Life of Pi Part 1, Chapter 23 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • Well, it had to happen. Pi's imam, priest, and pandit notice he's going to mosque, church, and temple.
  • All this comes to a head when Pi and his family are out enjoying each other's company and these three religious leaders happen upon them. They're shocked that Pi knows each of them.
  • There are some insults. Some disagreement. But everyone comes basically to the same conclusion: Pi has to choose one religion. Of course, Pi doesn't think so: "Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true" (1.23.54).
  • Pi's father defuses the situation and the family has a good laugh. Oh, Pi. They eat ice cream sandwiches.