LIFE OF PI SUMMARY NOTES
AUTHOR’S NOTE
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Opening line: ‘This book was born as I was hungry’
Narrated in first person
1996 poor sales of second novel
Flies to Bombay. Likes the word ‘bamboozle’
Plans to write novel set in Portugal fail
Missing ‘spark’ that ‘brings to life a real story’ (ix)
Others tell him stories when discover he is a writer but ‘short of breath and short of life.’
Arrives in Pondicherry; once capital of French India
Elderly man says: ‘I have a story that will make you believe in God.” (x)
Francis Adirubasamy
Narrator meets main character of story, Mr Patel, in Toronto
See diary, newspaper clippings, gets tape and report from Japanese Ministry of Transport
Agrees it is story to make you believe in God
Writes Mr Patel’s story in first person; through his voice and eyes
Thank you to Mr Patel, Mr Adirubasamy, 3 Japanese officials, Mr Moacyr Scliar, Canada
Council for the Arts
Note little illustrations – tiger, ship
TORONTO & PONDICHERRY
Chapter 1
3-7. ‘My suffering left me sad and gloomy.’ Kept up strange religious practices. Double degree in
religious studies and zoology. Thesis on cosmogony theory of Isaac Luria, a Kabbalist from Safed.
Zoology thesis – thyroid gland three toed sloth. Places red dishes on heads of sleeping sloths to test
their laziness! Statistics about the sloth: (sloth seems opposite of Richard Parker). Survives by being
slow. Thoughts about survival. Blends in. Peaceful, harmony with environment. Notice the use of
citations
‘I am not one given to projecting human traits and emotions onto animals…’. Academic success.
Hurt at not getting top award ‘beef-eating pink boy’. Always a ‘grinning skull at my side’ – death
wants to visit Mecca, Varamasi, Jerusalem, Paris, Oxford working life ‘a noose’ like a tie. Nothing to
go home to in Pondicherry. Has never forgotten Richard Parker. ‘nightmares tinged with love’.
Can’t believe RP’s lack of goodbye. Hospital in Mexico. Symptoms gradually go – still scars on
back. Fainted when turned a tap on. “Fresh off the boat, are you?”
Chapter 2
Narrator lives in Scarborough. Physical description of him only 5 lines.
Chapter 3
8-12. Named after a swimming pool. Francis Adirubasamy (Mamaji) respect, affection for him. He
was a champion swimmer. His brother, Ravi. Mamaji teaches him to swim. Piscine manages 2 laps
of butterfly when 13. Father loves swim talk. Mamaji had studied in Paris early 1930s. ‘He was a
great storyteller’ – all to do with pools and swimming. PISCENE DELIGNY – Paris’s oldest swimming
pool- dirty. PISCENE MOLITOR- clean, a great pool. ‘It was the only pool that made Mamaji fall
silent…’ So he is named PISCENE MOLITOR PATEL
Chapter 4
12-19. 1954 Pondicherry enters Union of India. Land at Botanical Garden available for zoo flowers
and trees. Zootown. Father had run hotel in Madras prior. Comparison of zoo keeping to hotel
keeping. Father is Mr. Santosh Patel, has a staff of 53. Zoo described as ‘paradise on earth’,
‘fondest memories of growing up in zoo.’ Pi’s alarm clock a pride of lions.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May 2010
Page 1
‘I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion.’ Thinks
animals are happy because they are free. Animals in wild ‘lead lives of compulsion and necessity.’
Their territory has to be constantly defended. Supply of fear high & supply of food low. (Just like Pi
in the boat?) Thinks animals are conservative, even reactionary. Smallest changes upset them.
Don’t like surprises. Animals inhabit space like chess pieces on chessboard – both speak of pattern
and purpose. Their territory is for avoidance of enemies and getting of food & water. A zoo is
similar to a human’s house. ‘Compressed territory.’ Zoos are like religion – no longer in people’s
good graces. ‘…certain illusions about freedom plague them both.’ (19)
Chapter 5
20. ‘I am who I am’ He has problems with his name. ‘Pissing Patel’. Makes an allusion to Roman
soldier and crown of thorns. Feels like persecuted Muhammed in Mecca. Attends school; Petit
Seminaire in Pondicherry. Goes there after earlier schooling at St. Joseph’s. First day of school. Roll
call – he has to write his name on the board. Writes ‘Pi Patel 𝝅 = 3.14 Sees this as ‘a new
beginning’. He repeats it with every teacher. Stresses importance of repetition – training of
humans as well as animals. (Link to his training of Richard Parker) Ravi’s reaction is to call him
‘Lemon Pi’. Pi finds ‘refuge’ in that Greek letter. ‘…elusive, irrational number with which scientists
try to understand the universe.’
Chapter 6
Author narrative. Tells us Pi an excellent cook of both Western and Indian foods. He keeps huge
reserves of food. (Chapter is only 10 lines long)
Chapter 7
25-28. Mr Satish Kumar – the biology teacher, an active communist. Has a ‘geometric’ physical
build. The ‘first avowed atheist’ Pi has ever met. Mr. Kumar a regular visitor to the zoo to ‘take the
pulse of the universe.’ He likes to know everything in order. Peak, the Indian rhino, shares enclosure
with goats. Mr. Kumar thinks of zoo as his ‘temple’. Mr. Kumar makes analogies between animals
and politicians. Pi says parents complain about Mrs. Gandhi. ‘Religion will save us’ says Pi. Mr K: ‘I
don’t believe in religion. Religion is darkness.’ Pi is puzzled as he thinks religion is ‘light’. He believes
in scientific explanation of reality. No reason to go beyond as ‘God does not exist’. (Think about
the final section of the book. Compare Pi and Mr. Kumar) Mr. Kumar says medicine saved him
from polio, not God. ‘Reason is my prophet…’ Pi feels this is bleak. Mr. K is Pi’s favourite teacher,
and the reason Pi studies zoology in Toronto. Felt a ‘kinship’. ‘…atheists are my brothers and sisters
of a different faith’. He’s not keen on agnostics. Thinks doubt only useful for a while. ‘But we must
move on.’ Thinks choosing doubt is choosing immobility. (Can you see any parallels with the two
Japanese shipping company investigators and their reactions to Pi’s stories?)
Chapter 8
29-39 The most dangerous animal in zoo is man. People who feed animals foreign bodies. Cruelty
to animals. Pi’s father puts up sign with arrow pointing to a mirror so that visitors can find out the
answer to this question. The most dangerous animal is ANIMAL ANTHROPOMORHICUS – the animal
as seen through human eyes. ‘An animal is an animal’, essentially and practically removed from
us.’ Pi learns this lesson twice – from his father & from Richard Parker.
His father wants to teach his two sons a lesson against his wife’s wishes. ‘It may well save their
lives.’ Takes them to Matisha, a Bengal tiger, weighing 550lbs. Tells the boys that tigers are VERY
dangerous. Babu (his father) feeds a live goat to the tiger. Pi later finds out tiger hadn’t been fed
for 3 days prior. Mother upset; thinks he has scarred boys for life. Repetition of ‘Yes, father’ as he
tells them of dangers of other animals. Babu takes them to guinea pigs to end lesson on a light
note. Ravi tells Pi: “You’re the next goat.”
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 2
Chapter 9
Animals have to get used to presence of humans. Aim is to diminish an animal’s flight distance.
You mustn’t cross the limit. Different animals have different flight distances; can depend on
different senses. Human tools are knowledge of animal, food and shelter provided, protection
afforded. A balance of all these factors means a stress free animal.
Chapter 10
40. Pi recognizes that animals will seek to escape. Enclosures have to be within animal’s capacity
to adapt. The importance of a ‘measure of madness’. ‘This madness can be saving; it is part and
parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.’ Animals only want to escape
something, not somewhere.
Chapter 11
41-42. Example of the leopard at Toronto Zoo which jumped 18 ft to escape. Female black
leopard escaped at Zurich Zoo in 1933. Reference and laughter from Pi at what they expected to
find in Mexican tropical jungle (reference to Richard Parker)
Chapter 12
Back to author narrator. Notes that Pi sometimes gets agitated. He prepares food.
Chapter 13
43. A lion tamer enters the ring first, in view of lions. Establishes his territory. Reinforces position of
‘super alpha’ with whip. Problems of social insecurity; an animal likes to know where it stands. Its
rank. ‘It’s a question of brain over brawn.’
