Survival

As I'm reading the next section of pages for this book, I'm trying to think about what Martel has written for us at the beginning. I agree with a lot of previous comments that if it wasn't for the beginning explanations about Pi growing up around the zoo and also his love for religion, we would be totally lost in how this little boy could end up in a lifeboat with all these animals! I will mention just a few parts that really stuck out to me:
Pi exclaims many times, "Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu..." If we hadn't been "taught" by Martel about Pi and his three religions, we would think Pi is nuts. These are all different symbols of "gods" or religious icons. Further on Pi says, "Oh My God!". (this is singular) The mentioning of religion in profound in this book; but since Martel has already explained this, we come to understand all the different religious outbursts.
I love the way Pi describes Orange Juice. First of all, what a cute name! After thinking about Orange Juice and re-reading chapter 42 where Orange Juice first appears before the lifeboat, I really come to appreciate the feelings Pi has for Orange Juice. Pi explained to us how on page 174 that the color orange was a Hindu color that meant survival. I believe this relates back to chapter 42 where Orange Juice appears. Pi describes her as "Oh blessed Great Mother, Pondicherry fertility goddess, provider of milk and love, wondrous arm spread of comfort, ..." It's almost as if Orange Juice is a symbol of survival. Pi has already been in the lifeboat thinking about his family and animals, who may have survived, and Orange Juice comes floating up on an island of bananas. Besides the animals he is already with and himself, Orange Juice is the only other survivor of the wreck. Pi invites Orange Juice onto the lifeboat whose next stop is oblivion. This brings out Pi's struggle to survive. He is contimplating whether it is even worth it. It's destine that they are all going to die sooner or later. But this little glimps of Orange, in the boat, on the boat, all over the boat, is what holds Pi together towards survival.