Dialogue means both speaking and listening, and that process reveals both common
understandings and real differences. Dialogue does not mean everyone at the “table”
 P a g e | 29

will agree with one another. Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table --
with one’s commitments (Eck, 1997).

On the other hand, religious pluralism still remains an issue in an interfaith dialogue.
Catholic theologians Peter Phan and Catherine Cornille doubt whether religious pluralist
or people with complex religious identity should be allowed to participate in an interfaith
dialogue. With this, Phan stated, “Indeed, interreligious dialogue… may militate against
multiple religious belonging since as a matter of methodology it requires that
participants in interfaith dialogue preserve their distinctive religious doctrines and
practices, and that they show how these are not only similar to but different from those
of other faiths”. This was supported by Cornille as she stated “All religions are based on
particular beliefs and practices that at some level or another are mutually incompatible,”
and as a consequence, “for most participants in dialogue, one religion in fact remains
the primary object of religious identification.” However, some sociologists argue that
religious identity is a dynamic process. Hence, “religious and cultural meanings are
interpreted, reconstructed, and changed over time in light of new, ever-changing
historical and social circumstances.”

In connection to this, Paul Knitter, the author of Without Buddha I could not be a
Christian, who embraces dual religious identity argued that Buddhism and Christianity
became a means of blending traditions through its complementarity and mutually
enriching qualities.In this sense, religious pluralism is considered as a source of deeper
understanding of each religion which is diverse from one another.

In this novel, Pi Patel embraced three religions – Hindu, Christianity and Islam.
These three religions are distinct from one another. Thus, it is important to understand
the beliefs and practices involved in each of of them.

Hinduism is a religion with no known founder and date of origin. The term
“Hinduism” was derived from the word India. This religion involves a wide variety of
traditions and philosophies. This religion worships more than one deity, believes in
 P a g e | 30

reincarnation and values meditation. Hinduism is also considered as one of the most
open-minded religions. One of the most well-known quote in Hinduism is "Truth is one;
sages call it by different names.". Some of the fundamental Hindu beliefs include the
Vedas as their sacred text and Brahman as their priest. They also believe in
reincarnation which is defined as the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates
from one body to another at death and the law of karma that determines one's destiny
both in this life and the next. In Hinduism, there is not just one purpose of human life,
but four: Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose; Artha - prosperity; Kama - desire, sexuality,
enjoyment; and Moksha - enlightenment (Religion Facts, 2004).

In contrary to this, Christians regard Jesus as the “Messiah” or the anointed one,
the Son of Man and the Son of God. In the Gospels, Jesus does not call himself the Son
of God. However, there are also certain characteristics that indicate that Jesus is God
as seen in the Bible: Jesus is the savior of humanity (Mt 1:21, Ac 4:12, Lk 2:11); It is
appropriate to call on the name of Jesus in prayer (1 Co 1:2) and to worship him (Mt
28:9); Jesus reveals God directly: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (Jn
14:9) (Religion Facts, 2004). Part of Christianity is monotheism which considers God as
One but with three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. On the
other hand, Islamic faith also involves monotheism. This religion also believes in one
God. However, in contrast to Christianity, Islam does not uphold the Holy Trinity. It
believes in unity that there is one substance and one person. It considers Jesus as the
true prophet of God whose message has been corrupted. It also contradicts the belief of
Christians that Jesus died. In Islamic faith, Jesus did not die, but ascended bodily into
heaven (a disciple died in his place). These religions both believe in correct belief and
good deeds as a means of salvation.

We can also find the differences between Christian and Islamic rituals and
practices. Christians consider church, chapels and cathedrals as a place of worship
while mosque for the Muslims. Christians also believe in baptism and communion their
major sacred rituals while Muslims believe in five pillars: prayer, pilgrimage, charity,
 P a g e | 31

fasting and confession of faith. Lastly, comparing the major symbols of these religions,
Christians have the crucifix while Muslims have the crescent.