Chapter 14
45. Socially inferior animals best at getting to know their keepers.
Chapter 15
Back to author narrator. Pi’s home is like a ‘temple’; picture of Ganesha, picture of a plain
wooden cross, small picture of Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, a photo of Kaaba (Islam), a statue of
Shiva as Nataraja.
46. Shrine in the kitchen. Two pictures behind a small altar; Ganesha and Krishna, stone Shiva yoni
linga, small conch shell, small silver handbell, grains of rice, flower. Anointed with dabs of yellow
and red. Other objects of devotion as well. Another Virgin Mary. Upstairs a Ganesha, wooden
Christ on Cross, green prayer rug, Arabic prayer book. A Bible.
Chapter 16
47-51 Many lose God along the way. Not the case with Pi. Auntie Rohini took Pi to temple when a
baby; a Hindu rite of passage. Says germ of religious exaltation started then. A Hindu because of;
red kumkum powder, yellow turmeric, garlands of flowers, bells, music, incense, elephants,
colourful murals telling colourful stories. It is a Faith with ‘sense impressions’. Pi feels at home in
Hindu temple. Prasad. ‘But religion is more than rite and ritual. There is what the rite and ritual
stand for.’ ‘Here too I am a Hindu. The universe makes sense to me through Hindu eyes.’ Brahman
& Atman relate mysteriously like father, son and holy spirit. Bank of Karma – account of each of us
credited or debited depending on our actions. Auntieji, Pi’s foster mother in Toronto thought Hare
Krishnas – Hairless Christians.
Hindus- capacity to love
Christians- devotion to God Muslim- see God in everything
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 3
Chapter 17
51.Pi at 14 yo, as a contented Hindu, met Jesus Christ on a holiday at Munnar, Kerala hill station.
There are 3 hills within Munnar; on each stood a Godhouse – 1. A Hindu temple 2. Mosque on
middle hill 3. Christian Church
Pi has never been in church before. All he knows of Christianity is that it has ‘few gods and great
violence’ but good schools. Church like a fortress; outside gives nothing away. Sees the two priests
in the rectory. All ‘neat, plain and simple.’ ‘I was filled with a sense of peace.’ Pi senses a man
‘whose profession it was to love.’ ‘I was moved.’ Sees crucifix of Christ. Next day, Pi goes into
church. Meets Father Martin; ‘very kind’. Has tea and biscuits, treats Pi like a grown up. Tells him a
story. Pi notes that Christians are fond of capital letters. (starts using them when referring to
Christianity). Pi in disbelief that God’s son pays for man’s sins.
ANALOGY- Pi imagines his own father sacrificing him. Finds story of Christ ‘downright weird story’
and wonders; ‘What peculiar psychology’. Pi works out that Christianity has one story. Can’t
imagine Lord Krishna (Hindu) consenting to humiliation and death like Jesus. Pi has never heard of
Hindu god dying. Thinks it wrong of Christian god to let his avatar die. Father Martin’s answer in
‘love’ to Pi’s question about why Christ dies.
Stories of Krishna, Vishnu, Rama. Pi thinks Christian god too human; walking on water only a minor
trick. This son spent most of his time telling stories – talking. ‘That is how I met that troublesome
rabbi of long ago; with disbelief and annoyance.’ Pi has tea with Father Martin three days in a
row. He asks more questions and finds more flaws in ‘this son’. ‘The more He bothered me, the less
I could forget Him. And the more I learned about Him, the less I wanted to leave Him.’ (Deliberate
capitalization) ‘Christianity is a religion in a rush’ –Pi can’t believe that the world created in seven
days!
He describes Hindu as ‘placid like the Ganges’ whereas Christianity like ‘Toronto rush hour’. Pi tells
Father Martin he wants to be a Christian. “You already are, Piscene – in your heart.” Pi rushes to
Hindu temple to thank Lord Krishna for putting Jesus in his way – humanity
Chapter 18
58-60. Pi discovers ISLAM a year later aged 15. He finds the Muslim quarter. Jamia Masjid – the
Great Mosque in Mullah St. Islam has worse reputation than Christianity – fewer gods & greater
violence. Heard no good about their schools. Finds Muslim area pleasant and quiet, nothing
evidently religious. Pi goes into small shop – picks up ‘bread’. Sees man cross legged, throws
bread in fright; it lands on ‘fresh cow dung’. The baker shows him how bread mad. Hears the call
to prayer. ‘nasal call of the muezzin’. Baker prays on his mat in front of Pi. ‘Why, Islam is nothing but
an easy sort of exercise, I thought.’ Pi describes Muslim prayer as ‘quick, necessary, physical,
muttered, striking.’ He thinks of it next time he prays on knees, silent before Christ on Cross.
Chapter 19
Pi goes to see baker again. Asks questions about Islam. “What’s your religion about?” “It is about
the Beloved.” ‘It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion.’ Pi likes the ‘deeply religious
contact’ of prayer.’
Chapter 20
61-62. Sufi – a Muslim mystic. Seeks ‘fana’, union with God. Meets Satish Kumar (same name as
communist Biology teacher). Mr and Mr Kumar – zoology & religious studies, taught biology and
Islam, ‘prophets of my Indian youth’. Pi practised dhikr – recitation of the 99 revealed names of
God. Safish Kumar knows Qur’an by heart. Sings in chant. Pi loves it sound. Feels Mr Kumar’s place
sacred. Feels road, sea, trees, air, sun now all speak a ‘language of unity’. Every element lived in
harmonious relation ‘I knelt a mortal; I rose an immortal.’ Pi recalls another time in Canada he felt
God come so close to him. Sees the Virgin Mary in sun splashed clearing in snow- ‘I felt I saw her,
a vision beyond vision.’ She smiles at Pi ‘with loving kindness’. ‘My heart beat with fear and joy.’
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May 2010
Page 4
Chapter 21
63. Back to author narrator (italics) ‘dry, yeastless factuality’, ‘the better story’ (ineluctably).
Thinking over Pi’s words. Tries to articulate in writing moral sense/intellectual sense.
Chapter 22
64-66. Atheist’s last words “White, white! L..L..Love! My God!” and deathbed leap of faith. Agnostic
– possibly a f..f..failing oxygenation of the bbbrain” – to the end lack imagination and miss the
better story.
Pi finds problems practising 3 religions. Priest, imam, pandit bring to attention of his ‘bemused
parents’. They didn’t know ‘I was a practising Hindu, Christian and Muslim.’ 16 y.o. Pi and his
parents meet the ‘three wise men’ on the esplanade. His secret is outed. Wise men annoyed
when they realize all are approaching Pi. (FATE) ‘Glances of displeasure were exchanged.’ Pi’s
father sees himself as part of ‘New India’; rich, modern and as secular as ice-cream.’ ‘He didn’t
have a religious bone in his body.’ (does have animals blessed by priest and shrine to Lord
Ganesha (head of elephant) & Hanuman (head of monkey) at zoo; only because good for
business.) More concerned with financial worry than spiritual worry. Mother is bored and neutral
on subject. Hindu upbringing & Baptist education cancelled out. As a child Pi devoured comic
books of Ramayana & Mahabharata & children’s Bible. Ravi only interested in cricket as religion
(ANALOGY)
The three men all claim Pi for their religion; ‘all eyes fell upon me’
67. Iman – Hindus & Christians are idolators. “They have many gods”
Pandit – “and Muslims have many wives”
Priest – “there is salvation only in Jesus”
They all fight! (Make a list of accusations they make against each other’s religions) All three men
are native Tamils. Father tries to remind them of freedom of practice in India. ‘Yes! Practice –
singular!’ the wise men screamed in unison. Three index fingers. The three agree Piscine must
choose. Pi tells them; “Bapu Gandhi said, ‘All religions are true.’ I just want to love God…” (statue
of Gandhi close by). “You can’t reprimand a boy for wanting to love God. “Stiff, grudging
smiles…”
70. ‘That was my introduction to interfaith dialogue.’ Father buys 3 icecreams.
Chapter 24
Ravi teases Pi
Chapter 25
Those who defend God only when it suits them.
71. ‘These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the
outside. They should direct their anger at themselves.’ Pi finds he isn’t as welcome whilst practising
his religions. ‘To me, religion is about our dignity, not our depravity.’ Changes church for mass.
Doesn’t linger after Friday prayer. Goes to Temple at crowded times.
Chapter 26
72-74. Pi asks his father to be baptized and for a prayer rug. “Because I love God.” Father says
Muslim & Christianity separate, nothing in common. Both love Abraham. Recognize David, Moses
and Jesus as prophets. Same God. Tells Pi to talk to his mother. Mother says to talk to his father.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 5
Chapter 27
75-76 ‘He seems to be attracting religions the way a dog attracts fleas.’ Criticism of Mrs Gandhi.
