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 LIFE OF PIAuthor’s Note -The beginning – introduction of the author to “a story that will make you believe in God.”PART ONEPi in Canada after landing in MexicoPhysical description of PiPi the swimmerPondicherry ZooPiscine to PiPi, the cook and hoarderMr Kumar the teacherThe lesson with MahishaDiminishing the flight distance of an animalAnimals that escapeThe black female leopard that escapedPi – the sweet agitated manTraining an animal for a circusAlpha and omegaSigns of religion in Pi’s home in CanadaPi – a HinduPi – ChristianMr Kumar the bakerIslamPi – the MuslimRestless authorAtheist versus agnosticConfrontation of the 3 wise menRavi mocks PiDifficulties in practicing 3 religionsPi wants to be baptisedParents debate Pi’s requestsPi’s prayer rugDecision to move to CanadaMeeting of the 2 Mr KumarsMeena PatelZoomorphismPi’s memorabiliaPreparing to moveAll aboard the TsimtsumNikheel and Usha PatelPART TWOSaving Richard ParkerThe sinking of the TsimtsumThrown into a lifeboatOn the boat with Richard Parker off into ocean with the sharksHyena on boardArrival of Orange JuiceHorrible HyenaEnd of Day 1Hyena eats zebraZebra eaten aliveHyena kills orange JuiceHow Richard Parker gets his nameHello again Richard ParkerThe colour orangeSearch for waterList of items on board the life boatRichard Parker kills hyena6 plans to kill Richard ParkerPlan number 6FearPlan number 7The survival manualImproving Pi’s situation“My suffering does matter” Pi’s first killNeed for food and water – solar stillsStructure of Pi’s dayNaked and soreNo navigational skillsImproving as a fishermanEating anything on and around the boatDeterioration of Pi’s emotional stateHopes dashed and raisedButchering a turtleHow to train a tigerTraining a tigerPi’s diaryAdapting religious practicesHappy birthday motherTraining Richard Parker using his faecesDeterioration of PiA castaway is at the centre of a circleAn expert on sharksUltimate mastery over Richard ParkerWhy Richard Parker does not attack PiIndiscriminate eatingThe stormEncounter with a whaleLightening hits the waterA shipAsphyxiationTrash in the waterFading orange – fading hopeThe blind FrenchmanRestored sightAlgae islandAlmost thereMexicoPART THREEStoryteller/reporterStart of the interviewThe storyDisbeliefWhich story is true100. The reportNOTESAUTHOR’S NOTEItalics – The author is the narrator.Has written the Life of Pi after the failure of a previous novel.“I was feeling restless” (pg 3) Unhappy – desire for more. “So I flew to Bombay.”“A novel set in Portugal in 1939 may have little to do with Portugal in 1939.” (pg 3) – the art of storytelling – a story can be based on reality but the story can be totally fictional.His expectation of being in India was that his soul would be calmer, he would thus be in a better position to write his novel. The story he is trying to write “sputtered, coughed and died” (pg 4) – writers’ block.“that spark that brings life to a real story” (pg 4) – in order for a story to be successful, there must be a “spark”, something that will hold the interest of the reader. “It leaves you with an aching hunger.” (pg 4) – significant that he comes up with Life of Pi at a point when he feels this “aching hunger” – for the most part of his story, his protagonist tries to overcome an “aching hunger” while stuck on a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean with a tiger. (Pi tries to satisfy his basic needs)Point of humor – he mails the notes of his book that is going nowhere (unsuccessful) to nowhere (fictitious addresses).There is some similarity between the author and Pi – both are very philosophical – contemplate life.(Leads us to where he is going in the author’s note).See the French influence in Pondicherry – prepares us for Pi’s real name, Piscine Molitor Patel. (pg 5)Narrator meets mammaji in a coffee shop in Pondicherry. Mammaji tells him, “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” (pg 6) – While we do not see much of mammaji in the story, his influence is great:He gives Pi his name.He introduces Pi to swimming and the ocean.He introduces Pi’s story to the author. (Makes the story more authentic – it is told to the narrator by someone who knew the protagonist personally) “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” (pg 6) – introduces the theme of religion – to Pi, religion is very important. Significant that the author is in India and comes from Canada – the story that he writes about starts in India and ends in Canada.“I have a story that will make you believe in God.” (pg 6) – WHY??? Pi’s strong belief in religion (he followed 3 religions), the fact that Pi survived 227 days at sea, with a Bengal tiger – a feat deemed almost impossible – a miracle – by the grace of God. “I brought out pen and notepad.” (pg 6) – the writer in action. Francis introduces the story of Pi by first referring to the Pondicherry Zoo – story is about the zoo owner’s son and a tiger from the zoo. “nine columns of Patels in the phone book” – pg 7 – large number of Indian emigrants in Canada. The Patels were not the only ones who were looking to settle outside of India in search of a better life.