Life Of Pi Allegory Analysis

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The novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, presents controversial topics and issues among many critics, but is beloved by all for its enlightening and spiritual journey that one boy lost at sea with a tiger undertakes. An allegory is meant to reveal and represent a moral, spiritual, abstract idea, value, or theme through a simpler story. Authors use allegories to help readers understand a complicated idea. This method is effective because, it tends to sympathize with the audience’s childhood fantasies where openness and acceptance was more prevalent in our youth. Thus, the author can convey multilevel meanings through metaphors and symbolism. This book specifically unfolds an allegory through the different elements of a carnivorous island that Pi …show more content…

“To take in green, after so much blue, was like music to my eyes. Green is a lovely colour” (Martel 323). Green is specifically symbolic of refuge the island possessed. Everything of which Pi and Richard Parker lacked such as, food, water, and shelter was found upon the island. Of course, when Pi mentioned blue one knew he was speaking of the ocean he had been cast away on for months. However, not only was blue symbolic of the ocean but, the ocean represented the trials of life and doubt imbedded in Pi’s faith. Henceforth, why Pi found the color green like music to his ears. The thought of rescue so buried beneath the doubt in Pi’s mind only made the place of paradise an illusion in his mind. Desperate, Pi refers back to his survival manual: “‘Look for green,’ said the survival manual” (Martel 324). The survival manual in this novel represents a Bible or other religious guideline. At first Pi believes that the survival manual was written for sailors that knew much about being on the water. However, he soon comes to discover that the text begins to make more sense to him as he encounters the issues it speaks of. Much like a Bible or Tora, the words begin to make more sense as an individual grows in their faith. Pi decides to test the illusion by touching the surface of the island. “The illusion would not give. I put my full weight on my foot. Still I did not sink. Still I

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