Father believes in technology & good ideas spread (his 2 laws of nature). Hint that family will move
to Canada. Father sees Muslims as ‘outsiders’. Christians – good schools. Says mother defending
Piscine. Wants Pi to have normal interests like Ravi – cricket, movies, music. ‘They laughed’
Chapter 28
76-77. Pi loves his prayer rug. ‘I’m sorry I lost it.’ Helps him remember earth is the creation of God
and sacred the same all over. Prays outside among colour of flowers, birds. Pi’s parents watch his
baptism. ‘…refreshing effect of a monsoon rain.’
Chapter 29
77-79 ‘Why do people move?’ Uproot, great unknown, foreignness, strangeness. People move in
the hope of a better life. Mid-1970s troubled times in India – Pi not really interested in politics.
February 1976, Tamil Nadu government brought down by Delhi. Father thinks last straw is Mrs
Gandhi’s dictatorial turnover. ‘The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke father’s
back.’ Pi wishes his father hadn’t ‘fretted so much’. Bad politics is bad for business. People move if
feel ‘future is blocked up’.
Reasons for move: wear & tear of anxiety, what they build up will be torn down by others; feeling
nothing will change; happiness and prosperity only possible somewhere else.
Father announces CANADA – Ravi and Pi ‘thunderstruck’
Chapter 30
Author narrative again. Pi is married. Meets his wife, a second generation Indian. She’s a
pharmacist (an exact science!)named Meena. Offers his special chutney.
Chapter 31
81-84 Mr & Mr Kumar met once; the baker and the teacher. Pi worried he won’t recognize Mr
Kumar at zoo. Whilst waiting, sees Raj, a friend, Ajith, a friend, a friend of his mothers, a stranger,
Mamaji. Mr Kumar is impressed by zoo. ‘In all this there are messages indeed for a people who use
their reason.’ He is dumbfounded by zebras. The other Mr Kumar arrives.
One Mr Kumar has scientific reaction, the other sees as wondrous creature.
‘Equus burchelli boehmil’
‘Allahu akbar’
‘It’s very pretty’
Chapter 32
84-85. animals come to surprising living arrangements. ‘ZOOMORPHISM’- animal takes a human
being or another animal to be one of its kind. Eg. Dogs wanting to ‘mate’ with human. Pi refers to
the golden agouti & spotted paca, the rhinocerous/goat herd, circus lions. Dolphins saving
humans. A mouse lived with vipers for several weeks (finally bitten by young viper). Dogs
sometimes used as foster mothers for lion cubs. Pi believes zoomorphism due to ‘measure of
madness that moves life in strange but saving ways.’
Chapter 33
86-87. Author narrator again. Pi shows him family memorabilia. ‘A smile every time, but his eyes tell
another story.’ Photos from India lost; Mamaji gave him what little there is. A photo of Richard
Parker. ‘An entire childhood memorialized in four nearly irrelevant photographs’ Pi’s sadness that
he can’t remember what mother looks like.
Chapter 34
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 6
88-90. Zoo sold ‘lock, stock and barrel”. Animals sold off to overseas zoos. Ravi & Pi didn’t want to
go to Canada; not a cricket country, freezing weather. Takes a year to prepare for departure.
‘Moving a zoo like moving a zoo.’ Lots of short sentences to highlight preparation. Pi tells Brahmin
cow story – father creates it, pains horns. 3 Americans come to assess animals. (Use of number 3
yet again!!!)
Chapter 35
91. June 21st, 1977 (Pagans celebrated summer solstice on this date?? Any possible link?) leave
Madras on Panamanian registered Japanese cargo ship, TSIMTSUM – Japanese officers,
Taiwanese crew. Mother looks beautiful ‘And sad’. Pi is 16 years old.
‘Things didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to, but what can you do? You must take life the
way it comes at you and make the best of it.’ (Use of foreshadowing)
Chapter 36
91-93. Author narrator again. Comments on Pi’s house. Sees teenager for the first time. A son
called Nikhil (Nick). Dog named Tata, daughter, Usha 4 years old, with cat named Moccasin. ‘This
story has a happy ending.’ Narrator finally uses Pi’s name. ‘Then Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all
as Pi Patel, bends down and picks up his daughter.’
PART TWO
THE PACIFIC OCEAN
Chapter 37
97-99. ‘The ship sank’ with a ‘monstrous metallic burp’. Pi sees Richard Parker from the lifeboat.
‘Vishnu preserve me, Allah protect me, Christ save me…’ He appeals to all 3 of his religions.
Intense pain. ‘ripping of nerves’, ‘ache of the heart’. ‘Every single thing I value in life has been
destroyed.
Still a sense of humour. ‘Wait a second. Together? We’ll be together?’ Have I gone mad?’ Pi tries to
make Richard Parker go. (Henceforth known as RP)
The revelation- RP is a 3 year old adult Bengal tiger. ‘eyes blazing’, ‘all weapons drawn’. ‘I turned
around, stepped over the zebra and threw myself overboard.’
Chapter 38
100-105. Pi reflects onboard the ship. He has map of world for the trip and monitors position. Loves
ship life. Madras to Bay of Bengal to Strait of Malacca to Singapore to Manila for two days. Take
ton of bananas on board. Ravi more interested in fixing of engines. Ship enters Pacific. On fourth
day, ‘midway to Midway we sank’. ‘vomit of a dyspeptic ship’. Pi in shock; ‘great emptiness within
me.’ ‘My chest hurt with pain and fear for days afterwards.’ Pi had woken at ‘irregular noise’.
4.30am. He gets up to investigate. Shouts ‘Canada, here I come” into the rain and wind. (Martel
uses metaphor of stage show/weather here)
Pi notices lifeboat hanging wrongly. Tries to go inside and see water. ‘I was very afraid.’ Sees men
running in distance, animals maybe. Hears monkeys shrieking, ox loose. It has been let out. Sees
some crew who thrust life jacket at him and toss him overboard.
Chapter 39
105. Loses lifejacket but has whistle. Lifeboat stuck but free when zebra jumps in.
Chapter 40
106-107. Pi grabs oar & lifebuoy. RP in lifeboat. Sees shark fins, swims to end of lifeboat covered by
tarpaulin. ‘I was alone and orphaned…’ ‘I held on to the oar, I just held on, God only knows why.’
‘…but one terror at a time, Pacific before tiger.’
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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Chapter 41
107-111. Pi realizes he can’t stay in position he is, hanging awkwardly. Of the five senses, tigers rely
the most on their sight. ‘…fear and reason fought over the answer.’ Zebra still alive with badly
broken leg. Wonders why RP hasn’t killed it. Male spotted hyena also on board. Starts to think RP
not on board any more as hyena still alive. Realizes sailors had thrown him overboard as fodder to
make lifeboat safe for them. (LOGIC Pi uses re: hyena) He jokes; ‘Around the world in eighty
swells.’ Pi’s thoughts swing wildly, weeping silently.
Chapter 42
111. Orange Juice, the orang-utan floats by on bananas. Spiders. Pi gets Orange Juice to lifeboat.
He retrieves net but not one banana.
Chapter 43
112-117. Pi sure the sinking boat would have triggered alarms. Thinks he’ll be rescued. The hyena
jumps over zebra to the stern; runs laps. Describes hyena as ‘ugly beyond redemption’. ‘I am not
one to hold a prejudice against any animal…’ Provides very descriptive account of hyena. They
are hunters. Discusses accidental cannibalism. ‘It’s an open question as to what hyena’s won’t
eat!’
Chapter 44
118-119. Buzzing of flies. Darkness. Pi can’t imagine lasting the night. ‘The battle for life was taking
place there too.’
Chapter 45
120-123. Hope comes again with daylight. Hyena has bitten off zebra’s leg. ‘When your own life is
threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival..’ ‘I felt pity
and then I moved on…This is not something I am proud of…’
Pi nauseous. Sees OJ on side bench. Laughs when realizes OJ seasick. ‘…rare seafaring green
orang-utan.’ Pi thinks OJ looks “humanly sick”.
‘The ecosystem on this lifeboat was decidedly baffling.’ Pi fascinated as to why OJ has back to
hyena. First turtle seen (foreshadowing). ‘What would become a dear, reliable friend of mine.’