“Mr Patel’s story should be told mostly in the first person” (pg 7) – prepares us for the 2 points of view in the story: 1) his as the author/narrator and2) the voice of Pi Patel. PART ONETORONTO AND PONDICHERRYCHAPTER ONENarrator is Pi Patel – normal text.“My suffering left me sad and gloomy.” (pg 9) – Pi’s attitude to life – We want to know what did this to him, what caused this attitude. It is “academic study” (in religious studies and zoology) that has given him reason to live after the trauma that he experienced – 227 days at sea and the loss of his entire family.Studies the sloth - fascinated by it “because of its demeanor – calm quiet and introspective – did something to soothe my shattered self.” (pg 10)Finds that the sloth helps him to rebuild himself, tries to model himself after it to regain some degree of calmness. “calm, quiet, and introspective” (pg 10) are reflective of Pi’s attitude to life.His scientific study of the creation of the universe and the study of sloths helps him to bridge the gap between science and religion. He tries to make sense of something mystical. Needs to have something to hold on to, something that makes sense to him to give him a sense of purpose and value.Pi’s great knowledge of animals is seen in his very systematic, logical description of the sloth. Seems to be a correlation between Pi and the sloth: both “live a peaceful, vegetarian life” (p 11)Pi loved the three-toed sloth as “it reminded me of God.” (p11)Page 12 – Pi is an excellent student. Receives many awards but is very cynical about life. Upset when the award he feels he deserves goes to “a beef-eating pink boy with a neck like a tree trunk and a temperament of unbearable good cheer.” (p12)His pain and suffering of the past make this very difficult for him to endure. He has learnt to be a lot more tolerant of things. Even though he has experienced death and come close to death himself, he still believes in the beauty of life – optimistic that is why he feels no jealousy to this boy: “I love him and I hope his time at Oxford University was a rich experience.” p12)Pi’s religious beliefs are seen in the cities he wants to visit.Pi reveals his attitude to life. If you don’t enjoy your work then it “will hang a man nonetheless” (p 12).To Pi, Canada is now home as he has “nothing to go home to in Pondicherry” (p 13). Feel sorry for him. Has had to carve out a new life on his own with the help of strangers – nothing familiar. This is why he feels the loss of Richard Parker so deeply – RP had a choice but left him unlike his family who died. He desires something from the past, any link.When he remembers RP it is “nightmares mostly” (p 13)Pi’s affliction is seen to be worse than even cancer.Pi takes a long time to heal. When he finally tries to resume life a waiter unintentionally picks on a very sore point. Pi eats with his hands at a restaurant and the waiter responds, “Fresh of the boat, are you?” (p14) He does not realise the truth behind his statement. (or the difficulties it entailed.) Points to the different way of life that Pi will be forced to embrace.CHAPTER 2Italics – narrator is the author.Describes Pi Patel. Likes what he sees – “Pleasing coffee-coloured complexion”“He launches forth.” – Pi is very logical and direct. Does not waste time on pleasantries. “He” refers to the grown/adult Pi Patel. “he” makes him mysterious. – storytelling technique. CHAPTER 3Pi is the narrator.Starts his story from the beginning – life in Pondicherry.Opening paragraph creates the link to Francis Adirubasamy. Explains his role in the family (Father’s good friend). Loved swimming.Pi was named by him after Mamaji’s favourite swimming pool in France.The only person he succeeds in teaching how to swim is Pi – significant considering Pi eventually spends 227 days on the water. He considers this his “gift” to Pi.“guru” and “ashram” tell of Pi’s deep enjoyment of swimming. Almost like a religion to him. Significant that the only person that learns how to swim is Pi – he survives all the others drown.Very significant as he later spends 227 days on the Pacific Ocean. “It was on my own, a guilty pleasure, that I returned to the sea, ….Indian boy.” (p. 16) – IRONIC – as here he returns to the sea willingly, later on he is forced to the sea. Pi admires Mamaji – as a swimmer and as a storyteller. “He was a great storyteller.” (p. 17)Significant as Mamaji was the one who introduces the narrator to “Life of Pi”. There are lots of little clues that foreshadow Pi eventually being stranded at sea. E.g. When describing the pool he was named after, it is described as being “as big as small oceans.” (p. 18)“It was – it was …” (p. 18) the pool was so beautiful is was beyond description. Words could not describe it. “Father dreamed” (p. 18) of the ideal life that the pool represented – he always