As Simon Van Booy, a British author once said so precisely, "Coincidences mean you're on the right path." Across the book, "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, Pi comes along many items and, many animals. Afterall, his father is the owner of a zoo. However many of these are the color orange such as a tiger, a whistle and a buoy. Is it just a coincidence that these things are orange or is it more? Maybe, it's a symbol.The tiger, whistles and buoys are all orange and all have a potential to save Pi from the shipwreck (which they do because he does survive.) The tiger poses a threat to Pi, weighing several hundred pounds more than Pi, it probobly kill him with one strike. However, not only does the tiger pose a threat but also does the hyena and the orangutan. Potentially, the tiger could decrease the threat by killing the other two animals. Maybe this is how Pi survives. Maybe it is the tiger who helps Pi survive. On the life boat Pi also finds a few orange whistles attached to the many life jackets he finds. Along with the whistles he finds and a couple orange buoys. If a ship managed to come close to the life boat, Pi could signal to a boat. If the sea ever got to rough, maybe Pi used them for stability.
The color orange in the book symbolizes hope as seen by the tiger, whistles and buoys. But it also symbolizes something else. After Pi is rescued, which I don't know how yet, he moves to Canada where he starts a family. He also adopts an orange cat. Maybe the cat symbolizes survival and the hardships Pi had to face.
It sounds like orange is definitely a symbol in this book, if it represents so many strong aspects of it. I probably wouldn't have noticed that if I read "Life of Pi"... hehe.
ReplyDeleteI actually do want to read this book before I watch the movie. How is it so far?
Great post, Finn. You were very concise and to the point about your beliefs and I think that is a very important part of being a good writer, not to ramble on and on. I agree with Emma, it definitely sounds as if orange is the color of hope in this book, the orange cat really proves the point for me. Does the book make it obvious that the color orange is everywhere? or is it just a subtlety? Again, great post.
ReplyDeleteEmma sorry I didn't get back to you earlier but the book was really good. At times, it proved to be a bit redundant with the storyline, but otherwise it's a well written book. And Zoe, the message wasn't as direct as I may have hinted in my post but is rather subtle which added a nice flow to my read.
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