Chapter 46
124-128. So many bad nights. Remembers 2nd night as ‘exceptional suffering’ – weeping, sadness,
spiritual pain. Sharks and makos around boat. Realises OJ mourning her 2 sons. Hyena goes amok
and attacks zebra, eating it alive from inside. OJ roars – hyena momentarily retreats. It starts
roaring too. ‘appalling noise’. Pi trembles with fear as thinks hyena will attack OJ. Zebra blood
attracts sharks. Foul smell; blood everywhere. At that second sunset, Pi has to acknowledge his
family was dead.
METAPHOR of family/tree – his family have lost all their branches. Loss of brother & potential sister in
law and kids; loss of father – loss of guidance and support; loss of mother – ‘like losing the sun
above you.’ Pi spends night weeping and grieving. Hyena spent good part of night eating.
Chapter 47
129-132. At daybreak, zebra still alive, hyena has bloated stomach. OJ in dangerous mood –
showing her teeth. Zebra dead by noon. Violence occurs in afternoon. Pi thinks OJ no chance
against the hyena but she thumps it on head. ‘It made my heart melt with love and admiration
and fear.’ ‘All my life I had known only a part of her.’ It didn’t last long. ‘Plain, empirical truth’ is
that OJ can’t defeat hyena. What does a fruit eater know about killing? Attitude means hyena will
win. It attacks OJ. ‘To the end she reminded me of us: her eyes expressed fear in such a humanlike
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 8
way, as did her strained whimpers.’ Pi cries with tiredness. Crosses tarp. Sees hyena and OJ’s body.
Pi about to throw himself to hyena but sees RP’s head. ‘His paws were like volumes of
Encyclopaedia Brittanica.’
Chapter 48
133. The tiger is called Richard Parker because of clerical error. In Bangladesh, tiger and cub
caught. Hunter’s name was Richard Parker. Baptized cub ‘Thirsty’. Shipping clerk mixed up names.
(Thirsty None Given)
Chapter 49
134-37. Pi can’t move in morning. First thoughts of sustenance. Hasn’t had food, drink, sleep for 3
days. Lifeboat is 26 ft long. RP weighs 450 lbs. Pi feels better once he has lost all hope. (ANALOGY
to tennis player) Believes fact he was literally dying of thirst saved his life. Only complaint from
Christ on Cross was thirst. Remembers lifeboat should have supplies. Decides water must be
aboard. Pi moves position watched by hyena. Presence of tiger has saved him. Puts RP’s passivity
down to seasickness.
Chapter 50
137-39. Lifeboat is 3 ½ ft deep, 8 ft wide, 26 ft long. Designed for 32 people. Symmetrical shape. He
gives very precise description. Orange is colour of survival. Everything inside was orange other
than wood. TSIMTSUM & PANAMA printed on each side. Numbers: measurements, 6 oarlocks, 5
oars. Small things/details suddenly transform in new light.
‘It would no longer be the small thing it was before, but the most important thing in the world, the
thing that would save my life..’ ‘How true it is that necessity is the mother of invention, how very
true.’
Chapter 51
140-44. Pi can’t find supplies at first. Wonders if where RP is. Sees metal supply box when unrolls
tarp. Sees lifejackets and RP two feet away. Opens locker. Thirst overrules danger. ‘I was positively
giddy with happiness’ at what he see in locker. Water! Drinking water in pale golden cans. 500ml.
Question of how to open cans. Can’t find opener. Uses tarp hooks. Water is ‘liquid life.’ Drinks 4
cans, throws empties overboard.
Feels much better. ‘To be drunk on water is noble and ecstatic.’ Food? Finds Norwegian ‘Seven
Oceans Standard Emergency Ration’. Says no more than 6 should be eaten in 24 hours. Biscuits of
baked wheat, animal fat & glucose. Pi is vegetarian but will ‘bear it’.
9 missed meals, 12 languages, 18 biscuits, 6 in 24, 9 waxpaper bars. Unwrapped 1. Broke it into 2. Pi
thinks biscuits taste great. Eats all the pack (1/2 kg) Works out he has food rations for 93 days.
Instructions also suggest ½ litre water every 24 hrs so water for 124 days. Each object soothes Pi.
Repeats ‘Thank you. Thank you.’
Chapter 52
145-46. Pi’s list of locker contents. Ends list with 1 boy, 1 hyena, 1 tiger, 1 lifeboat, 1 ocean, 1 GOD.
He falls asleep.
Chapter 53
147-154. Pi awakes in anxiety with new lease on life. Reality of RP. Knows to leave lifeboat means
death. “I’m going to die” he blubbered. Death with time to spare is worse. ‘You see with bitter
lucidity all that you are losing.’ Thinks of family, India, Winnipeg. ‘I was giving up.’ Hears a voice in
his heart. ‘I will not die.’ ‘Now I will turn miracle into routine.’ ‘Yes, so long as God is with me, I will
not die. Amen.’
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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Pi ‘discovered at that moment that I have a fierce will to live.’ ‘Others fight a little, then lose hope.
Still others – and I am one of those – never give up.’ ‘We fight to the very end. It’s not a question
of courage. It’s something constitutional, an ability to let go. It may be nothing more than lifehungry stupidity.’ RP starts growling. Hyena whining. Pi starts to build raft. Uses oars, lifejackets,
lifebuoy. Retrieves 4 lifejackets from near RP. Hyena starts screaming. “Jesus, Mary, Muhammad
and Vishnu.” RP kills hyena without a sound. Turns and looks straight at Pi. Tiger has back to Pi but
turns head, front feet on bench. RP is thin, coat sags loosely on frame. Close description of RP.
Eyes meet. ‘Every hair on me was standing up, shrieking with fear.’ Rat appears!! RP moves closer.
Rat on Pi’s head. RP doesn’t like tarp’s ‘softness’ so hesitates. Pi throws him the rat. Swallowed. RP
eats hyena. Retrieves rest of lifejackets (6). Sees vomit of RP – has been seasick. Pi completes raft;
attaches long rope to raft & lifeboat. It floats! But there are sharks. 154. ‘I had fled the lifeboat to
save my life. Now I wanted to get back.’ Pi afraid as raft reliant on rope. 155. RP still eating in
lifeboat. Pi has option of tiger or sharks. Starts to rain so Pi grabs a rain catcher, plastic bag,
blanket and the survival manual. Locker lids slams loudly so his presence revealed to RP. RP only
turns round from hyena eating and snarls. Pi soaked.
Chapter 54
157-59. Rains all night. Checks knots and lashings incessantly. Able to drink from rain catcher. Pi
hatches plans to get rid of RP ‘so that the lifeboat might be mine.’
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Push him off the lifeboat – but tigers are good swimmers
Kill him with the Six Morphine Syringes – problem of how to actually do it
Attack him with all available weaponry – Pi realizes how feeble he is.
Choke him – use the rope
Poison him, set him on fire, electrocute him – how and with what?
Wage a war of attrition – let nature run its course. Hope RP starves first.
Pi just needs to survive to put plan 6 into effect.
Chapter 55
160. Dawn shows extent of waves. Soon eases, sun comes out. Repeats mantra of ‘Plan Number
Six’. Pi sleeps until mid-morning. ‘The vastness hit me like a punch in the stomach. I fell back,
winded.’ Raft a joke. Lifeboat looks like ‘half a walnut shell.’ Sees RP looking over edge. Contrast
between bright orange stripes and white hill. Pi realizes Plan 6 the worst of all. RP afraid of sea but
thirst and hunger will surmount his fear – he will swim to Pi to eat. Also remembers tigers can drink
saline water.
Chapter 56
161-162. Pi reflects on fear. ‘It is life’s only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life.’ ‘It goes for your
weakest spot, which it finds with unerring ease.’ ‘Reason is fully equipped with the latest weapons
technology.’ (ANALOGY WITH BATTLE) ‘Only your eyes work well. They always pay proper attention
to fear.’ Defeat yourself through rash decisions. Pi says you have to defeat the fear, rather than
forget or avoid it, or you open yourself to further attacks.
Chapter 57
163-66. Richard Parker calms Pi down. He looks at Pi intently who recognizes the gaze. Contented.
Eaten and quenched thirst. Looks ‘catlike’. ‘He looked like a nice, big, fat domestic cat, a 450pound tabby.’ RP makes a sound. ‘Prusten?’ (a friendly sound, a puff through the nose express
friendliness and harmless intentions) Pi explains all the different sounds tigers make. He knew of
prusten through his father; never heard it before though. RP looks like he is asking a question. ‘I
had to tame him. It was at that moment that I realized this necessity. It was not a question of him or
me, but of him and me.’
