As a magical realistic narrative, Life of Pi displays “a strong sense of the phenomenal world” (Faris and Zamora, 169). The narrator’s minute delineation of sensory details involves, “entrancing magic details that cannot be explained according to the laws of the natural universe” (Faris and Zamora, 171). In his battle for survival, Pi comes to realize the futility of overcoming his ferocious enemy and the need to establish an ingenious way of coexistence, as a strategic option: “I had to tame him. It was at that moment that I realized necessity. It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me. We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat. We would live – or we would die – together” (181). Pi has never forgotten that the Bengal
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And he masters his fear by learning to serve an animal master. This process – the achieving of animal-human equilibrium, and a science-religion balance – is achieved through an attention to detail that has both scientific and religious components. His prayer practice clearly plays a role in helping Pi achieve a sort of Zen-like attention to being in the moment that enables him to go on with the science-informed rituals (cleaning, fishing, etc.) that are necessary for survival. (49) The symbolism of Life of Pi invokes insights and fresh ideas that challenge the traditional expectations of readers. Ironically, Richard Parker, who is Pi’s unremitting menace, is also a source of strength, perseverance and inspiration:
A part of me was glad about Richard Parker. A part of me did not want Richard Parker to die at all, because if he died I would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger. If I still had the will to live, it was thanks to Richard Parker. He kept me from thinking too much about my family and my tragic circumstances. He pushed me to go on living. I hated him for it, yet at the same time I was grateful. I am grateful. It’s the plain truth: without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.
And he masters his fear by learning to serve an animal master. This process – the achieving of animal-human equilibrium, and a science-religion balance – is achieved through an attention to detail that has both scientific and religious components. His prayer practice clearly plays a role in helping Pi achieve a sort of Zen-like attention to being in the moment that enables him to go on with the science-informed rituals (cleaning, fishing, etc.) that are necessary for survival. (49) The symbolism of Life of Pi invokes insights and fresh ideas that challenge the traditional expectations of readers. Ironically, Richard Parker, who is Pi’s unremitting menace, is also a source of strength, perseverance and inspiration:
A part of me was glad about Richard Parker. A part of me did not want Richard Parker to die at all, because if he died I would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger. If I still had the will to live, it was thanks to Richard Parker. He kept me from thinking too much about my family and my tragic circumstances. He pushed me to go on living. I hated him for it, yet at the same time I was grateful. I am grateful. It’s the plain truth: without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.