Pi Patel's time of isolation and respect for the natural world, and his many experiences involving religious fulfillment, equate him to the Buddha. In Life of Pi Yann Martel creates a tremendous journey involving the suffering and trials of Pi. Martel forces the reader to see reality with new eyes by introducing contradicting, but logical, stories to communicate the message that the instinct for survival is innate for animals posses the natural capability to adapt and adjust in order to maintain their physical self.
     Upon sentenced to the horrible fate of isolation on a twenty-six by seven foot life boat, Pi and the animals conform to different lifestyles in order to survive. Pi the pronounced vegetarian begins to eat fish in order to survive, this is something that strongly goes against his religious beliefs. Pi also begins to go against his main ideas while on the lifeboat. Pi believes that everyone should “stick to one story” and believe in it, however this is the very opposite of what he does. Pi creates two stories while on the life boat, essentially to help himself coup with his reality. This, however is exactly what pi disagrees with, The Agnostic view, to be so uncertain about one thing that different stories must be made up. Even though these are simply stories on a life boat, for the duration of Pi's trip, these stories are his life. By creating these stories, Pi degrades himself to the level of an Agnostic. The fact that Pi contradicts one of his main beliefs in order to survive demonstrates that he truly, with all his heart, wants to survive.
     The animals on the life boat also dramatically change through their duration of the trip. The Zebra preforms extreme acts of endurance and handles large amounts of pain, just to survive. The Zebra's leg is ravenously torn off by the hungry hyena, the Zebra's guts are brutally eviscerated by the hyena, the Zebra's hope of survival however is not crushed by the hyena. The zebra however is not the only one pulling off these acts of heroic strength, the Orangutan Orangejuice also acts out of character to survive. Orangutans are normally peaceful jungle animals that do not attack other animals,however this is not the case on the life boat. With witnessing the terrible acts done to the zebra by the hyena, orange juice feels the need to retaliate. This is out of character primarily because Orangutans do not interact with Hyenas, ever. Orange Juice strikes the hyena, such an act requires a large amount of bravery for the hyena is an unknown. The hyena could mean death, or it could be completely harmless. In any case the act was carried out on the same principle that every other unusual act was carried out on, to survive.
     In life of Pi, two stories are created to account for the trials Pi faces on his journey, each with different elements that the other can not comprehend. In Pi's case story telling is essential for survival. Anything that can keep him occupied mentally  “shortens” his journey at sea. The story, or reality, that contains animals helps Pi escape the true cruelty and brutality of humans. Creating the animals helps time pass, and for Pi,  reassures his survival. The zoo animals were also created to help bring back memories of a more happy time for Pi when he lived in India with his family at the zoo. Quite possibly some of Pi's most happy memories are from the zoo when he was little. Creating a story with zoo animals in it is a way in which Pi can remember his happy memories in life. This in turn  gives Pi a  reason to survive.
     Pi also creates another story to represent his journey over the pacific ocean. When Pi is requested to give a report of what happened while he was on the life boat, Pi's first story with the animals is not believable. This prompts Pi to create a different story to explain what happened, one that includes humans and not animals. This story is more logically believable, if it is the true story or not, it satisfies the Tsistusum interviewers. Compared to the human story the story with the animals is essentially a buffer for Pi's emotions. The two stories together create an equilibrium, an emotionally stable story for Pi and logically believable story for the Tsistusum workers.
     Life of Pi, is ultimately an epic journey that stretches the abilities of a teenage boy, Pi. Pi survives   Through the means of storytelling and past knowledge gained at his life at the zoo in Pondecherry. Its a story of development from the small innocent Pi in India to the experienced callous Pi at the end in the Mexican hospital.