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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‘We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat.’ Pi feels taming tiger is only hope of tricking
him into dying first. ‘I will tell you a secret: a part of me was glad about Richard Parker….if he died
I would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger.’ Pi has to think about
RP rather than grief of situation. ‘It’s the plain truth: without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive
today to tell you my story.’ Pi sees ocean as a circus ring. Whistle as a whip. Treats from sea. Has
all the time in the world. Shouts out his circus introduction. The whistle has effect on RP; cringes
and snarls but doesn’t jump. RP backs off to bottom of boat. Plan Number Seven: Keep Him Alive.
Chapter 58
167-69 Survival manual full of practical information – irony as Pi reads the survival tips written by a
British Royal Navy commander. Some very obvious, basic tips. Tip about turtles. Learns horizon is 2
½ miles away. No-one nicknamed ‘Pissing’ would drink own urine anyway! Manual confirms
English don’t know meaning of word food. Manual didn’t address the establishing of alphaomega relationships with major lifeboat pests. Pi works out list of things to do; training program so
that RP knows which part of boat his. Start fishing. Means of shelter from elements. A canopy.
Second rope from raft to lifeboat. Improve the raft. Stop hoping for rescue. Hoping too much is
castaway’s worst mistake. Pi bursts into tears as he looks out at empty horizon. ‘All alone.’
Chapter 59
170-74. Pi realizes raft acts as anchor for lifeboat. Being able to make boat roll could save Pi’s life
and make RP regret. When RP growls, cockroaches abandon lifeboat! Opens locker lid. Smells
RP’s urine – highly territorial beneath the tarpaulin. Pi could make tarp his. Eats 1/3 of package as
food ration. Uses beaker to get some drinking water from ‘Parker’s Pond’. Urinates in beaker
getting same amount he had drunk – compares to apple juice. Splashes his urine on tarp and
locker lid to stake claim. Ties second rope to raft. Works out the solar still. Twelve solar stills needing
ten litres of sea water. Strings them together and ties to lifeboat. Uses one oar to make a mast for
raft. Uses blanket for canopy. Takes his rations and four blankets onto raft and enjoys dusk. Waves
at RP. Prusten again. Splashes from water. Discovers ‘that the sea is a city.’ (ANALOGY OF OCEAN
SEA LIFE TO BUSY CITY ROADS) trails of phosphorescent bubbles. Sees dorados beneath raft.
Learned since that cargo ships travel too fast for fish. Dolphins faster. ‘You must stroll through the
Pacific at a walking pace, so to speak, to see the wealth and abundance that it holds.’ Sleeps.
Chapter 60
177. ‘The volume of things was confounding.’ Realizes his suffering taking place in a grand setting.
‘Life is a peephole, a single tiny entry onto a vastness..’ refers to Hindu god, mumbles Muslim
prayer.
Chapter 61.
180-85. Feels stronger next day. Decides to fish. RP doesn’t get up when Pi goes to locker. Uses
shoe leather as bait. No success. Loses tackle. Rebukes himself for stupidity. ‘Stupidity has a price.
You should show more care and wisdom next time.” Fails to catch turtle. Pi starts to worry. Pi turns
from locker to see RP staring at him from other end of boat. Hit hard across face. Finds fish in the
locker! Flying fish had hit Pi, not RP. But he has seen the fish. Pi throws it to him but fish flies. Hit by
swarm of flying fish. Pi feels he ‘was living the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.’ Cuts and bruises from
fish. Sees that dorados were pursuing the fish. RP blocks, swipes, bites all fish he can. Pi takes a fish
back to raft and tries to kill it. Can bring himself to use hatchet. ‘A lifetime of peaceful
vegetarianism stood between me and the willful beheading of a fish.’ Finally breaks its neck but
cries with guilt. ‘It was the first sentient being I had ever killed. I was now a killer.’ Uses fish as bait.
Finally catches a dorado with fish head. 3 feet long. Pi feels strong. “Thank you, Lord Vishnu, thank
you!” Has to kill it to get hook back but no problem this time. Uses hatchet. Dorado changes
colours as it dies. ‘It is simple and brutal: a person can get used to anything, even to killing.’ Pi
feeds dorado to RP.
Chapter 62
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 11
188. RP restless during night. Tongue hanging out. Needs water. Solar stills have worked. Pi drinks a
litre. Realizes preciousness of solar stills. Gives RP water. Use whistle. Very hot day. Doesn’t catch
any fish. Regrets not trying to catch turtle. A week since the Tsimtsum had sunk.
Chapter 63
189-91. Robertson family survived 38 days at sea. Captain Bligh and castaways 47 days. Steven
Callahan 76. Owen Chase (inspiration for Moby Dick) 83, Bailey family 118, Korean sailor 173 days
in 1950s. ‘I survived 227 days. That’s how long my trial lasted, over seven months.’ Pi keeps himself
busy. This page outlines an average day for him. Lots of routines. Finds mornings better than
afternoons. Routine can be upset – rainfall, turtle visit, RP when he stirs. Pi spends hours observing
him. After 5 or 6 weeks, stopped compulsively looking out for ship. ‘And I survived because I
made a point of forgetting.’
Story started on July 2nd, 1977. Finishes February 14th, 1978 but in between no calendar. Pi doesn’t
count days, weeks or months. ‘Time is an illusion that only make us pant. I survived because I
forgot even the very notion of time.’ 192. Remembers events, encounters, routine, markers, smells.
Not sure if can put them all in order though. ‘My memories come in a jumble.’
Chapter 64
192. clothes disintegrate. Lives stark naked except for whistle on string. Body covered with saltwater boils, especially backside.
Chapter 65
193. spends hours trying to decipher lines on navigation from survival manual. Author had
assumed basic knowledge of seafaring. Winds and currents a mystery to Pi. Stars meant nothing.
His family had only lived by one star – the sun. Gives up trying to work out as has no means of
steering anyway. Just drifts. Finds out later had travelled the Pacific equatorial counter-current.
Chapter 66
194-195 Pi describes fishing experiences. Use of different hooks. Gaffs the most useful. Learns
where to aim. Becomes a better hunter over time. Bolder and more agile. ‘I developed an instinct,
a feel, for what to do.’ Uses part of cargo net. Good as a lure. When plenty of fish, catches more
than immediate needs and dries strips. Turtles easy to catch. Heavy to haul aboard. Has to
temporarily forget vegetarianism. ‘I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined
possible.’197.
Chapter 67
197- Sea life that attached to underside of raft. Algae then shrimp, then fish, worms, slugs, crabs.
Barnacles on lifeboat. Pi eats them all. Provide a distraction for Pi.
Chapter 68
198. sleep patterns change. Short naps. Roused by apprehension and anxiety. RP becomes a
‘champion napper’.
Chapter 69
199. Some nights Pi convinced he has seen light in distance. Sets off flares. ‘Always the bitter
emotion of hope raised and dashed.’ Gives up being saved by ship. Decides he has to reach
land. Flares smelled like cumin. Reminds him of Pondicherry. Experience nearly a hallucination.
‘From a single smell a whole town arose.’
Chapter 70
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 12
200-02. turtles hard to butcher. Survival manual says turtle blood nutritious. Pi drinks it to the last
drop. Uses knife to remove belly shell. Pi sick of running away from RP back to raft. Wants safe
access to locker and top of tarp at all times. ‘It was time to impose myself and carve out my
territory.’
Chapter 71
203-205 Pi outlines a program to anyone who finds themselves in similar predicament as him. NINE
steps to training a tiger. Need calm sea, have safe haven nearby (raft) and body protection;
provoke the animal (stamp on tarp and blow whistle); provoke a border intrusion without breaking
eye contact; when animal trespasses, make outrage clear whilst blowing whistle and shifting
lifeboat to rolling position; blow whistle constantly so animal associates it with its increasing
nausea; keep going until animal green and sick, using own vomit as border territory; stop when
animal good and sick then give water, rest and relaxations; repeat steps 1 to 8 again and again
until whistle associated with feeling sick.
Chapter 72
205-207. Makes shield out of turtle shell. First use, RP’s blow sends Pi flying off the boat. Pi explains
that his behavior not suicidal or insane, simply necessity to tame RP. Pi must be Number One and
RP Number Two. Knows animals prefer to avoid a showdown. They appraise the extent of the
threat first. ‘Richard Parker made his point with me four times.’ He is struck with right paw and sent
overboard. Pi learns to read signals RP sending him; ears, eyes, whiskers, teeth, tail, throat. Pi learns
to back down before paw lifted.
‘Then I made my point, feet on the ground, boat rolling, my single-note language blasting from
the whistle, and Richard Parker moaning and gasping at the bottom of the boat.’
