Life Of Pi Survival Essay

The last animal, Richard Parker, symbolizes Pi, his animal like instincts when he was stranded at sea, as he must complete many tasks to survive which in the real world he would find very hard to do. Richard Parker can symbolize many things, Pi himself and Pi’s fears. Richard Parker represents Pi himself, and his inner strength. In Mexico, when Richard Parker left Pi and is never to be seen again, it shows that Richard Parker was only what Pi needed for strength and that he never was real. He also represents Pi’s fears, and how he overcomes all of his fears, mainly his major fear; death. The skills Pi had learned at his father’s zoo helped him face his fear of Richard Parker and in order to tame Richard Parker, he pretends that he is at a

Desperation forced him to try and move towards the safety box that was near Richard Parker who has the ability to easily attack him. Once Pi is near the safety box he illustrates the feeling of satisfaction by saying, “oh, the delight of the manufactured good, the man-made device, the created thing! That moment of material revelation brought an intensity of pleasure -- a heady mix of hope, surprise, disbelief, thrill gratitude, all crushed into one … I was positively giddy with happiness." (Martel 141). He finds water in the box as he hoped for and this has brought him a confidence boost. Even though Pi completed the first of many stages in the hierarchy, he is still stranded in the ocean. He acknowledges the fact that animals or very territorial and in turn marks his own territory within the boat. Pi insists that, “I had to fix in his mind that the top of the tarpaulin and the bow of the boat, bordered by the neutral territory of the middle bench, was my territory and utterly forbidden to him” (Martel 168). He urinated on the parts of the boat that he claims as his part of the boat and does it in a way that Richard Parker who is an animal would understand.

In human and animal nature, many similarities are portrayed in Life of Pi as well as a strong relation between the two. In contrast, humans and animals share the same sort of lifestyle, just living a different life according to Pi’s thoughts. In a tragic situation that one is in, such as Pi they must find a way to pass time and keep themselves busy by using their circumstances,

In this journal, I will be questioning whether Pi will survive in the ocean. First, Pi has animals to keep him company aboard the raft. Even though the animals like to fight with each other it still makes Pi feel less lonely, and therefore more willing to try and survive. This shows how Pi will survive because he is determined to. Secondly, Pi begins to learn how to gather food and water to survive. “With time and experience I became a better hunter” (Martel 173). Pi begins to eat quality amounts of fish and turtles, and feeds Richard Parker the tiger some of the fish. This shows how Pi will learn to survive and adapt to the climate around him. Lastly, Pi is realizing what he has to do to survive. Pi was a vegetarian before he became stranded, so having to eat fish is different to him.

The reason I am talking about how Pi managed to survive is because if I were in his place, I don't think I would. First, the tiger wouldn't kill me, the water would. Unlike Pi, I can not swim. I know the body and mind can do amazing things when put to the test, magically learning to swim is a bit to much to ask for.

All of these factors influenced Pi’s survival while he was stranded at sea. “God preserve me! No supplication was ever more passionate yet more gently carried by the breeze” (Martel, page 140) This quote shows that Pi was very passionate about his prayers and religion while at sea. This is because he did not have anything else to believe; his religion was all he had left to place his hope in.

The story of the teenager's survival at sea is the story of how to deal with Richard Parker's. Because Pi cannot beat the tiger, so he eventually chooses to face with him rafting life. 7 months, He collected fresh water, fishing and catch shrimp, He wants to use all the maritime survival skills to feed the tiger, Also let him survive.Of course, this rafting also encountered storms, shark attacks and a variety of wonderful and bloody dangers. After Pi and the tiger had finished eating all the food, they were ready to die in despair. But miraculously as they drifted into a heavenly island with the boat. After a short stay, he found it was a cannibal island. The frightened Pi and the tigers began rafting again until they were rescued on the beaches of Mexico, and the tigers did not go back and

This is because of his past. Pi’s past impact his present and future a lot because Pi believes in religions; his family background is related to animals, and he has a great swimming skills. These three major factors helped him to survive at sea. First, religion is a strong believe for Pi, and he was a person who believes in three religions.

