Angeles University Foundation

Angeles City
College of Business and Accountancy

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Life of Pi
Submitted by: Kiervin Karl L. Reyes
Submitted to: Mr. Aldrin Tayag
Section: BSMA 1a

Unlike many spiritual films which are too preachy or too vague, Life of Pi
managed to get it right. I didnt feel forced to believe in a religion, which to me is,
quite frankly, relieving. In fact, it featured three religions: Hinduism, Christianity,
and Islam. Piscine Pi Molitor Patel, our protagonist, chose to adhere to all three,
as, perhaps, he was simply too religious. He made the sign of the cross, worshipped
in an Islam mat, and went to Hindu temples to practice rituals. Naturally, practicing
the Christian and Muslim faith made his parents angry, who were Hindus. Also,
preachers from the three religions came to him making him choose because his
adherence to multiple religions is probably causing ruckus. But the Christian priest
said he was a good Christian, being active in the faith. Surely he was good too at
the other two religions. Perhaps, in seeing that he was simply devoted into knowing
God from the lenses of the three religions, they let it slide. They couldnt hold Pi as a
bad person simply because of his curiosity. Eventually, his parents accepted him.
I think this part of the movie proves a point that each religion has a
characteristic that helps us to be religious and believe in the existence of a
supernatural being. Hinduism is full of wonderment and worship rituals. Christianity
believes in trust and the concept of love. Islam has an immense awareness of God
in everything. And when Pi was stuck in a lifeboat with a tiger, hyena, zebra, and an
orangutan, religion became even more significant.
Being in the middle of nowhere, and on sea, would definitely be hopeless for
an average individual, who is easily paralyzed and taken over by fear. And after the
zebra and orangutan was eaten and getting stuck on a boat with two hungry and
hostile creatures, one wouldve just shook virulently and stood lifeless. But Pi
decided that fear would destroy anyone, even clever people.
Another lesson it seemed to be implying is that kindness would be repaid.
When he was young, Pi tried to feed a caged tiger when it looked weak, not having
eaten for three days. Pis father reprimanded him and showed him how violent the
tiger is by chaining a goat near the gate of the tigers cage and letting the goat be
eaten. But perhaps Pis kindness somehow paid off when he was stuck with that
same tiger in the lifeboat. When the hyena tried to leap at Pi, the tiger clawed and
killed the hyena.
Lastly, the movie tries to argue that life is about believability. Believability in
religion, believability in hope, in kindness, in fact all of which I had just mentioned
above is about believability. But in fact, believability relies on choice. You can
choose whether to be religious or not, to have hope or succumb to fear and
hopelessness, or to be kind or selfish. Nevertheless, whatever we believe in or
however we picture faith, Life of Pi simply propose to believe in kindness, hope and
religion.