A.S.E. for Life of Pi Passage
Richard Parker represents the wild side of Pi, proven by the fact that he's only around when Pi needs to become more animal than human in order to survive. In Life of Pi, before Pi Patel's family leaves for Canada, his father talks to him and his brother about the dangers of tigers, and how it is never okay to be near one. "'I want you to understand that you are never-under any circumstances-to touch a tiger, to pet a tiger, to put your hands through the bars of the cage, even get close to the cage'"(Page 42). First of all, it is extremely ironic because Pi ends up trapped with an adult tiger in his lifeboat, but this isn't the only importance of the quote. Father says this to Pi because he wants him to understand that tigers, no matter how cute, are dangerous and wild animals that will attack you surprisingly. This proves that tigers symbolize everything that is wild and untamed, and Pi has to learn to live like that in order to survive the Pacific Ocean. When Pi reaches the island with the meerkats, Richard Parker is only around at night, when Pi returns to sleep. This is because Pi doesn't need the wild side of him since he is provided with enough fruit to sustain him. In addition, notice how when he reaches Mexico, the tiger runs off and leaves Pi, this is because Pi no longer needs that animal side in him since he has reached civilization again. Without Richard Parker with him throughout the journey, Pi wouldn't have survived because relying on the animal instincts is what saved him in the end.
Richard Parker represents the wild side of Pi, proven by the fact that he's only around when Pi needs to become more animal than human in order to survive. In Life of Pi, before Pi Patel's family leaves for Canada, his father talks to him and his brother about the dangers of tigers, and how it is never okay to be near one. "'I want you to understand that you are never-under any circumstances-to touch a tiger, to pet a tiger, to put your hands through the bars of the cage, even get close to the cage'"(Page 42). First of all, it is extremely ironic because Pi ends up trapped with an adult tiger in his lifeboat, but this isn't the only importance of the quote. Father says this to Pi because he wants him to understand that tigers, no matter how cute, are dangerous and wild animals that will attack you surprisingly. This proves that tigers symbolize everything that is wild and untamed, and Pi has to learn to live like that in order to survive the Pacific Ocean. When Pi reaches the island with the meerkats, Richard Parker is only around at night, when Pi returns to sleep. This is because Pi doesn't need the wild side of him since he is provided with enough fruit to sustain him. In addition, notice how when he reaches Mexico, the tiger runs off and leaves Pi, this is because Pi no longer needs that animal side in him since he has reached civilization again. Without Richard Parker with him throughout the journey, Pi wouldn't have survived because relying on the animal instincts is what saved him in the end.