LIFE OF PI by YANN MARTEL
Life of Pi is the story of an Indian boy, Piscine Molitar Patel. There are two narrators in this novel. One is
the author who is referred to as “the narrator” and the other is the protagonist, Pi Patel. Life of Pi is a story
within another story. Most of the story is narrated by Pi.
Pi grew up in an Indian town (Pondicherry) where his father runs a zoo. When Pi is 16, his parents decide to
emigrate to Canada amid fears of political unrest of the time. The family sells the zoo and the animals and
leave on a Japanese cargo ship, with many zoo animals, which had been sold to American zoos (Part 1).
On the journey, the ship sinks. Pi, the only person suspected to have survived, describes finding himself
adrift on the Pacific Ocean in a lifeboat with an adult tiger. His story is one of extraordinary determination
to stay alive for the 227 days it takes before the boat eventually washes up on the Mexican coast, where Pi
is rescued (Part 2).
While recovering in a hospital, Pi is interviewed by 2 officials from the Japanese government, who refuse to
believe Pi’s account of the journey with the tiger. Pi eventually gives them what they want: a plainer story
that fits with what the officials find believable (Part 3).
Character List
Piscine Molitor Patel (aka Pi)
The story’s main character, after whom the book is titled. Pi grows up in India and later makes a life for
himself in Canada. During his youth, his family owns and runs a zoo and later tries to immigrate to Canada
by ship. When the ship sinks, Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a full-grown tiger. He survives, with the
boat eventually drifting to Mexico, and is able to tell his story later in life.
The Author
The narrator, whose voice frames the story as he interviews Pi Patel. The Author is a Canadian living in
India when he hears about Pi’s story and journeys to interview him. By the end of his talks with Pi, he
considers Pi a friend and retells Pi’s story.
Mr Adirubasamy
An elderly man whom The Author meets in the Indian Coffee House in India. He is the first person to tell
Pi’s story, which compels The Author to go to Toronto to meet Pi Patel. His pitch to The Author is that Pi’s
story will make him “believe in God.” A champion competitive swimmer who teaches Pi how to swim, he is
also the source of Pi’s full name, Piscine Molitor, the name of a glorious swimming pool in France.
Richard Parker (aka Thirsty)
A full-grown tiger, originally housed in the Pondicherry Zoo run by the Patel family. He was brought there
with his mother by a man named Richard Parker. The tiger cub was originally named Thirsty, but because
of a clerical error on the official form, he became known as Richard Parker. When the ship he, Pi, and Pi’s
family are traveling on sinks, Pi rescues him and keeps him alive. Toward the end of the novel, he runs into
the wilds of Mexico, never to be seen again. However domesticated and docile he may have become while
in captivity, his nature is completely that of a wild animal.
, Santosh Patel
Pi’s father and the owner of the Pondicherry Zoo. Santosh is a reasonable and affectionate father; he seeks
to cultivate well-rounded children and humanely cares for his animals. His outlook on life and his focus on
the survival and well-being of his family completely define him.
Ravi Patel
Pi’s older brother, senior to him by three years. Ravi is mischievous and affectionately hazes Pi by daring
him to drink the holy water in the church. He later teases Pi about his multiple religions.
Gita Patel
Pi’s mother. She is affectionate, comforting, and protective. She is able to accept Pi without always
understanding him. Her ambivalence about spirituality gives Pi the freedom to adopt multiple religions.
Orange Juice
The large, maternal orangutan that lives for a short time in the lifeboat with Pi and the other animals.
Tomohiro Okamoto
A senior employee of the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport. He interviews Pi
after his ordeal and is responsible for learning what he can from Pi to determine why the Tsimtsum sank.
Atsuro Chiba
Tomohiro Okamoto’s junior colleague who also participates in the interview with Pi at the end of the novel.
The Frenchman and the Cook
The Frenchman is a castaway happened upon by Pi and Richard Parker. At first he feigns friendship, even
“brotherhood,” with Pi, but he becomes murderous and cannibalistic once he’s allowed on the lifeboat. In
Pi’s alternative version of his travels for his interviewers, the hyena is identified as the cook’s alternate
identity; the cook murders the crew member on board the lifeboat as well as Gita Patel and is finally killed
by Pi. He is the personification of corruption and cruelty.
Meena Patel
Pi’s wife, a Canadian pharmacist.
Usha Patel
Pi’s four-year-old daughter and the living proof that Pi’s story has a “happy ending.”
Mr Satish Kumar
Pi’s biology teacher at Petit Seminaire. Satish Kumar is a communist, atheist, and a great mentor to Pi.
Satish’s beliefs embody the facts and truths that Pi adopts as part of his own multifaceted belief system.
