Passage Analysis

ENG 3U1
April 8. 2011
The Will to Survive
“Life of a lifeboat isn’t much of a life”. The stakes are as followed: life or death. Pi’s life on the lifeboat is far from glorious. He has no luxuries, no activities to participate in and no obscure signal or rules to follow aside from his religious guidelines. Life on the lifeboat for Pi leaves him facing many dangers—Richard Parker, sharks, starvation/dehydration, aggressive wave currents etc—his only choice is to fight for survival or give up and die. Evidently, Pi chooses to fight for survival. Life on the lifeboat is compared to an endgame in chess meaning that most of the game has been played out and the majority of the chess pieces have been knocked off the board. Similarly, after the sinking of the Tsimtsum, only Richard Parker, Orange Juice, the hyena, the zebra and Pi were left on the “game board”. These inhabitants are forced into a strategic battle of life or death knowing that only one will prevail. Each inhabitant is aware that they must make the right move because the wrong move may cost them. The zebra, Orange Juice and the hyena are examples of making “wrong moves”. The lifeboat is left with Richard Parker and Pi. Richard Parker is left untouched because he is the dominant alpha male and Pi is left untouched because of his foresight, plan of action and faith which give him the will to survive.
The theme of maintaining the “will to survive” is evident throughout part 2 in the novel. Orange Juice, a peaceful and mother-like orang-utan, fights ferociously against the hyena. Even the wounded zebra battles to stay alive, his painful struggle illustrate the strength of his life force. Pi is forced to make certain adjustments in order to survive such as abandoning his lifelong vegetarianism and resorts to eating fish to sustain his hunger. Also, Pi understands that his emotions, boredom and fear cannot shatter his hopes of being rescued, but must strengthen his ambition. Pi realizes that only death can...