Life of Pi - Chapters 58 - 61

Natural Wonders

        Martel includes the natural wonders of the flying fish that Pi encounters when he is in a time of need because he wants to show that by regaining hope you will in some form of way be rewarded.  In these chapters Pi realizes that it is himself who is going to be the one to save him because he knows he can’t rely on a ship to come by and rescue him. But the point in these chapters where he regains hope/faith is when he remembers the story of Markandeya. This Hindu story gives in hope and he is then rewarded with the flying fish. Pi could have been rewarded with these fish because his first attempt at fishing is a decided failure; the hook and bait he puts together don’t quite do the trick. So whether you think this encounter is seen through a theological point of view or an agnostic point of view; it depends on your beliefs. This could be an attempt from Martel to make a theological point that yes, god is there looking over you. God sees that Pi is struggling and decides to give him a gift to help him on his way. Or Martel could be giving evidence for agnostics; a fluke of nature—the sudden appearance of a school of flying fish—results in his first catch. Since there is no evidence of god, this encounter with such natural wonders could be a ‘fluke of nature’ which at the time coincidently benefits Pi perfectly.