wanted a better way of life. Significant that Pi, named after a dream and an ideal is the only one in his family who gets to live Santosh Patel’s dream life in Canada. BUT not an actual dream because of its nightmarish qualities of being stranded at sea and all its difficulties. CHAPTER 4How the Patels came to own the Pondicherry Zoo. It was an opportunity presented when “Pondicherry entered the Union of India” (p.18)The zoo was larger than life when Pi was younger but now in retrospect, “it’s so small it fits in my head.” (p. 19) – The memories of the zoo have been affected by his difficult experiences. All he has left of the zoo are these memories.Describes the beauty of the zoo and the impact it had on his life as a child – it’s almost fantastical. “To me it was paradise on earth.” (p.20)Before he ran the zoo, Santosh Patel ran a hotel in Madras.He compares running the zoo to running a hotel. “An abiding interest in animals led him to the zoo business.” (p19) – He passes this love for animals on to Pi which helps Pi deal with RP later on. “To me it was paradise on earth.” (p20) – no better place as a child. Loved every aspect of zoo life including the animals. This is why he is so determined to save RP later on. (love of animals, as a companion, represnets all Pi lost).This knowledge of animals that helps him survive 227 days with RP. Love of animals – not wish to destroy them – difficult to eat them later on. Refers to his pain and suffering – forced to eat that which he loves. His knowledge of animals and their territory helps him claim and defend his territory with RP on the life boat. Pi sensitive to the moods and needs of animals – (p22) p 23 – “In the wild animals stick to the same paths” (p 23) – finds it strange later on that RP returns to the boat every night whilst they are on the carnivorous island. “A good zoo is a place .. Look at each other.” (p 25) Foreshadows Pi’s demarcation of the boat with RP. “In the literature - did and returned.” (p 25) he still finds it difficult to accept RP abandoning him. Chapter ends with the mention of religion and zoology. – both have a significant meaning in Pi’s life. “Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.” (p 26) Suggests that humans are like animals, they require some degree of structure to meet emotional and spiritual needs. It is his religious practices that help Pi endure the 227 days at sea. All that is left of the zoo are Pi’s memories. (pg. 26)CHAPTER 5Pi explains how he came to be known as Pi instead of Piscine. There was great confusion about his name and it was often a source of amusement and mockery. Chapter explains how he moves from Piscine to Pi. Contrast from the importance of his name to how it deteriorates. “It’s Pissing Patel.” (p 27)Eventually he gets the opportunity to change his name. Does so very systematically/logical. – foreshadows the training of RP later. Talks to his character.Goes to the board, writes down his name, spelt correctly, and then introduces himself as Pi. “My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi.” (p 29)Reinvention to avoid the mockery. The mathematical symbol Pi – important.His plan works and he is no longer mocked for his name. Foreshadows him reinventing himself in Canada. “And so, in that Greek letter – I found refuge.” (p 31)Significance of Greek Letters – here he is Pi, later on he is the alpha and RP is the omega. Significant that he has a name that scientists use to “contemplate the universe.” (31)Significance of Pi – It is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.Mathematical relationships are calculated and explained logically and rationally by this irrational number. recurring number – like his days at sea.In the story some unbelievable and irrational experiences are explained logically and rationally by Pi. Neither the character nor the mathematical symbol can be confined by logic or taken to a coherent end point. Martel chooses the name Pi because it is an irrational number which scientists sometimes use to come to a rational understanding of the universe, in the same way that religion is something beyond the reasonable that helps to make sense of life and things. His name symbolises his character. CHAPTER 6Italics – author’s narrationAuthor feels Pi’s house is overheated.Notices it is all very well stocked with food. Pi hoards food – foreshadows Part Two which is the reason the adult Pi hoards his food. “We are in India” – Pi is Indian even though he lives in Canada – this is reflected in every aspect of his home.CHAPTER 7Pi and Satish Kumar (biology teacher) discuss religion.To him the zoo is “my temple” (p 33) – he believes in the logical science of the animals and their existence the way others believe in God. Page 33 introduces the political climate that resulted in the emigration of the Patels. “religion will save us.” (P 34) Pi’s absolute faith – keeps him alive on the boat.CHAPTER 8To Pi “the most dangerous animal in the zoo is Man.” (p 35) as there are “reports on the many torments inflicted upon zoo animals” (p36) He is very upset by these atrocities.