Piscine Molitor Patel’s preferred moniker is more than
just a shortened version of his given name. Indeed, the word Pi carries
a host of relevant associations. It is a letter in the Greek alphabet
that also contains alpha and omega, terms
used in the book to denote dominant and submissive creatures. Pi
is also an irrational mathematical number, used to calculate distance
in a circle. Often shortened to
In Life of Pi, the color orange symbolizes
hope and survival. Just before the scene in which the Tsimtsum sinks,
the narrator describes visiting the adult Pi at his home in Canada
and meeting his family. Pi’s daughter, Usha, carries an orange cat.
This moment assures the reader that the end of the story, if not
happy, will not be a complete tragedy, since Pi is guaranteed to
survive the catastrophe and father children of his own. The little
orange cat recalls the big orange cat, Richard Parker, who helps
Pi survive during his