‘My fifth shield lasted me the rest of his training.’ 207
Chapter 73
Pi wishes for a book. ‘A long book with a never-ending story.’ No scripture to read. Recalls first
Bible he saw in hotel room in Canada. Writes to Gideon to tell them to leave other sacred writing
as well. Some of Pi’s views on church/religion conveyed on p.208. Gentleness of written word as
opposed to thundering from pulpit. Keeps a diary, writing as small as possible. Started a week after
sinking. ‘What strikes me now is how time is captured. Several days, several weeks, all on one
page.’ ‘All very practical stuff.’ 208
Chapter 74
209-209. Practises religious rituals of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Brings him comfort but Pi finds
very hard. ‘Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love – but
sometimes it was so hard to love.’
Anger, desolation, weariness. At these times, Pi labels items as belonging to God; “THIS IS GOD’S
ARK.” “THIS IS GOD’S CAT” (about RP). Reminds him of creation and of my place in it. But often
questions whether God listening. ‘Despair was a heavy blackness that let no light in or out. It was a
hell beyond expression.’ Despair eventually goes away and God remains, ‘a shining point of light
in my heart. I would go on loving.’
Chapter 75
2 lines in length. Pi sings Happy Birthday out loud on day he estimates is Mother’s birthday.
Chapter 76
210-211 Pi cleans up after RP. Knows feces could contain parasites. RP could get desperate and
eat them. RP becomes constipated after a few weeks. Pi realizes his attempts to hide his feces
was a sign of deference so makes a big thing of handling them. Badgers RP with his eyes and
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May 2010
Page 13
whistle whilst cleaning mess. Psychological bullying. ‘The exercise always left me utterly drained
from the tension, yet exhilarated.’ Pi constipated as well; diet, little water, too much protein. Finds
monthly bowel movement not relief but long, arduous and painful.
Chapter 77
211. rations diminishing. Pi reduces intake until following instructions exactly; 2 biscuits every 8
hours. Always hungry. Starts to fantasize about food. Indian food. ‘Every meal was simply perfect –
only just beyond the reach of my hands.’ 212. Uses things as food he previously discards. Sucks
fluid from fish eyes and vertebrae. Turtles his favourite dish. Turtle eggs. Cured turtle fat. Eats
everything turtle offers in the end. Shells very useful. Blankets destroyed by elements so used shells
for shelter. ‘I was at the mercy of turtle meat for smiles.’
Develops revulsion for salt. Tries once to eat RP’s feces. 214. Describes attempt to eat it. Truly
waste matter. Pi’s body begins to deteriorate. Feet and ankle swelling. Tiring to stand.
Chapter 78
215. Many skies. Many seas. Many winds. ‘And there were all the nights and all the moons.’
‘To be a castaway is to be a point perpetually at the centre of a circle.’ But Pi observes that
however much things may appear to change, the geometry never changes.
216. ‘To be a castaway is to be caught in a harrowing ballet of circles.’ Can’t escape sun, moon
etc. Pi struggles with fear, rage, madness, hopelessness, apathy.
217. ‘Otherwise, to be a castaway is to be caught up in grim and exhausting opposites.’ Worst pair
of opposites is boredom and terror. Pi talks about survival and making adjustments.
Chapter 79
217- 221. Sharks every day. Usually dawn and dusk. Pi grows quite fond of sharks. Catches some
makos with bare hands. Grabs near tail. Throws to RP who uses his paws. Puts his left paw in
mako’s mouth. Full roar of pain. Spends next days tending his paws. Pi goes for smaller sharks in
future. Stabs through eyes to kill them more effective.
Chapter 80
221-222 Pi remembers a special dorado during a flying fish storm. Huge fish but RP spots it. Pi thinks
his time has come; not enough time to whistle, get away off tarp. ‘But enough was enough. I had
suffered so much..’ Pi, in moment of insanity, looks RP dead in the eyes. ‘Suddenly his brute
strength meant only moral weakness. It was nothing compared to the strength in my mind.’ They
face off, staring at each other. RP groans and turns away. ‘I had won’. Pi takes dorado to raft, but
gives big chunk to RP. From that day on feels he has mastery. Spends more time on lifeboat, first at
bow, then on tarp. Only scared of RP when necessary.
Chapter 81
223. ‘I know my survival is hard to believe. When I think back, I can hardly believe it myself.’
Because of RP’s weak sea legs plus Pi a source of food and water. He was a zoo animal so used to
sustenance being provided. ‘My agency was pure and miraculous. It conferred power upon me.’
Proof: 1. Pi remains alive. 2. Didn’t attack Pi when asleep on tarp. 3. I am here to tell you this story.
Chapter 82
224. Keeps rainwater and still water out of sight. Worries incessantly about water bags. Uses
everything possible to collect water when raining. Scarcity of fresh water single most source of
anxiety and suffering. RP has largest share of food. Little choice for Pi. He starts to eat like RP.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 14
Chapter 83
225-228. Story of the storm. Pi deploys both anchors. Constant soaking. Huge swells. RP roaring in
fear. Pi chooses death by tiger over water and rolls tarp to cover lifeboat. Squeezes himself under
end. Boat pitches all day and night. Bruised and cut by bones and turtle shells. RP constantly
snarling. Raft is lost. Only 2 oars and a life jacket left. Tarp torn in several places. Much food gone.
Water bags in locker safe. Pi mends tears with needle and thread. Bails the boat. Finds the last of
the orange whistles.
Chapter 84
229-232 Pi woken by a blast. A whale. Whales always lift Pi’s spirits. He’s convinced they
understood his condition. Pi imagines grapevine of whales. Makes reference to Japanese and
Norwegian whaling. Sees lots of dolphins. Sees 6 birds in all. 2 albatross. 2 Wilson’s petrels. A
shearwater. Pi catches a masked booby. Breaks its neck. Little flesh though. ‘None of the birds
ever announced land.’
Chapter 85
232. Lightning storm. RP terrified whereas Pi ‘exalted wonder’. One bolt strikes close. Pi tells RP it’s a
miracle. Gives praise to Allah. One of few times when he felt genuine happiness.
Chapter 86.
234. A ship. Pi ‘blazed with joy.’ Thinks they are saved. Huge oil tanker bears down on them. Tanker
misses them by two feet. Pi sets off rocket flare; ricochets off side of ship. Finds mechanical noises
strange. RP not fazed by fuss; settles down to another nap.
“I love you!” The words burst out pure and unfettered, infinite. The feeling flooded my chest. “Truly I
do. I love you, Richard Parker.” Begs RP not to give up. Pi realizes he would have died of
hopelessness without RP.
Chapter 87
236. favourite method of escape ‘gentle asphyxiation’. ‘Dream rag’. Wet cloth over his face.
Visited by extraordinary dreams, trances, visions, thoughts, sensations, remembrances. Time
‘gobbled up’.
Chapter 88
237. comes across trash. Oil, then domestic and industrial waste. Pi gets wine bottle. Fridge with
rotten animal in it leaves smell behind. Pi washes oily smears off side of lifeboat. Puts a message in
the bottle. (238)
Chapter 89
‘Everything suffered.’ Bleached, weather-beaten. Orange had become white. Rough to smooth.
Sharp to blunt. Salt eats everything. Sun roasting – keeps RP in partial subjugation. ‘I don’t
remember any smells.’ (HAS PI CONTRADICTED HIMSELF HERE? HE DESCRIBED SMELL IN PREVIOUS
CHAPTER) He remembers flares smelling like cumin.
239. ‘We perished away.’ RP’s fur lost luster, some fell away. Became ‘a skeleton in an oversized
bag of faded fur.’ Pi’s bones showing. He starts to sleep for many hours like RP. ‘It wasn’t proper
sleep but state of semi-consciousness in which daydreams and reality were nearly
indistinguishable.’
Pi reads from last pages of his diary. Tiger shark, too weak to blow whistle, heat, feels will die soon,
salvation with rain, touches RP to see if dead. Not. RP drinks but doesn’t eat. Entries talk about
dying. Last entry ‘I die’. Pens ran out, not paper.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 15
Chapter 90
240-41. RP loses his sight. Nothing to eat for 3 days. Feels pity for RP. Next day, Pi starts having same
eye problems but they ooze pus. Loses sight. Skin burnt. Can no longer stand. Limbs swollen and
painful. Hungry but no food. ‘But this physical suffering was nothing compared to the moral torture
I was about to endure.’ ‘I would rate the day I went blind as the day my extreme suffering began.’
