Survive of Life of Pi

Survive of Life of Pi
In this novel Life of Pi, survive is a topic that explored by Yann Martel. Even if seriously injured zebra battles to stay alive, his slow, painful struggle, vividly illustrates the shear strength of his life force. In Life of Pi, Yann Martel develops the idea that survive bring out one’s true emotions, Pi learned that if your life is at wager you need to put ethical and mental away.


Firstly, Richard Parker is essential for Pi’s survival. He is essential for Pi’s survival because Richard Parker has the strength and viciousness necessary to survive. In the end of the book it is revealed that Richard Parker is Pi. Richard Parker is just a figment of Pi’s imagination a creation of Pi’s mind to help him cope with seeing his mother killed and the rest of the bad experiences he had after the ship sunk. Pi created Richard in order to conjure up those traits that he needs in order to survive; Richard is strong, fierce, and terrifying, whereas Pi is complete opposite. He creates a strong fierce animal with a personality that is capable of doing things he can't, but has to in order to survive. Richard Parker is just Pi’s dark side. He keeps Pi sane, despite of his terrible deeds. In other words, he imagines that the tiger is talking to him, showing that he and Richard share one mind: “I laughed.   I knew it.   I wasn’t hearing voices.   I hadn’t gone mad.   It was Richard Parker who was speaking to me!   The carnivorous rascal” (273).   It is not possible for an animal to talk, thus it is Pi’s collective imagination that manifests this conversation.   However, the two share many of the same needs and wants, so therefore their minds are able to collaborate subconsciously.