Collisions In Life Of Pi

There is a well-known explorer John Smith, who is depicted in the Disney movie Pocahontas. Throughout the movie, Smith goes on an adventure where his whole mindset about the world is changed when he meets Pocahontas, the Indian Chief's daughter. The cultural collision he faces is able to change his mindset. Similarly, Pi goes on a journey in the novel Life of Pi that changes who he is. Throughout the novel, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi faces ethical and religious collisions that are shown through diction and symbols. These two literary elements work together to show Pi’s characterization.

First, Pi experiences an ethical collision when he leaves home and is stranded at sea. Through diction, the reader can see how Pi’s character develops.

All sentient life is sacred. I never forget to include this fish in my prayers”(Martel 203). By using words such as “terrible burden”, “sacred”, and “never forget” Martel is able to put the reader in Pi’s shoes. The reader can feel the heartache that Pi feels after his first murder. Shortly after, the reader reads, “I did whatever necessary to hold a fish down until I could reach for the hatchet and chop its head off…I laid hands on so many fish that my body began to glitter from all the fish scales that became stuck to it…those were the good days”(Martel 216). This may come as a surprise to readers after seeing how pure Pi was. He now killed without mercy or thought. The diction shows this change of mindset in Pi. Between his time and India and his time in the boat, Pi faced a major ethical collision. When

This collision is shown through the symbols which further depicts Pi’s characterization. Pi was raised in a family that was not religious but one day, Pi found religion and he fell in love with it. He found answers and peace in religion. The only catch was that he fell in love with not just one, but three religions. When people find out he is practicing three religions, there is an argument. The priest states, “He can’t be a Hindu, a Christian, and a Muslim. It’s impossible” to which Pi replies, “‘All religions are true.’ I just want to love God”(Martel 76). Pi practices three religions and specifically the number three is significant to Christianity. This symbol of three pops up many times throughout the novel. The number often represents completeness or being whole. Pi practicing three religions is hard to conceptualize because each has different teachings that collide. But, Pi’s thoughts on it are perfect. At the root of each religion is the love for God and that is all that matters. When Pi finds Christianity he goes into a church and sees “the vestibule had clean, white walls; the table and benches were of dark wood; and the priest was dressed in a white cassock–it was all neat, plain, simple”(Martel 57). The symbol of white became big when Pi found religion. White symbolizes peace and simplicity. Between the symbols of three and white, Pi is characterized. The reader sees Pi’s love for God. While it might seem complex