An excellent interpretation I found on Yann Martel's Carnivorous Island - the island symbolizes religion.
Religions can be supportive during the worst of times; nobody can deny that. For generations, religions have been offering people guidance. So, it’s not surprising that Pi came across the island during his most negative state; we must remember that in chapter 90 (two chapters prior to the carnivorous island), Pi witnessed the death of another lone sole stranded in the pacific ocean, and in chapter 91 he couldn’t stop crying. If Pi had not found the island (religion) or if the island had not found him, he would have surely died.
All religions offer shelter and food to their followers. That’s exactly what the island did for Pi. He ate pounds of algae every day, and occasionally meerkats; he slept in a tree, and for the first time since the start of his endeavor, he felt safe. That is, he felt safe until he discovered the truth.
While I was reading chapter 92, I was regularly asking myself “why are there meerkats on an island made of algae in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?” Well, meerkats are just Martel’s way of saying “loyal followers,” or sheep, if you will, of the island. The meerkats lived by the islands rules; they were happy and innocent and friendly and they abided by everything the island asked of them. In this case, the only rule was to stay off the island during night. That’s why the meerkats climbed up the trees, because the island scolded anything that touched it during night. Pi later discovered teeth wrapped in some leaves--all that was left of a human. He knew that the island was carnivorous, and would eventually kill him.43.4k Views · View UpvotersYour response is private.Is this answer still relevant and up to date?Promoted by Fiverr.comNeed creative writing services?Look no more, get them now. Pick your freelance content writer and get your content written on Fiverr.Learn more at fiverr.comRelated QuestionsMore Answers BelowWhy is the floating island shaped liked Buddha in Life of Pi (Movie)?Did Pi eat his mother in the movie Life of Pi?For everyone who has read Life of Pi - How do you interpret the Carnivorous Island in the book?Could the floating islands in 'Life of Pi' really exist?Is there any carnivorous island in real life like the one in the book "Life of Pi"?Ask New QuestionLaura Parker, I love beautiful words put together to make me think and see and feel things I have difficulty putting into...Updated Nov 23 2012 · Author has 458 answers and 943.1k answer viewsHere is what I think
how many of you remember the movie Labyrinth? With David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly?
Do you remember the part of the film where she finds hersel;f back in her room, just as she left it with all her things, dolls, stuffed animals? And how at first she felt comforted by this place and these things? That she forgot what she was looking for and for a moment she was going to be fine staying there? In my view, the island in Life of Pi was very similar to this...that safe place that you think is everything you really need, but somewhere in the back of your mind, you know it isn't real.
Life of Pi is a book filled with symbolism. It could be true, it could be something Pi created in his head to help him handle the tragedy that his life became on this journey towards something he wasn't sure of.
But this is the interpretation that I chose to believe. After a horrendous journey of survival, Pi comes to an island where he encountered the following:
1) fresh water - plentiful and available
2) fresh food - fish that did not even have to be caught
3) a safe place to