With these three different religions, how did Pi come up with a strong faith? Since
he was born a Hindu, Pi became more open in accepting these religions as how the
famous Hindu belief says that truth is one. He does not consider the differences of each
religion as a source of doubt. Instead, he used them as a source of truth. Though each
religion has a different point of view as to how they regard their supreme being, Pi used
the practices he learned from Hinduism, Christianity and Islam during his journey in the
Pacific Ocean. Despite his suffering, he manages to use religion as one of the keys to
survival. As he clings to his faith, hope shines in his heart which led to a new beginning.

4.3. How can man believe the unbelievable especially those that are not perceived by
his senses?

Human nature gives man the tendency to believe in the things which cannot be
perceived by his senses. We believe in God though we cannot see Him. In the
novel Life of Pi, Pi Patel worships different gods from different religions. He
practices all the rituals he learned from these that will show how he acknowledges
and respects the presence of supreme beings. In his journey in the Pacific Ocean,
there also came a point in his life that he doubted the existence of God. However,
instead of letting go of his faith, Pi managed to continue believing in God. He
believes that even when God seemed to abandon him, He is watching and even
when He seemed indifferent to his suffering, He is watching.

In this context, faith is considered as the main reason why we choose to believe
the unbelievable. Faith means much the same as trust. However, using different
models, faith has been given different meanings. The following represents the
meanings of faith (Bishop, 2010):
 the ‘purely affective’ model: faith as a feeling of existential confidence
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 the ‘special knowledge’ model: faith as knowledge of specific truths,

revealed by God
 the ‘belief’ model: faith as belief that God exists
 the ‘trust’ model: faith as belief in (trust in) God
 the ‘doxastic venture’ model: faith as practical commitment beyond the
evidence to one's belief that God exists
 the ‘sub-doxastic venture’ model: faith as practical commitment without
belief
 the ‘hope’ model: faith as hoping—or acting in the hope that—the God
who saves exists.

We can relate each of these meanings in the main character’s experience. Let us
first consider the special knowledge model. Under this model, John Calvin defines
faith as ‘a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence towards us, founded
upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and
sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit’ (John Calvin, Institutes III, ii, 7, 551,
quoted by Plantinga (2000, 244)). (Bishop, 2010). With this, Plantinga considers
theistic beliefs as a form of knowledge because they are products of an operation of
a special cognitive faculty designed to generate true beliefs about God.

In connection to this model, Pi Patel has discovered different religions when he

was at a very young age. He adopts the teachings of Hinduism, Christianity and
Islam. Through attending religious gatherings during Sunday as a Christian and
Friday as a Muslim, he was able to gain background about each of these religions
where he discovered truths and revelations of God.

On the other hand, the belief and trust model complements each other in the life
of Pi because throughout his journey, he believed in the existence of supreme
beings and he trusted God as he faced the hardships he experienced in the Pacific
Ocean. He hold on to his faith that God is always with him and will protect him all
the time. This can be explained by Richard Swinburne’s Thomist view of faith which
considers a person of religious faith as a person who has theoretical conviction that
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there is a God. In contrast, Aquinas claims that faith is not merely a theoretical
conviction; rather, it is midway between knowledge and opinion. Hence, Calvin
takes the vehicle of revelation to be a special cognitive faculty, whereas Aquinas
takes it to be the tradition, as transmitted through the Church. In addition, faith as
trust is not merely believing that God exists; rather it is a matter of believing in God.
Trust involves a venture which involves committing ourselves in the control of
others. In this case, Pi Patel leaves everything in the hands of God. With the 227
days he spent in the ocean, he never became sure whether he will survive or not.

Under the trust model is the concept of doxastic venture. This means believing in
God’s existence as a means of salvation. Thus, this involves a full commitment to
God. On the other hand, sub-doxastic venture allows that faith involves practical
commitment venturing beyond evidential support, yet do not require (or, even,
permit) that the venturer actually believes the faith-proposition assumed to be true
(Bishop, 2010). Hence, sub-doxastic venture does not involve believing in facts for
a person to commit himself. Instead, it merely involves venturing into the unknown
and taking the risks of failing. With this, it is evident that Pi Patel engaged in a
doxastic venture for his survival because he is guided by the fact that a supreme
being exists.

