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Life of Pi Allusions Project

Thomas Higgins A-4

Darshan Allusion

The Darshan allusion comes when Pi and his parents meet with the three religious leaders to discuss Pi's devotion to three different religions (his parents are finding out for the first time in this case). The discussion, or argument rather kicks off with the imam explaining that Pi always attends Friday prayer for his Islamic faith. The pandit responds by saying: "'You're both wrong. He's a good Hindu boy. I see him all the time at the temple coming for darshan and performing puja'" (84).

This allusion is just a simple referral by Martel to an actual practice in the Hindu faith. Darshan is a practice in which those of the Hindu faith will simply look at an image or statue of a divine one or respected one in order to gain perspective on them and potentially into a divine nature.

Hanuman Allusion

When the Hanuman allusion occurs, Pi is explaining his Father's standing, or lack thereof, in religion. Pi explains that his Father doesn't have "a religious bone in his body" (82), but keeps small shrines in the zoo: "It's true that he had all new animals blessed by a priest and there were two small shrines at the zoo, one to Lord Ganesha and one to Hanuman, gods likely to please a zoo director..." (83).

All this allusion is is a mere reference from Yann Martel to Hanuman connected to animals. Hanuman was thought to be part monkey, but not just any monkey man. He was thought to be strong, intelligent, and full of courage, energy, strength, and valor as predicted by Vayu, the wind god in Hinduism, to his mother Punjikasthala. Thus I suspect that Pi's Father chooses Hanuman as one of the gods to have a shrine too not only because he is an animal, but because he is valiant and will protect the zoo.

Hanuman Allusion (83)

Darshan Allusion (84)

What is an Allusion?

Allusion (n)-a reference to something

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