Exonian Review: Life of Pi: A Masterclass in Storytelling
By MARVIN SHIM
Stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the vast sea, a boy struggles to fight against fate as it threatens to capsize his world. “Life of Pi” recounts the story of Pi Patel, a teenager who survived a shipwreck and is stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with several other animals, including a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. He survives for 227 days, exploring faith, isolation, companionship, searching for meaning and challenging the very nature of reality.
“Life of Pi” delves into the complex relationship between faith and reason. Pi is notably devoted to multiple religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. He refuses to limit himself to one particular perspective, and this faith serves as a source of strength. Pi’s journey is not only a harrowing fight for survival, but a spiritual pilgrimage, providing him the will to survive even in desperate situations. His multiple interpretations of truth provides him with spiritual sustenance and shapes his understanding of God and his trials. Thus, the story of Pi’s survival poses a question. Who controls the other, the rider or the elephant? Reason or faith?
After the Tsimtsum sinks, Pi finds himself alone in the vast sea, struggling to face the reality of his situation. As he processes his grief, he turns to prayer, calling upon the gods of Hinduism, Allah, and Jesus for strength. His prayers became a daily routine throughout the entirety of his ordeal. It provides him with structure, allowing him to maintain his humanity as he sinks in the quicksand of isolation. He is forced to confront the thin line of survival morality multiple times in his journey. Pi’s eventual return to prayer and commitment to his values depicts how much his spirituality keeps him grounded.
Pi’s endeavor demonstrates that both logic and faith are essential. His knowledge of zoology from his old and survival tactics keeps him alive from the tiger and starvation, while his faith allows him the mental strength to endure the hardships. Faith serves as a foundation of hope, a defiant affirmation of life in the face of despair. It is through survival and making sense of all that is wrong in this world that one may uncover the purpose of man. Pi’s refusal to let go of his faith, even in the face of death, illustrates a profound message: faith is not merely about heeding religious dogma, but about finding the strength to keep paddling when all seems lost.
At the heart of “Life of Pi” is the storytelling. Pi narrates two different versions of his journey. In the first, Pi presents a fantastical tale of his time in a lifeboat with the tiger, a zebra, an orangutan, and a hyena. It is filled with vivid imagery and miraculous events, including a carnivorous island. However, in the second, Pi is stranded with several other human survivors, where the bleak brutality of death becomes evident. Here, the imagination is stripped away, and Pi’s experience becomes a story of desperation, betrayal, and ultimately cannibalism. Should we interpret this story, albeit more realistic, as the “truth”, it suggests that Pi had to shed much of his humanity to survive. The men are reduced to their basest instincts. Perhaps there is nothing different between each story, both are of animals fighting for survival in its rawest form.
After telling both stories, Pi then simply asks one question, “Which story do you prefer?” Through this ambiguity, “Life of Pi” demonstrates that truth is not always rooted in objective reality. Truth is deeply personal, shaped by how one experiences and interprets life. While the second, more realistic version of the story is objectively possible, it does not capture the essence of the ordeal as the first. This distinction highlights that truth is defined by how a story can speak to our hearts, not by just facts. Pi’s exploration of multiple religions reveals that truth is an act of belief, shaped by what one chooses to embrace. By leaving the choice between the two stories, Pi challenges the singular, objective truth.
“Life of Pi” invites one to view life as a story, one in which they have control over their own narrative. Although suffering is an intrinsic part of life, it is the way one chooses to narrate that defines their experience. Life’s purpose is not decided by fate, but crafted through faith and connection. By opting to believe in the first story, Pi embraces imagination as a tool for understanding life’s uncertainties. The stories we tell ourselves transform our lives, offering hope in times of despair and clarity in the face of the unknown. We must consider what they have experienced about themselves and the world, and let that guide us in choosing our story—the one that will carry us forward with purpose. What story will you choose?