There were two very obvious themes throughout the novel. Religion and animals were clearly the largest themes. Pi had thought in ways of combining his view on religion and behavior of animals. Pi had many different views when learning the difference in religions that he had discovered and Pi felt he believed in more than one religion. As a child, Pi had already known almost everything to do with animals. Animals were brought in as a main theme when Pi is stuck on the lifeboat with the Royal Bengal tiger, zebra, hyena, and orangutang. Pi try's to relate humans and religion to these animals, while continuously hoping he will survive.
Yann Martel had created the point of view through Pi, although throughout the book there were chapters through Martel's point of view while interviewing Pi. I thought that the point of view from Yann Martel was very interesting because he shared his thoughts about Pi. Because of this, we were able to learn more about Pi and life in his later years. We then are able to see how Pi's childhood reflects on his adulthood and how he lives his life after his life changing experience.
While reading Life of Pi I was able to relate to the book easily. This is because the story takes place when Pi was my age. I am able to relate to Pi because of this and I can imagine myself easily in the positions he is in. Also, I am able to relate to Pi through religion. My school is religious and I always think about different types of religion just like Pi. I was easily able to relate Life of Pi with Great Expectations which we are currently reading in school. Both novels are about the protagonist coming of age and their opinion on situations throughout their life. Both Pi and Pip share their thoughts and beliefs at the same age which is interesting to read about.
There is only one thing I wish Yann Martel could change to improve Life of Pi. I think Martel could have explained that the italicized words were through his point of view. I did not realize what the point of the italicizing was until later in the book, and went back to read his point of view again. They were very interesting parts of the novel and delivered much information once you had realized it was Martel's thoughts.
I personally had a great time reading this book and thought it was brilliant so I would definitely recommend it to others. If someone liked reading books such as Catcher in the Rye they would enjoy this book because it is also a coming of age novel. Also, if a person enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea, I would recommend this book to them because it is also about a very long journey on the water. I have read both Catcher in the Rye and The Old Man and the Sea and enjoyed them both. I feel these books have much in common with Life of Pi. I would recommend this book to other teenagers and adults. I also believe that anybody who is interested in the study of religion or animal behavior would have a great time reading this book.
One rhetorical device I found Yann Martel used very well was when Pi's father Santosh Patel was explaining to Pi and Ravi that every animal in the zoo is dangerous. Santosh used a similie to explain how the spotted deer were dangerous. "So pretty, aren't they? If the male feels he has to, he'll charge you and those short little antlers will pierce you like daggers" (page 40-41). I thought this simile was used very well to show that even little antlers on the deer could harm you.
Another rhetorical device I found was when Yann Martel is at Pi's house having some of Pi's spicy South Indian food. Martel uses two similes in this passage to show how spicy the food really is and how Martel is effected from it. "Each time it's the same: my taste buds shrivel up and die, my skin goes beet red, my eyes well up with tears, my head feels like a house on fire, and my digestive tract starts to twist and groan in agony like a boa constrictor that has swallowed a lawn mower." (page 47) I thought it was a very interesting and odd analogy when comparing his digestive tract to a boa constrictor swallowing a lawn mower, but he used it perfectly and was able to show how he reacted to the food.
