Pi
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 3.14,
pi has so many decimal places that the human mind can’t accurately
comprehend it, just as, the book argues, some realities are too
difficult or troubling to face. These associations establish the character
Pi as more than just a realistic protagonist; he also is an allegorical
figure with multiple layers of meaning.
The Color Orange
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 227 days at sea. As the Tsimtsum sinks,
Chinese crewmen give Pi a lifejacket with an orange whistle; on
the boat, he finds an orange lifebuoy. The whistle, buoy, and tiger
all help Pi survive, just as Orange Juice the orangutan provides
a measure of emotional support that helps the boy maintain hope
in the face of horrific tragedy.
