Life of Pi: Which Animal is Like Pi the Most?

Pi starts to show Richard Parker that Pi is in charge, and Richard Parker backs down

How Richard Parker Helps Pi Grow

Pi and Richard Parker

Richard Parker gave Pi something to look forward to so that he would not give up on himself

"...the very same one who brought me peace, purpose, I dare even say wholeness" (162)

"It is simple and brutal: a person can get used to anything, even killing (185)

"I was still scared of Richard Parker, but only when it was necessary" (222)

"With out Richard Parker I would have died by now" (164)

Pi realizes (from watching RP) that he must do what he need to do in order to survive

Pi spends time talking about his name changes as well as Richard Parkers

Pi had to get over his fear of RP, which prepared himself for the real world

"My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi Patel." (22-23)

"Richard Parker was so named because of a clerical error" (132)

"All the papers...stated that its name was Richard Parker, that the hunters name was Thirsty..." (133)

"Richard Parker, is something wrong?" (240)

"He gave me life, my own, but at the expense of taking one" (255)

Richard Parker's Emotions Affect Pi's Emotions

Pi talks to Richard Parker like he can understand what he is saying

Pi creates a schedule for Richard Parker & himself.

This shows that he can take care of someone other than himself, which many adults must learn to do

"Plan # 1: Push him off the life boat...Plan # 2: Kill him with 6 morphine shots...Plan # 6:Wage a war of Attrition" (157-158)

"When you look into his eyes, you are seeing your own emotions reflected back at you" (33)

A young man, a full grown zebra, a 450 lb. bengal tiger, a hyena, and an orang-utang all in one little boat is unrealistic

Richard Parker, in a way, protected Pi

(190)

Magical Realism in Life of Pi

Bildungsroman in Life of Pi

Pi becomes a father figure toward Richard Parker

Conclusion

All of the storms that both Pi and Richard Parker went through

• The storm during the sinking of the ship
• The flying fish storm
• The lightning storm
• The storm that destroys the raft

No matter how bad things get Pi and Richard Parker stick together

Pi starts taking care of Richard Parker by:

• Feeding him
• Cleaning up after him
• Talking to him

Pi learning to take care of someone other than himself shows how his mindset is going from "all about Pi" to "Richard Parker and Pi need to survive"

Works Cited

Richard Parker Symbolizes Pi's Conscious or Innocence

Richard Parker symbolizes Pi's conscious: Pi's feelings, will to survive, and something to keep him sane. When things start to get bad Pi turns to Richard Parker as a source of guidance.

Martel, Yann. Life of Pi: A Novel. New

York: Harcourt, 2001. Print.

"And then Richard Parker, My fierce companion, the terrible on who kept me alive, disappeared forever from my life" (283)

Connection

"So the talwanese sailor is the zebra, his mother is the orang-utang, the cook is the hyena - which means he is the tiger"

After hearing the story the reporters realize that Pi is similar to Richard Parker

Richard Parker disappeared because he was no longer needed to help Pi survive

Life of Pi: Which Animal is Like Pi the Most?