Faith, Doubt and the Ocean: Analysing Yann Martel's Life of PI

Abstract

This paper analyses the intricate interplay of faith, doubt and the ocean in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, exploring how these three elements influence each other resulting in the transformation of the titular character’s faith. It aims to establish the evolving nature of Pi’s faith, highlighting the importance of the ocean as the catalyst for doubt, addressing the ways in which adversities reshape understanding, and also emphasise the power of choice. An interpretative and textual approach is used to study Life of Pi, focusing on the themes and characters, to understand the impact of Pi’s experiences in the ocean, and its connection to the evolution of his faith, evoked by doubt.