Trapped on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean for 227 days, who would you choose to be your companion? Certainly not a deadly 450-pound Bengal Tiger living on the very boat that is keeping you afloat, shark infested waters. In Life of Pi by Yann Martel, this was Pi’s reality. During his many days on a small lifeboat with a very large tiger, few things stayed certain in Pi’s mind, but the few beliefs that were untouched by his constant doubt allowed him to stay as sane as possible throughout his difficult journey. While on the lifeboat, Pi maintained a core set of beliefs: that animals could never be domesticated, in order to survive everyone must adapt, and things that contradict each other can still work together for a common end goal. Ever since Pi was a child in India, he was taught that animals could never be domesticated. Even in his family’s zoo, his father showed him that although animals may …show more content…
When Pi was only eight years old, his father showed him and his older brother Ravi how dangerous and ferocious tigers were. This was foreshadowing to the lifeboat when Pi was trapped in a confined area with the very animal his father warned him against. As Pi’s father explained the dangers of tigers and told him to not ever forget what was about to happen, a live goat was placed in the cage of Mahisha, the tiger. Pi and Ravi were forced to watch as the goat was eaten alive. Their father then proceeded to walk them through the zoo, pointing out animals and their good qualities, then explaining how easily they could kill if they felt threatened. For example, he showed Pi and Ravi the spotted deer, he talked