Characters
Pi Patel
Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi)- Pi is the story’s protagonist, and also for the most part the narrator, the story is written in Pi’s point of view as he is retelling his 277 day journey on the Pacific as a castaway sometime in the future. Born and raised in Pondicherry, India he is of Hindu Brahmin (the highest caste) background. Pi got his unusual name from his Mama Ji (uncle) Francis Adirubasamy, who during his time in Paris loved to swim at a pool called Piscine Molitor. Pi is spiritual person, during his adolescence he becomes a Christian and Muslim along with already being Hindu. Father Martin first introduces Pi to the Christian faith, and though he questions it at first he learns the vast difference between Hinduism and Christianity ”I’ve never heard of a Hindu god dying…It was wrong to let this Christian god to let his avatar die” (Martel 59) He learns from a Father Martin who answers the questions he has on the Christianity and he is so moved by the answers that he becomes devout Christian. "the more i learned about Him, the less I wanted to leave him" (Martel 63) He learns about Islam from a Sufi(Muslim mystique) named Mr. Kumar who is a humble baker, he teaches Pi about the pillars of Islam and Pi again is hooked. an interesting paradox is between this Muslim Sufi and Pi's atheist biology teacher who both are named Mr. Kumar. Growing up in zoo greatly affected Pi he developed a great appreciation for animals and believed he lived the best childhood anyone could ask for. But due to civil unrest in India at the time (1970s) Pi and his family choose to relocate to Winnipeg, Manitoba. When the cargo ship carrying him and his family sinks, and Pi is lone survivor he must muster every bit strength he has to survive. While stranded Pi gives up his vegetarianism and he goes as far as becoming a cannibal While on the lifeboat which saved him, he questions his faith in god for a short period of time, at which point he realizes that his faith might be hos only salvation. While on the lifeboat he constantly still prays and hopes hopes for savior. Pi is a gentle, religious, intelligent and curious person and his top notch education at The University of Toronto in zoology and religion other further reinforce this.
Richard Parker
Richard Parker- Richard Parker is adult male Bengal Tiger who grew up in captivity in Pi’s father’s zoo in Pondicherry India. He is also lost at sea with Pi after the ship they were both on capsized. Richard Parker was captured while he was still cub, his mother was wreaking havoc in another part of India and during her capture he was retrieved and sold to the Pondicherry Zoo. He received his unusually name through an error in his paperwork where he took the name of the man who captured him. During their time on pacific Ocean Pi Patel attempts to train Richard Parker, though the training as rough beginnings, as the food becomes more scarce and Pi is his only source Richard Parker begins to become more obedient. This relationship becomes so strong that while Pi is attempting to be murdered Richard Parker saves him and kills and devours his assailant. Though throughout the book Pi speaks of Richard as being with him on the lifeboat in reality he was never their, Richard in reality is the side of Pi which he chooses to forget and does by creating a fictional tiger. He chooses the tiger because of the primal things he must do in order to survive such as eating a person and meat in general. “his stories match…he’s the tiger” (Martel 346)
Santosh Patel
Santosh Patel is Pi's father, he was at one point a prominent hotel manager but decided to open the Pondicherry zoo which he ran and lived beside. He is a minor character in the book due to the fact he died when the Tsitstum capsized.But he plays a vital role in teaching Pi a life lesson about tigers and how dangerous they can be, he does this by having Pi and his brother watch a goat be devoured by a hungry Richard Parker. He has a firm hand and is tryign to show the boys that some animals are too dangerous too be goofing around with.
Geeta Patel
Geeta Patel is Pi's mother a caring and modern Indian she is educated and very open minded. she is a book worm, something she instilled in her son. Geeta though contrary to the bulk of the story actually survives the sinking of the Tsimtsum and was on lifeboat alongside Pi. the reader learns this throgh Pi's alternate story and we find out that she saves Pi from a cannibalistic French Cook who already ate one other survivor and proceeds to eat Geeta. In Pi's original story she is represented by the Orangutan
The Other Animals
The other animals, are all representations of different people who survived the ship wreck. Pi is the tiger, his mother the Orangutan a Japanese sailor the zebra and the French cook is the hyena.
Other Minor Charters
Ravi Patel- Pi's older athelti brother, dies on the Tsimtsum
Mama Ji (uncle) Francis Adirubasamy- Pi's uncle and an old family friend, he gave Pi his anme and taught him how to swim a vital tool while stranded on the ocean.
Mr.Kumar (Biology)- Mr. Kumar is Pi's biology teacher in his school, due to his teachign Pi purses an education in zoology, and he also priovedes Pi insight as to what athesits believe.
Mr.Kumar (Sufi)- Mr. Kumar is a Sufi and baker, he takes Pi under his wing and teaches him about Islam and they used to pray togther every Friday.
Father Martin- A catholic priest who mentors Pi about the Christian faith.
Mama Ji (uncle) Francis Adirubasamy- Pi's uncle and an old family friend, he gave Pi his anme and taught him how to swim a vital tool while stranded on the ocean.
Mr.Kumar (Biology)- Mr. Kumar is Pi's biology teacher in his school, due to his teachign Pi purses an education in zoology, and he also priovedes Pi insight as to what athesits believe.
Mr.Kumar (Sufi)- Mr. Kumar is a Sufi and baker, he takes Pi under his wing and teaches him about Islam and they used to pray togther every Friday.
Father Martin- A catholic priest who mentors Pi about the Christian faith.