“The obsession of putting ourselves at the centre of everything is the bane not only of theologians but also of zoologists – reflective of his studies and interests in life. According to Santosh Patel, the worst kind of danger was “Animalus anthropomorphicus” “the animal as seen through human eyes” (p 38). This is seen later in part 2 in his relationship with RP – upset when RP leaves without a goodbye.This leads to the lesson that is taught to the children by Santosh Patel. This lesson taught Pi that “an animal is an animal, essentially and practically removed from us.” (p 38) This is a lesson that is later reinforced by RP.Father says that the lesson “may very well save their lives.” (p 39) True as it later saves Pi when he is on the boat with RP. Foreshadowing – father feels Pi needs the lesson the most. (Lesson with Mahisha – a 550 pound Bengal tiger.) Foreshadowing - Pi’s time with RP on the boat. Ironic that here father teaches him the lesson to keep him far away from tigers when Pi uses the lesson to survive when he shares a lifeboat with RP. Pi’s knowledge of animals makes him aware of “the real nature of my playmates.” (p 41)Because he understands this “real nature” that he is able to tame RP.Santosh is not a callous man. Rather, he is wise. He realises the importance of teaching his children the about the true nature of wild animals especially considering that they are surrounded by them at the zoo. He doesn’t want them to fall into the trap of anthropomorphism. The chapter ends on a lighthearted note to diffuse the tension. Even father feels the need to do so when he hands Pi a guinea pig. CHAPTER 9“The key aim – keep a perceived enemy.” (p 45)Pi’s knowledge of the territory of animals – this helps him with RP later. His success at establishing a “diminishing flight distance” (p 46) is seen later on in that he is not attacked by RP – they survive in some kind of harmony.CHAPTER 10“It is not so much a question of constructing an imitation of conditions in the wild as of getting to the essence of these conditions.” (p 46) foreshadowing for when he manages to create the perfect conditions for RP on the boat. P 47 – RP does not eat him on the boat immediately as he is used to human presence from the zoo. All animals will have “moments of excitement that push them to seek escape.” (p 47) prepares us for when RP escapes at the end. This disappoints Pi – anthropomorphism, he expects RP to feel the same way about him that he feels for RP.Escape – foreshadows RP’s escape from the life boat in Mexico.CHAPTER 11Continues the concept of animals escaping from the previous chapter. Here it’s a “female black leopard that escaped from the Zurich Zoo” (p 48).Pi recalls RP’s escape into “a Mexican Tropical jungle.” (p 48) – RP was never found.CHAPTER 12Italics – author’s narration.Metaphor – “memory is an ocean and he bobs on its surface” (p 49) Most of Pi’s memories are of his 227 days on the Pacific Ocean.Acceptable then that “After all these years Richard Parker still preys on his mind.” (p49)Pi has gone back to being vegetarian. Prepares “South Indian vegetarian feast” for the author every time he visits.In as much as the author needs to tell his story, Pi needs to tell his story – almost like therapy for them both. CHAPTER 13 AND 14Pi explains that the only reason a lion will attack you is “because you’ve invaded its territory” (p 49) – Pi’s knowledge of animals that keeps him alive with RP on the boat.Pi’s information about the taming of lions and other circus animals prepares us for part 2, coupled with Santosh Patel’s demonstration with Manisha the tiger – Pi’s survival.He uses similar techniques when he trains RP. He manages to become “a super-alpha male” that RP submits to. (p 49) “the blowing of a whistle” (p 50) used to train RP.Partnership of alpha and omega that allow for the survival of both Pi and RP.CHAPTER 15Italics – author’s narrationDescribes the adult Pi’s home in Canada as “a temple” (p 51).The artifacts found in Pi’s home represent the 3 different religions that he follows. His beliefs from his boyhood do not change when he grows up and lives in Canada.Talks to his character – steadfast and loyal not transient. CHAPTER 16Pi’s maternal aunt, Auntie Rohini introduces him to Hinduism. Is the one who takes him to the temple, with his mother, for the first time just after he was born. (p 54) To him it was this trip that caused him to love religion in the way that he does, it was a “germ of religious exaltation” that “has never stopped growing since that day.” ( p 54)He absolutely loves being a Hindu but, believes that “religion is more than rite and ritual.” (p 54) To Pi, “The universe makes sense to me through Hindu eyes.” (p 55)He has “been a Hindu all my life. With its notions in mind I see my place in the universe.” (p 56)Pi believes that Hindus in their capacity to love are indeed hairless Christians … hat-wearing Muslims.” (p 56) To