Lastly, the hope model of faith is exemplified in this novel as Pi Patel went on
with his journey despite the fact that he already lost his family. Furthermore, he
believes that looking out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming life’s away. Thus,
even if only Richard Parker was left with him, he endured all the hardships and fight
for himself. However, hope is regarded as an attitude instead of an active
commitment. With this faith as hope is considered as a sub-doxastic venture
because even when a person does not believe in the existence of God, he still has
hope which is not guided by any spiritual or theological meaning.

Nevertheless, the novel Life of Pi also shows the concept of believing the
unbelievable during Pi Patel’s interview with the two officials from the Maritime
Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport, Tomohiro Okamoto and Atsuro
Chiba. Pi was asked to tell a story that will tell the reason why the cargo ship
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Tsimtsum sank. Hence, he narrated his 227-day adventure with Richard Parker.
However, the two interviewers refuse to believe him and demanded another story.
Because of this, Pi told a story that is credible for them. With this, he replaced the
animal characters with humans. He used his mother to represent the orangutan, the
cook as the hyena, the sailor as the hyena and Richard Parker as himself. The two
interviewers noticed the parallelism of the story but still, Pi cannot tell the reason
why the cargo ship sank. So after the interview, Pi asked them about which story do
they prefer. Both of them preferred the story with animals and find this story
astonishing and unique. Pi thanked them and said “And so it goes with God.”

This statement by Pi Patel has a profound meaning which jeopardizes many

readers. What does this statement mean? We may say that the two interviewers
choose to believe the unbelievable (which is the story with animals which they did
not believe at first) and so it goes with God. Meaning to say, God may also seem
unbelievable because we cannot see Him. Yet, we choose to believe in Him.
Though our eyes perceive the world around us, there is still more of it which we
cannot see. The only way to see this is to have faith. We may be amazed with what
we can see but if we will look deeper, we will be able to see the most promising
view of life.

Another explanation of the statement “And so it goes with God” is that faith and
skepticism are options. Faith gives hope and thus, it gives a better story. This can
be related in the story as Pi was left in the middle of the Pacific Ocean which limits
his view of the horizon. However, he was able to sense that there is something
more than standing in the vast Pacific and wait for someone to rescue him. Hence,
in this context, life has also a dimension of infinity – there are other things beyond
what we perceive. For skeptics, this dimension is rationalized away; for people of
faith, it’s seen as evidence of what our scriptures teach us (Tintera, 2003). Most
importantly, people choose to believe the unbelievable because this also gives us
hope which sustains our will to live.
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Hence, faith may be considered as the ultimate reason why we choose to

believe the unbelievable. Through faith, we don’t need to perceive things with our
senses for us to believe in them. Our heart tells us to believe in the things we
cannot see. Our heart teaches us to believe in God though we cannot see Him. Our
heart also teaches us to let God remain our shining point in our lives and to
continue on loving Him.
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CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Summary

“Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love – but
sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger,
desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and
I would not be able to lift it back up.” This cliché from the book Life of Pi written by Yann
Martel reflects one of the novel’s major themes – religion, faith and hope. Man, during
the most frustrating point in his life, has the tendency to give up and doubt the existence
of God. He may even have this question in mind – Does God really exist? Then why
me?. Man considers suffering as God’s way to punish him. However, suffering is God’s
way of strengthening us including our faith. It also prepares us for a more difficult battle
that we may encounter as we go on with our journey.

Part of human nature is to face inner struggles as he makes decisions on which

action to take and as he chooses between good and evil. As we face this situation, we
can be an enemy to ourselves. There are some factors that may influence our way of
dealing with these struggles. This may include fear, despair and faith and religion. Fear
is considered as our strongest opponent. Some of us have this fear of failure which
hinders us from taking a single step to achieve our goal. We have many doubts in our
hearts which make us think whether to continue or not. Another great opponent which
can defeat us is despair. There are points in our lives that we feel abandoned and we
tend to lose hope. The frustrations we encounter make us feel that the best thing that
will end our suffering is by giving up. However, as the cliché “To look out with idle hope
is tantamount to dreaming one’s life away” goes on, despair can never be a solution to
our suffering. Human sufferings are made to strengthen us and prepare us for a more
difficult situation. If you were not able to endure all these hardships, then you lose.
Lastly, faith and religion can also be a source of inner struggle especially if we are
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uncertain about which religion to follow. We may not be able to properly apply the
teachings of a religion if we are unsure of our belief.