Life of Pi is the story of an Indian boy, Piscine Molitar Patel. There are two narrators in this novel. One is
the author who is referred to as “the narrator” and the other is the protagonist, Pi Patel. Life of Pi is a story
within another story. Most of the story is narrated by Pi.
Pi grew up in an Indian town (Pondicherry) where his father runs a zoo. When Pi is 16, his parents decide to
emigrate to Canada amid fears of political unrest of the time. The family sells the zoo and the animals and
leave on a Japanese cargo ship, with many zoo animals, which had been sold to American zoos (Part 1).
On the journey, the ship sinks. Pi, the only person suspected to have survived, describes finding himself
adrift on the Pacific Ocean in a lifeboat with an adult tiger. His story is one of extraordinary determination
to stay alive for the 227 days it takes before the boat eventually washes up on the Mexican coast, where Pi
is rescued (Part 2).
While recovering in a hospital, Pi is interviewed by 2 officials from the Japanese government, who refuse to
believe Pi’s account of the journey with the tiger. Pi eventually gives them what they want: a plainer story
that fits with what the officials find believable (Part 3).
Character List
Piscine Molitor Patel (aka Pi)
The story’s main character, after whom the book is titled. Pi grows up in India and later makes a life for
himself in Canada. During his youth, his family owns and runs a zoo and later tries to immigrate to Canada
by ship. When the ship sinks, Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a full-grown tiger. He survives, with the
boat eventually drifting to Mexico, and is able to tell his story later in life.
The Author
The narrator, whose voice frames the story as he interviews Pi Patel. The Author is a Canadian living in
India when he hears about Pi’s story and journeys to interview him. By the end of his talks with Pi, he
considers Pi a friend and retells Pi’s story.
Mr Adirubasamy
An elderly man whom The Author meets in the Indian Coffee House in India. He is the first person to tell
Pi’s story, which compels The Author to go to Toronto to meet Pi Patel. His pitch to The Author is that Pi’s
story will make him “believe in God.” A champion competitive swimmer who teaches Pi how to swim, he is
also the source of Pi’s full name, Piscine Molitor, the name of a glorious swimming pool in France.
Richard Parker (aka Thirsty)
A full-grown tiger, originally housed in the Pondicherry Zoo run by the Patel family. He was brought there
with his mother by a man named Richard Parker. The tiger cub was originally named Thirsty, but because
of a clerical error on the official form, he became known as Richard Parker. When the ship he, Pi, and Pi’s
family are traveling on sinks, Pi rescues him and keeps him alive. Toward the end of the novel, he runs into
the wilds of Mexico, never to be seen again. However domesticated and docile he may have become while
in captivity, his nature is completely that of a wild animal.
, Santosh Patel
Pi’s father and the owner of the Pondicherry Zoo. Santosh is a reasonable and affectionate father; he seeks
to cultivate well-rounded children and humanely cares for his animals. His outlook on life and his focus on
the survival and well-being of his family completely define him.
Ravi Patel
Pi’s older brother, senior to him by three years. Ravi is mischievous and affectionately hazes Pi by daring
him to drink the holy water in the church. He later teases Pi about his multiple religions.
Gita Patel
Pi’s mother. She is affectionate, comforting, and protective. She is able to accept Pi without always
understanding him. Her ambivalence about spirituality gives Pi the freedom to adopt multiple religions.
Orange Juice
The large, maternal orangutan that lives for a short time in the lifeboat with Pi and the other animals.
Tomohiro Okamoto
A senior employee of the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport. He interviews Pi
after his ordeal and is responsible for learning what he can from Pi to determine why the Tsimtsum sank.
Atsuro Chiba
Tomohiro Okamoto’s junior colleague who also participates in the interview with Pi at the end of the novel.
The Frenchman and the Cook
The Frenchman is a castaway happened upon by Pi and Richard Parker. At first he feigns friendship, even
“brotherhood,” with Pi, but he becomes murderous and cannibalistic once he’s allowed on the lifeboat. In
Pi’s alternative version of his travels for his interviewers, the hyena is identified as the cook’s alternate
identity; the cook murders the crew member on board the lifeboat as well as Gita Patel and is finally killed
by Pi. He is the personification of corruption and cruelty.
Meena Patel
Pi’s wife, a Canadian pharmacist.
Usha Patel
Pi’s four-year-old daughter and the living proof that Pi’s story has a “happy ending.”
Mr Satish Kumar
Pi’s biology teacher at Petit Seminaire. Satish Kumar is a communist, atheist, and a great mentor to Pi.
Satish’s beliefs embody the facts and truths that Pi adopts as part of his own multifaceted belief system.
