Literary Themes In William Blake's Life Of Pi By Yan Martel And Tiger

The world has seen all the pain and suffering, but no matter the struggle a man faces, the symmetric beast within him changes their purpose of living a culture that is vulnerable to a savage. The two texts, Life of Pi by Yan Martel and Tiger by William Blake use the figure of a tiger to symbolize the similar themes present such as hardships and struggles and triumph through the various literary techniques such imagery, irony and figurative language. The tiger in both texts is described as a creature that is magnificent, beautiful and is alike to fire, however, the tiger is always going to be stronger than mankind. The use of imagery help develop the idea of a higher power present in both texts. Various literary techniques of metaphor and simile

Within the text, Life of Pi, the narrator, Pi had always been drawn towards the tiger, Richard Parker, throughout his entire childhood, even during hardships, where Pi’s life was in danger. This can be evident when Pi talks about the importance of the tiger, “ Richard Parker has stayed with me. I’ve never forgotten him. Dare say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. Such is the strangeness of the human heart.” (pg. 14). This shows that Pi considers Richard Parker to be part of his family, side from all the loss and grief he has experienced throughout his journey, even though he is a tiger. Unlike, Life of Pi, the poem illustrates tigers through dark and negative light and pursue these creatures as evil figures that are the result of the higher power. This idea can be pictured through the focal point of the poem, through the use of sensationalism.” What dread grasp. Dare its deadly terrors clasp?”. Through the use of this persuasive technique, the poet, continuously raises questions to the higher power, as to why he could possibly create such horror. Both tigers are powerful creations that are an animal at the end of the day and is savage when it comes to

This means, the tiger may physically have beauty, however, the animal is still vicious and dangerous towards others. The narrator in the novel, Life of Pi, Pi is obligated to survive in the middle of the pacific ocean for over two hundred days with a tiger, Richard Parker, on a small lifeboat with little food for survival. This can be noticed when Pi comments, “ And what of my extended family-birds, beasts and reptiles? They too have drowned. Every single thing I value in life has been destroyed. Am I am allowed no explanation? I am to suffer hell without any account from heaven? In that case, what is the purpose of reason, Richard Parker?” (pg. 98). This metaphor spoken by Pi to Richard Parker, the tiger, proves the degree of Pi’s suffering. Through this device, it can also be evident what Pi must be feeling at the time and place, due to his loss. As well as the poem, the tiger is portrayed as a figure to experience multiple traces of pain, suffering and fault throughout the poem. This is evident when the poet states, “What the hand dare seize the fire?... What the anvil? What the dread grasp. Dare its deadly terrors clasp?... Dare frame thy fearful symmetry…” (Blake, The Tiger). The poet is questioning the high power as to how he was able to create figures and