On the other hand, religion is considered as a factor that forms our faith and being.
It guides our way of living and affects the way we perceive things. Because of this,
having multiple religions may lead to some inner conflict. In fact, according to Catherine
Cornille, “All religions are based on particular beliefs and practices that at some level or
another are mutually incompatible,” and as a consequence, “for most participants in
dialogue, one religion in fact remains the primary object of religious identification.”
(Suomala, 2012). As we make a decision, we may be uncertain about which of these
religions are we going to follow since the teachings of one may contradict the claim of
the other.

Nevertheless, man also has the tendency to believe the unbelievable because of
faith and trust. Faith means much the same as trust. However, using different models,
faith has been given different meanings. In the special knowledge model, faith is
considered as a knowledge of specific truths; the belief model states that God exists
while the trust model involves believing in God as a means of salvation as we leave
everything in God’s hands; the doxastic venture model involves trusting God because of
our belief that He exists while the sub-doxastic venture model is trusting without
believing (Bishop, 2010). These models of faith are exemplified in the novel Life of Pi as
he faces the challenges during his journey in the Pacific Ocean. Clinging to his faith
became one of the keys to his survival.

5.2. Conclusion

The novel Life of Pi written by Yann Martel illustrates a captivating story which
embraces faith, religion and hope as its major themes. The journey of Pi Patel in the
Pacific Ocean symbolizes human suffering. However, despite all the pain that he
experienced, he managed to cling to his faith. Most of us, if we encounter a situation
that is difficult as what Pi Patel experienced, we tend to give up and lose hope. We may
 P a g e | 38

feel that God has abandoned us. Through this novel, we will realize that faith is the best
armor as we face life’s most difficult battle and if we will let God remain a shining point
in our hearts, we will be able to endure all these struggles.

Despite multiple religions, Pi Patel has remained certain about his religious
convictions. He used this a source of truth rather than a source of doubt which made
him survive his journey. At first, it may seem unclear why things happen opposite the
way we want it to be. However, if we will open our mind and heart, we will realize that
behind these experiences, there lies a deeper meaning. These experiences will help us
learn the truth about life and the truth about God.

Nevertheless, we oftentimes consider human suffering as a negative aspect of our

lives. We fail to realize its value as it makes us humble and recognize our infirmity.
When we experience suffering, we tend to look for the presence of a higher being who
can comfort and give reassurance in times that you feel hopeless. Through this, we can
become closer to God.

Religion is undeniably one of the greatest factors that influence our faith. It guides
our way of living and as we put its teachings into practice, we will realize that through
our faith, we are able to survive all the struggles in life no matter how difficult it is.

5.3. Recommendations

For the future readers of this novel, the researcher recommends that they should
open their mind for what will be mentioned in the story may not be acceptable to others
because this novel involves religious pluralism. Others may regard religious pluralists as
atheists since these people do not have a single religious conviction. Furthermore, they
should also pay attention in every line that will be mentioned in the novel for them to
fully understand the deeper meaning and the message that the author would like to
convey. Also, they should carefully analyze some of the remarkable lines in the story
 P a g e | 39

because if they will be able to understand its meaning, these lines will surely touch their
hearts.
For future researchers who would like to conduct a study similar or parallel to
this, it is recommended that they focus on other themes involved in the novel Life of Pi.
This may include human suffering, hope and time. On the other hand, a comparative
study may also be conducted. This novel may be compared to other literary works that
involve anthromorphism such as The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway or to
other literary pieces which involve chaos theory and shipwreck narrative. This novel
may also be compared to a a novel by Paul Knitter entitled “Without Buddha I Cannot
be a Christian” because this story also embraces religious pluralism as one of its major
themes. Other works by Yann Martel may also be included in future studies.
Furthermore, since the reason why the author wrote this novel is not thoroughly
discussed in this research paper, future researchers may also focus on this part which
was mentioned in the Author's Note. They may study the life of the author and relate it
to the novel. Through this, the relationship between the author's experiences and his
writing style will be established.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bishop, J. (2010, June 23). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from
http://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=faith