This simple, vital request could not have been carried out were it not for Mamaji, a supporting character, family friend, and adopted uncle to Pi. Mamaji taught Pi to swim “The day I [Pi] came of swimming age… Mamaji claimed was seven… he brought me [Pi] down to the beach, spread his arms seaward and said, ‘This is my gift to you.’” (Martel, 9) The Patel family lacked the ability to swim. “He tried to teach my [Pi’s] parents to swim…” (Martel, 8) to no avail, and found that “Ravi was just as unenthusiastic.” (Martel, 9) If Mamaji had been absent in Pi’s life, he would likely have never learned to swim. Consequently, he would have drowned mere moments after fleeing the sinking Tsimtsum. Additionally, had he succeeded in his efforts to train the other Patels to swim, there would be a possibility more could have survived, and the story’s path would take a different

In Pi's 227 days of being stranded in the sea, he has had many problems that have

The mathematical constant to which ‘Pi’ relates his name has a value of 3.14 which is the approximate fraction 22/7 this represents the 227 days Pi survived at sea. When Pi is introducing himself at his new school he goes up to the board in each class during attendance, writes his name and beside it “π = 3.14” and draws “…a large circle, which [he] then slice[s] in two with a diameter, to evoke that basic lesson of geometry.” Pi repeats this same routine with every teacher on the premise that “repetition is important in the training not only of animals but

It is difficult to talk about the Life of Pi text without making a reference to faith, and the same goes with explaining Pi’s survival. Pi’s belief in pluralism and acceptance of the three religions, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam aid his future and is a crucial part of his survival at sea. His faith in knowing “so long as god is with me, I will not die” gives him the mental strength and will power to survive his ordeal. Even in the middle of the ocean, Pi practices all his religious rituals such as ‘‘solitary masses without consecrated Communion Hosts’’

It is known that one of the most difficult things to do, is survive on sea in terms of a survival situation. (Grade Saver). Surviving on sea is one difficult thing to do on your own although imagine doing it with a Bengal tiger? Not imaginable, but it did happen with Piscine Molitor Patel of Pondicherry India. Pi survives on sea for seven months (227) days from India to the coast of Mexico mentally and physically because he had hope, Richard Parker, and religion. Without these three things- he may not have survived because he speaks about the importance of these things to him and the role that they play in his life and the influence they have on him on this treacherous, lengthy journey.

“Survival is the ability to swim in strange water” (Frank Herbert). Pi demonstrated life on the Pacific as a test of all aspects. Life on the Pacific tested his physical endurance, he was lost for two-hundred and seventy seven days. In that time, Pi demonstrates his faith towards God, himself, and Richard Parker. Pi develops a robust bond with Richard Parker, then connecting spiritually. Survival in the novel Life of Pi is etched in the deepest parts of the story. These aspects of the novel are depicted through personal and self-reflection within himself. Pi survives because of his strength, faith and a close relationship with Richard Parker.

Her final outreach in an attempt to survive was when she “hit the beast on the head with her…arm” (Martel 131). This startling action the orangutan produces is evidence that she has abandoned her passive nature when she witnesses the hyena’s brutal capabilities. Additionally, Pi, a passive character also, has violent thoughts toward the hyena after the zebra’s death because of his feeling of terror and need to survive. The death of the zebra provokes “intense hatred for the hyena” as Pi “[thinks] of doing something to kill it… [but does] nothing” (Martel 120). Pi’s reaction to the zebra’s death forms into bitter feelings for the hyena because the hyena inherently shows its true colors of savagery. However, the desire to survive prevents Pi from doing anything against the hyena because his “sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival” (Martel 120). This selfishness that Pi experiences is against his own moral beliefs, however he finds it necessary to look past his own morals because of his intense desire to live. Pi’s desires to abandon his beliefs and resort to violence stem from the scene of the zebra’s mutilation. Therefore, the cruel death of the zebra ignites a stronger desire to live from the other members on the boat and causes a shift in their own behaviors.