Loses all fear of death and resolves to die. Concludes can’t take care of RP anymore. Feels a
‘fatal weakness’ creeping up on him. Drank as much water as he could. But nothing for a last bite
to eat. Says goodbyes ‘And now I leave matters in the hands of God, who is love and whom I
love.”
244-55. ‘I heard the words, “Is someone there?” Thinks he’s going mad. Keeps hearing the voice.
Weird exchange about food. Figs; buffet of Indian dishes. Pi reels off all the magnificent dishes of
his buffet. Voice suggests “…why not boiled beef tongue with a mustard sauce?” Goes on the
suggest tripe. Pi – “sounds non-veg.” Other voice suggests sweetbread, calf’s brains, veal kidney,
marinated rabbit, frogs. Pi is repulsed by these ‘disgusting, sacrilegious recipes’. ‘Understanding
suddenly dawned on me.’ Pi realizes something. Asks voice whether it would eat raw beef,
congealed blood of dead pig, anything from an animal. No answer when he says ‘Would you eat
a plain, raw carrot?”
“I heard you. To be honest, if I had the choice, I wouldn’t. Pi realizes he hasn’t gone mad – he is
talking to Richard Parker. Asks RP if he has ever killed a man. Has killed two, a man and a woman.
‘No, they didn’t taste good.” Pi asks if any regrets. “It was the doing of a moment. It was
circumstance.” Pi calls it “instinct”. Pi falls asleep. Comes to as something niggling him. “Why do
you have an accent?” A French accent. Pi can’t work out why RP would have French accent.
Wakes with a gasp. Realisation that someone there. Shouts out his full name. The voice asks him for
food. Pi has none. Reveals he can’t see as has gone blind. Other voice wails that he is blind too.
Concur blindness due to poor hygiene on starving body at end of its tether. They break down and
cry. Pi says “I have a story.” “It’s a story about food.” Pi hears a splashing sound. Tells simple story of
banana. Then adds to it. Pi has eaten the cigarettes. Voice tells him he should have kept them for
trading.
252-255. Discussion about boot. Description of it. Voice finally says “There’s no boot….I ate it.” They
manage to get boats together. (Note the use of opposites – is this a hallucination?) Pi opens arms
to embrace the other. Hears a faint growl. “Brother, there’s something I forgot to mention.” Other
lands on Pi on tarpaulin. “His hands reached for my throat.” Pi suggests they shift elsewhere.
“You’re damn right your heart is with me!...And your liver and your flesh!” Other puts foot over
tarpaulin. Shriek. ‘This was the terrible cost of Richard Parker. He gave me a life, my own, but at the
expense of taking one.” “Something in me died then that has never come back to life.”
Chapter 91
255. Pi climbs aboard his brother’s boat. Finds he lied. A little turtle meat, dorado head…some
biscuit crumbs. Water. Crying helps his eyes. Vision back within 2 days. The dismembered body lay
on floor of boat. Pi uses flesh of an arm as bait. ‘I will further confess that, driven by the extremity of
my need and the madness to which it pushed me, I ate some of his flesh.’ ‘I stopped as soon as I
caught a fish.’ ‘I pray for his soul every day.’
Chapter 92
256. Exceptional botanical discovery. ‘But there will be many who disbelieve the following
episode.’ (Note: Many would disbelieve the story of chapter 91!)
Sees trees in distance. Thinks an illusion at first. Part of low-lying island. Beautiful trees, like Pi has
never seen before. Island has no soil; trees stand in mass of dense vegetation. Thinks a chimera ( a
play of the mind). ‘Green is a lovely colour. It is the colour of Islam. It is my favourite colour.’
Current pushes lifeboat closer. Survival manual had said to ‘look for green’.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
Page 16
258. Pi tests with his foot. Doesn’t sink, meets rubbery resistance. Smells the vegetation
(Remember, Pi claimed previously that he didn’t remember any smells.) Falls overboard with
intoxication of senses.
259-61 Pi examines the algae. It’s crunchy, vibrant green, neutral smell, wet with fresh water but
inner tube bitterly salty. Outer tasted delicious. ‘Sweet.’ Pi gorges on the algae. Pi drags himself to
tree. Richard Parker watching from lifeboat. Afraid to come ashore but does make leap,
disappears into interior of island. Pi feels ground shifting beneath him. RP not back in evening. Pi
sleeps on lifeboat.
262-264. Pi has cramps; painful defecation. RP has returned to boat whilst he’s asleep. Pi has best
sleep since night before sinking. RP doesn’t get off boat again until mid-morning. Pi doesn’t have
his land legs yet. Can walk the next day. Able to reach the tree with returning strength. RP returns
in evening at full gallop. He has regained strength as well. Pi has read that are two fears that
cannot be trained out of us: startle reaction to unexpected noise and vertigo. Adds a third;
approach of a known killer. Pi uses whistle. RP swims to boat and his ‘den’. Pi decided to explore
island.
265. sets off to explore island. From ridge, sees whole island covered in algae. A plateau with a
green forest in centre. Hundreds of ponds. Landscape covered in meerkats. Pi has read about
them. Stands upright on tips of back legs. They all look at Pi. They nibble at algae or stare into
pond. ‘The creatures seemed to feel no fear.’ Make a lot of noise. ‘Were they not afraid of me
because I should be afraid of them?’
267. All the ponds the same size. Suddenly meerkats start diving into ponds. Pi notes they aren’t
behaving like standard Kalahari Desert meerkats. They bring fish by the dozens. Fish already dead.
Freshly dead.
268. Pi tests water. Cool. Fresh water. Saltwater fish die in fresh water. ‘How had they got there?’
Pi’s theory is that fresh water comes from the algae. Pi soaks in a pond. ‘I felt even my soul had
been corroded by salt.’ Meerkats look away. They have seen Richard Parker. He blazes trail of
murder and mayhem. ‘They were not to be ruffled. Meekness ruled.’
269. RP ‘killed beyond his need.’ Pent-up hunting instinct lashing out with a vengeance. Pi cleans
the lifeboat next morning. Throws accumulation of human, animal skeletons, fish, turtle remains
overboard. RP brings back some dead meerkats. Following days spend eating, drinking, bathing.
Skin heals. Aches and pains go. ‘Put simply, I returned to life.’
270. Pi explores island. Too far to walk around. Hot days, algae’s weave became tight and dense
and island increased in height. Pi thinks to do with water conservation. Conversely, island loosens.
Algae becomes slack in overcast weather, heavy seas. Major storm whilst on island. ‘In this
respect, the island was Gandhian: it resisted by not resisting.’ Meerkats go about their business.
271. Stripped down ecology of island. No flies, other insects. No birds, rodents. No crabs. Other
than meerkats, no other foreign matter on island. Discovers trees not parasites. Trees and algae
symbiotic, not independent. Pi theorises island a ‘free-floating organism’.
272. ‘It would all bear much further study, but unfortunately I lost the algae that I took away.’
Richard Parker returns to life too. Returns to boat at evening. Pi still marks his territory. RP seeking a
mate. One day Pi bumps into RP in forest. He doesn’t attack. Uses whistle.
273. ‘That night, as he was resting two feet beneath me, I came to the conclusion that I had to step
into the circus ring again.’ Uses pieces of meerkat to train. Worried RP might get too relaxed and
confident with abundant food, water and space. ‘But he remained tense.’ RP unsettled at night.
274. trains RP to jump through hoop. Pi quits the boat. Has ‘entire island’ rather than ‘cramped
quarters’. Decides to sleep in a tree. Makes a hammock with net, rope and blankets in tree (Now
remember, Pi has said earlier that all the blankets had worn away) Meerkats abandon ponds at
same time to head to trees. Meerkats settle on tree with Pi, even on his bed.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May 2010
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276. Pi likes sleeping with meerkats. ‘I began to sleep in the tree every night.’ One night, dead fish
in ponds. But the meerkats don’t go near ponds. ‘I found the sight sinister. There was something
disturbing about all those dead fish.’ In morning, pond basically empty of fish. Pi wonders where
fish have gone.
278. Forest denser in middle of island. ‘It was here that I found the tree.’ ‘I can tell you exactly what
day I came upon the tree: it was the day before I left the island.’ It seemed to have fruit. Pi
determined to get one. Uses rope to climb up. ‘Ah, how I wish that moment had never been! But
for it I might have lived for years – why, for the rest of my life- on that island.’ No thought of
returning to suffering and deprivation of lifeboat. All that he wants there.