Durden, J. (2012, November 27). Jonathan R. Durden. Retrieved from

http://jrdurden.wordpress.com/analysis-life-of-pi/

Dwyer, J. (2005). Yann Martel's Life of Pi and the Evolution of the Shipwreck Narrative.
Modern Language Studies, 9-21.

Eck, D. (1997). The Pluralism Project at Harvard University. Retrieved from

http://pluralism.org/pages/pluralism/what_is_pluralism

Ellis, J. (2013, February 16). Wise Geek. Retrieved from Wise Geek:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-religious-pluralism.htm

Feng, J. (2007). Life of Pi: Faith in God.

Jackson, W. (n.d.). Christian Courier. Retrieved from

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/52-the-value-of-human-suffering

Ma, M. (2012, November 26). The Tao Innovation. Retrieved from Psychology Today:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-tao-innovation/201211/meaning-faith-
and-the-life-pi

Martel, Y. (2001). Life of Pi. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

McCollum, A. (2011). An Exploration of Faith in Life of Pi.

Religion Facts. (2004, March 17). Retrieved from

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/beliefs/christ.htm

Smith, N. (2011, December 6). Article Myriad. Retrieved from

http://www.articlemyriad.com/anthropomorphism-literature-life-pi/2/

Stefanescu, M. (2011). Revisiting the Implied Author Yet Again: Why (Still) Bother?
Style, 48-66.

Stratton, F. (2004). “Hollow at the core”: Deconstructing Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.
Retrieved from Studies in Canadian Literature:
http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/SCL/article/view/12746/13689
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Suomala, K. (2012). Complex Religious Identity in the Context of Interfaith Dialogue.

Cross Current, 360-370.

Tichborne, M. (2010). Bamboozled: Chaos Theory and Yann Martel's Life of Pi.
Canada: Acadia University.

Tintera, J. (2003). Explore Faith. Retrieved from

http://www.explorefaith.org/books/lifePi.html
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BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR

Yann Martel was born in Spain in 1963 of Canadian Parents. Life of Pi won the
2002 Man Booker Prize, has been translated into more than forty languages, and spent
fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. He is also the author of the
novels Beatrice and Virgil and Self, the collection of stories The Facts Behind the
Helsinki Roccamatios, and a collection of letters to the prime minister of Canada, What
is Stephen Harper Reading? He lives in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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CURRICULUM VITAE

ROMELLA C. LINA
#1425 Dapitan Street, Sampaloc, Manila
#375 5th Street Malainen Bago, Naic, Cavite
Contact No.: 09194032482
E-mail Address: romella_lina@yahoo.com
Age: 18 years old
Birthday: June 18, 1994
Birthplace: Rosario, Cavite
Religion: Catholic

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Tertiary UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS – COLLEGE OF NURSING
España, Manila
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
June 2010 – Present

Secondary CAVITE NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Maragondon, Cavite
June 2006 – March 2010

Elementary NAIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Naic, Cavite
June 1999 – March 2005

RECOGNITIONS
Tertiary Dean’s List – A.Y. 2010-2011 (First Semester)
Dean’s List – A.Y. 2011-2012 (Second Semester)
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Secondary 2009-2010 Division Level DepEd-Intel Philippines Science Fair (Life

Science Individual Category) – 5th Place

Primary Honor Student, 2000 – 2005

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
Secondary Photojournalist, S.Y. 2007-2008 (The Molecules – Official Student
Publication of Cavite National Science High School)
Managing Editor, S.Y. 2008 – 2009 (The Molecules)
Associate Editor, S.Y. 2009 – 2010 (The Molecules)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Participant, UST Civic Welfare Training Service (2011 – 2012)
Member and Participant, Youth For Christ Outreach Programs
Bahay San Jose, Alfonso, Cavite