How Did Richard Parker's Life Of Pi Survive

Survival is not only ‘’the state of continuing to live, in spite of difficult circumstances; it is also a state that draws comparisons between the human and animal characteristics that are needed in order to remain alive (Oxford Dictionaries). Both humans and animals have shown that they will take any action in order to ensure their survival. Even Yann Martel’s eye opening novel Life of Pi brings out the traits that help both humans and animals overcome life threatening situations. Through Pi and Richard Parker’s actions, the author is able to blur the line between humans and animals. Pi and Richard Parker end up changing their behavior on the lifeboat in order to ensure they don’t starve to death. One of the reasons Pi is able to overcome

Many animals have the ability to help human beings survive. Pi is able to survive because Richard Parker distracts him from his terrible situation. In fact, Pi explains why he doesn’t want Richard Parker to die by saying “If I still had the will to live, it was thanks to Richard Parker. He kept me from thinking too much about my family and my tragic circumstances. He pushed me to go on living’’ (182). Pi is not able to think about his family or devastating situation because he is always attending to Richard Parker’s needs. Every day, Richard Parker pushes Pi to keep on thinking and keep on taking action. Richard Parker is the reason why Pi is able to live in the moment rather than dwell on the past. The Bengal tiger is like a family member to Pi because his presence reassures Pi that he is not alone. Furthermore, Richard Parker also teaches Pi how to take actions based on instinct. For Instance, Pi describes Richard Parker’s experience with the dorados by mentioning that “Many were eaten live and whole, struggling wings beating in his mouth. It was a dazzling display of might and speed” (201). Pi learns from Richard Parker that actions must be taken in the moment in order to survive. Pi also realizes that a certain degree of aggressiveness and fierceness is needed to stay alive. Moreover, Pi acts similarly to Richard Parker as the novel progresses. For

Writing can also play an important part in the survival of humans. Pi is able to feel hope because of his ability to write. In fact, after writing a letter describing his terrible situation and placing it in a bottle Pi says “I launched the bottle into the water” (264). By throwing the bottle with the letter into the water, Pi reassures himself that someone will find the bottle and he will survive This letter shows how Pi feels the need to communicate with other human beings and show them that he’s still alive. Writing helps Pi forget about the animal like behavior that he has adopted and makes him feel more like a human being. Furthermore, Pi uses writing in order to escape the day to day life on the lifeboat. To elaborate, Pi reveals that he uses his diary to talk ‘’about things that happened and how I felt…All practical stuff” (231). The practical use of words in Pi’s diary shows how writing helps Pi move away from all of the unpredictability that takes place while in the lifeboat. Pi is able to have a more practical experience while writing which makes him forget about the danger and uncertainty of the environment he is trying to survive in. The author uses writing to show how Pi is able to survive in a contrasting way to Richard