280. detailed description of ‘unpeeling’ of ‘fruit’. Sheath after sheath of layers. ‘And then it came
to light, an unspeakable pearl at the heart of a green oyster. A human tooth.’ A molar. The other
‘fruit’ each contain a different tooth. 32 teeth. ‘A complete human set.’
281-283. ‘Understanding dawned upon me.’ Tests theory on a meerkat. Then Pi tests himself.
Searing pain when his feet touch the algae. Tries to soothe pain with leaves, water, kills two
meerkats and uses their blood. (???) ‘The island was carnivorous.’ Fish became trapped in ponds.
At night, algae turns highly acidic; ponds vats of acid that digested fish. Explains meerkats
sleeping in trees. Pi works out explanation for the teeth as well. Person must have died in the tree.
Trees carnivorous once person had died and stopped moving.
283. Pi decides to leave. Stocks up on water and food; dead meerkats, fish, algae. ‘I could not
abandon Richard Parker. To leave him would mean to kill him. He would not survive the first night.’
Pi waits for his return and then pushes lifeboat away. Algae gone; dissolved rope with its acid.
Chapter 93
‘The rest of this story is nothing but grief, ache and endurance.’ ‘It was natural that, bereft and
desperate as I was, in the throes or unremitting suffering, I should turn to God.’
Chapter 94
284. ‘When we reached land, Mexico to be exact, I was so weak I barely had the strength to be
happy about it.’ When lifeboat reaches shore, RP departs.
‘The glance gave me one of my last images of Richard Parker, for at that precise moment he
jumped over me.’ ‘He didn’t look at me.’ Pi is sure that RP will acknowledge him but ‘he did
nothing of the sort.’
285. ‘Then Richard Parker, companion of my torment, awful, fierce thing that kept me alive, moved
forward and disappeared forever from my life.’ Pi found after some hours by a ‘member of my
own species.’ He obviously smells. Speak strange language. Pulled lifeboat on sand. ‘I wept like a
child.’ Pi weeps because RP ‘had left me so unceremoniously.’ He wanted order and harmony of
a farewell. ‘botched’
‘Where we can, we must give things a meaningful shape. For example – I wonder – could you tell
my jumbled story in exactly one hundred chapters, not one more, not one less?’ Hates his
nickname; ‘the way that number runs on forever. It’s important in life to conclude things properly.
Only then can you let go.’ Left with words you should have said. Pi still hurts to this day.
286. ‘I owe you more gratitude than I can express. I couldn’t have done it without you. I would like
to say it formally: Richard Parker, thank you. Thank you for saving my life.’ Tells him to Watch out for
Man. Not a friend. Pi’s rescuers scrub him and feed him. Next day, police car takes him to hospital.
His story ends. Overwhelmed by generosity. Foster mother in Toronto. University. ‘To all these
people I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks.’
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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PART THREE
Benito Juarez Infirmary, Tomatlan, Mexico
Chapter 95
289. Back to author narrator. Report style. Has spoken to Mr. Tomohiro Okamoto of Maritime
Department in Japanese Ministry of Transport. Now retired. His junior colleague, Mr. Atsuro Chiba.
They were in LA when advised of lone survivor from Tsimtsum. They were told to go and find out
about fate of the ship. Description of their journey to Tomatlan where Piscine is. Misreads name on
map. Travel non-stop for forty-one hours. ‘We work hard.’ Irony of how many days Pi worked hard.
They spoke to Piscene Molitor Patel, in English, for 3 hours, taping conversation. Author has been
able to hear copy of tape and final report. Different font for Japanese.
Chapter 96
291. ‘We had a wonderful trip. It was a beautiful drive.” “I had a terrible trip.” Pi asks for cookie.
They want to hear his story in as much detail as possible.
Chapter 97
‘The story’
Chapter 98
“Very interesting.” “What a story.” (In Japanese; ‘He thinks we’re fools” Pi asks for another cookie
which he keeps under bedsheet.
Chapter 99
292-97. “Mr. Patel, we don’t believe your story.” “Sorry- these cookies are good but they tend to
crumble. I’m amazed. Why not?” They tell Pi bananas don’t float. Pi produces two bananas and
tells them to test in sink. (Japanese humour Pi). Bananas do float. “What about this algae island
you say you came upon?” They don’t believe Pi. “These things don’t exist.” “Only because you’ve
never seen them.” Mr. Chiba tells of his uncle who is a bonsai master. Pi says he doesn’t believe
three hundred year old trees that are two feet tall exist. “But I assure you they exist, Mr. Patel..” “I
believe what I see.” Joke about trees. They express doubt about the tiger. “We have difficulty
believing it.” Pi says, “It’s an incredible story.” Wants more cookies. Don’t believe Pi could survive
with a tiger. Pi tells them that humans are ‘strange and forbidding species to wild animals. We fill
them with fear. They avoid us as much as possible.” Only fight as last resort.
297. “In a lifeboat? Come on, Mr. Patel, it’s just too hard to believe!” Pi tells them about Bara the
polar bear who escaped form Calcutta Zoo in 1971. Tells them about all the animals hidden in
Tokyo. (We have heard this example earlier in book) Pi tells them ‘no doubt in my mind that feral
giraffes and feral hippos have been living in Tokyo for generations without being seen by a soul.’
‘If you stumble at mere believability, what are you living for? Isn’t love hard to believe?”
“Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to
believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?”
298. Pi says he applied ‘reason’ at every moment to survive. Japanese say they only want to
determine why and how Tsimtsum sank.
299. “Yet the plain fact is that the Tsimtsum brought them together and then sank.” (Tigers,
lifeboats and oceans)
They ask about the Frenchman. Pi compares two blind men meeting in middle of Pacific to
winning the lottery. Cook on the Tsimtsum was a Frenchman. Meerkat bones found on lifeboat.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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300. Argument about meerkat bones. Pi reminds them he lost his whole family when company’s
boat sank. “We’re sorry about that.” “Not as much as I am” Pi offers them a cookie. They tell Pi
they liked his story.
302. They want to know what ‘really happened.’ “So you want another story.”
“Doesn’t the telling of something always become a story?” They want straight facts. Pi tells them
the world is ‘how we understand it’. “You want words that reflect reality?”
“I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you.” “You want a flat story. An
immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality.”
303-309. “You want a story without animals.” Pi tells them another story. This time with a sailor, cook
and his family. Includes awful account of cutting off leg of sailor. Eating of all the biscuits. Cook’s
cannibalism. Cook has one end of lifeboat, Pi and mother the other. ‘But we couldn’t ignore him
entirely.’ Full of good ideas. Thought of building a raft. ‘If we survived any time at all, it was thanks
to him.’ They eat fish from sea despite vegetarianism. Pi starts to look at cook with tenderness. With
love. Cook kills mother. Throws head at Pi. After they fight, Pi kills him. Then eats him.
311. “Is that better? Are there any parts you find hard to believe? Anything you’d like me to
change?”
“What a horrible story.” Mr. Okamoto notices both zebra and sailor broke a leg. Hyena bit off leg
like cook. Blind Frenchman admitted killing a man and a woman. So did cook. “His stories match.”
Sailor- the zebra
His mother – the orang-utan
Cook – the hyena
Pi – the tiger
312.-318. Comment about only hearing about sinking ships if carrying lots of oil to kill entire
ecosystems. Pi goes on to complain about the crew as unfriendly, sullen lot. Says they were
drinking. Maybe they released the animals. Lots of questions and answers about crew, officers,
noises, weather. Repetition. “My whole family died.” “We’re sorry about that.” Pi points out that he
told two stories to account for time between July 2, 1977 and February 14, 1978. “Neither explains
the sinking of the Tsimtsum.” “You can’t prove which story is true and which is not. You must take
my word for it.”
317. “In both stories the ship sinks, my entire family dies, and I suffer.” Pi asks them which story they
prefer. Mr Chiba prefers “The story with animals.” Mr. Okomoto: “Yes. The story with animals is the
better story.” “Thank you. And so it goes with God.” Pi is crying.
318. Pi says will go to Canada as nothing for him in India. “Only sad memories.” “Of course, you
know you will be getting insurance money.” Pi gives them three cookies each.
Chapter 100
Mr. Okamoto’s report. Remembers Pi as “very thin, very tough, very bright.”
319. Impossible to determine cause of sinking. A very formal report. But the end commends Mr.
Piscene Patel. “…is an astonishing story of courage and endurance in the face of extraordinarily
difficult and tragic circumstances.” The report acknowledges the presence of an adult Bengal
tiger.
Life of Pi summary notes prepared by Jan May
2010
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