What is the role of the setting in the novel, Life of Pi?any quotes or references would be helpful

The setting of the story, mainly Pi in the life boat with
the tiger, is what creates most of the conflict and really drives the story.  If it were
somewhere else, like a cozy apartment in London, things would have been decidedly
different and I can only imagine that Pi would have left the apartment in the hands of
the tiger and gone for help.

The earlier portion of the
story is important as well, because it shows the way that Pi begins to build this
understanding of science and animals and their nature.  It also serves to develop and
show the character his attitude towards animals and how he personifies them constantly
due to that experience as a child.