Richard Parker Life Of Pi Essay

“God is hard to believe, ask any believer” (297). In the book, Life of Pi, By Yann Martel, Pi says this to the two Japanese men who are talking with him about his adventure. They don’t believe that Pi survived on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger for 227 days, but the men do not know where Pi came from. Pi, his family, and the remains of the zoo were moving from India to Canada when their ship sank, leaving Pi and a tiger, Richard Parker, the only survivors. Pi grew up in a zoo and lived a very religious life, and because of his knowledge of both, Pi was able to survive his journey, even with a Tiger, and kept a hope that they both will survive. Pi and Richard Parker had very little space between them because of the lifeboat’s small size.

The only way for the two to live together was for Richard Parker to be trained. Since Pi grew up in the zoo, he knew the best way to train Richard Parker. First, he had to set up his territory. Pi let Richard Parker know what parts of the lifeboat was for tigers, and the other for men. Pi inforced this with urination and a whistle. The whistle was key in training Richard Parker, for when Richard Parker entered Pi’s territory, Pi would make the boat rock, the tiger would become seasick. After many tries from Richard Parker, Pi won, and Richard Parker would flinch and back off anytime Pi blew the whistle after that. (202-205) Now the only trick was to keep them both alive.
One thing that helped Pi was his religion. Pi is deeply religious, and before he was shipwrecked, Pi was appalled at taking any life, even a fly. Pi practiced all of his beliefs everyday while on the lifeboat. Infact, Pi five times a day when he had the strength (190). But Pi was growing weaker. When there was little water and no food, Pi was sure he was going to die. Pi even says as he is laying down blind, “And now I leave matters in the hands of God, who is love and whom I love”