Pi loses his shadow self, Richard Parker when he reaches civilization. According to Pi, “He only looked fixedly into the jungle. Then Richard Parker, companion of my torment, awful, fierce thing that kept me alive, moved forward and disappeared forever from my life. (Martel 359). Pi’s eloquence used to depict the sudden departure of Richard Parker symbolizes the fact that Richard Parker is the wild, animalistic and uncivilized part of Pi. When Pi reaches the civilized world, Richard Parker suddenly disappears back into the jungle. The jungle is usually affiliated with primitiveness and the animal world. This action allegorically signifies the animal and instinctive part of Pi departing into the wild; never to return since Pi is now a part of the civilized world. In addition, Pi uses, “fierce thing”, which is defined as “eager to fight or kill” while describing Richard Parker as the “companion of my torment” reiterates the fact that Richard Parker is the wild and uncivilized part of Pi that keeps him alive. Despite Richard Parker’s sudden departure however, Pi remains emotionally attached to Richard Parker. Pi remains troubled and this is evident when he states, “I wept like a child… I was weeping because Richard Parker had left me so unceremoniously. What a terrible thing it is to botch a farewell” (Martel
Pi loses his shadow self, Richard Parker when he reaches civilization. According to Pi, “He only looked fixedly into the jungle. Then Richard Parker, companion of my torment, awful, fierce thing that kept me alive, moved forward and disappeared forever from my life. (Martel 359). Pi’s eloquence used to depict the sudden departure of Richard Parker symbolizes the fact that Richard Parker is the wild, animalistic and uncivilized part of Pi. When Pi reaches the civilized world, Richard Parker suddenly disappears back into the jungle. The jungle is usually affiliated with primitiveness and the animal world. This action allegorically signifies the animal and instinctive part of Pi departing into the wild; never to return since Pi is now a part of the civilized world. In addition, Pi uses, “fierce thing”, which is defined as “eager to fight or kill” while describing Richard Parker as the “companion of my torment” reiterates the fact that Richard Parker is the wild and uncivilized part of Pi that keeps him alive. Despite Richard Parker’s sudden departure however, Pi remains emotionally attached to Richard Parker. Pi remains troubled and this is evident when he states, “I wept like a child… I was weeping because Richard Parker had left me so unceremoniously. What a terrible thing it is to botch a farewell” (Martel