Martel discusses the concept of fear and the usage of the power of fiction as a method of counteracting fear in Chapter 56. In order to survive on the lifeboat, Pi needed a way to confront his fear of Richard Parker, his fear of boredom, and his fear of fear itself. To fight fear, Pi needs a structure of beliefs, or his own “zoo” so to speak, to base his own existence on and from which he can gain a sense of protection and stability. However, on a lifeboat, there is simply not enough room for two creatures to coexist, so Pi cannot have the “zoo” that he would