him, everyone is the same – lots of similarities in the religions. Significant that his foster mother in Canada was of a different religion. Didn’t affect him as he already embraced 3 different religions. CHAPTER 17“I owe to Hinduism the original landscape of my religious imagination,” (p 57) – Hinduism sparked his love for religion. Pi “met Jesus Christ” (p 57) when he was fourteen years old – the Patel family go on a trip to Munnar. While exploring, Pi notices 3 hills. “On each stood a Godhouse.” (p 57) 3 hills, three different religious houses. Pi enters a church and is “filled with a sense of peace.” (p 58) to him the priest “was a man whose profession it was to love” and this “stole into (his) heart and thrilled me”. He finds another aspect of religion that interests him – this that makes him believe in Christianity.He watches the priest and returns the next day and has tea with Father Martin. “IN” - available to the religion. To Pi father Martin is very kind. He tells Pi the story of Christ and his death but Pi finds the story unbelievable, it irritates him. He feels it is a “downright weird story.” (p 60) and that it was “wrong of this Christian God to let his avatar die.” (p61) But first he “asks for another story” ( 60) like the Japanese men at the end. But he contemplates Christianity, compares it to Hinduism and accepts it. He decides that he “would like to be a Christian.” (p 64). He has not given up Hinduism. He embraces both the religions. “I raced down the hill on the left and raced up the hill on the right – to offer thanks to Lord Krishna for having put Jesus of Nazareth, whose humanity I felt so compellingly, in my way.” (p 64)CHAPTER 18A year after he becomes Christian, he is introduced to Islam in his hometown. He has a very negative impression of Islam because “Islam had a reputation worse than Christianity’s” and “I had never heard anyone say good things about Muslim schools” (p64)He meets Satish Kumar the baker who introduces him to Islam. He is drawn to the act of the prayer that he sees Satish Kumar perform. To Pi it is, “quick, necessary, physical, muttered, striking.” (p 66)While he first stayed away from Islam because of its negativity, he is drawn to it because of its practicality.”CHAPTER 19See Pi’s interest in Satish Kumar and Islam. “I went to see him again.” (p 67)He chooses to follow it as it is “a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion.” ( 67)He enjoys the feeling that the prayer brings to him. The prayer brings him closer to God. CHAPTER 20Tells us that Satish Kumar is a “Muslim mystic.” (p 67)Pi follows someone who knows intimately of the religion.Pi picks the good, the personal, the loving in these 3 religions.He is pleased that these 2 men carry the same name because they are both steadfast in their beliefs. One taught him about the practicality and science of life while the other taught him a love of religion. It is because of them that he studies zoology and theology at university. Pi does not leave everything behind in Pondicherry, takes with him the teachings of the people important to him. His past has definitely shaped his present. Satish reads the Quran to Pi.Pi feels that “no mosque, church or temple ever felt so sacred to me.” (P68) To Pi Satish Kumar’s teaching made him feel immortalSignificance of his name – “I felt like the centre of a small circle coinciding with the centre of a much larger one. Atman met Allah.” (p68) – merging of the 2 faiths.CHAPTER 21 & 22Italics – author’s narration. Feels a sense of inadequacy in his own life. Pi’s words leave him feeling very restless. Pi seems to feel very secure in his state of being – found a balance between the physical and spiritual life.Pi imagines the last words of an atheist and an agnostic before either one dies. Foreshadows the deaths of his family membersCHAPTER 23Pi’s tri-faith lifestyle is brought “to the attention of my bemused parents.” (p 70)Pi’s secret is discovered when he goes out with his parents and they meet all 3 of his religious leaders. Pi is struck with horror at the 3 of them meeting. Knows that what he is doing will be deemed unacceptable by them even though his father “didn’t have a religious bone in his body.” (p 71)Pi is very different form his family. His father was more concerned about finances than religion and his mother was “neutral on the subject” (p71) whilst his brother was only interested in cricket. His parents are thus deeply surprised to learn that he follows 3 different religions at once. The three wise men don’t appear to be very wise as they fight about Pi’s religious faith. When questioned by his parents, Pi simply replies, “All religions are true. I just want to love God.” (p 75)His choice is accepted by his parents.CHAPTER 24 & 25Relationship between the brothers is seen in Ravi’s taunting of Pi about his interfaith practices.To Pi “religion is about our dignity not our depravity.” (p 77) He is upset that people are more concerned about showing that they practice religion than actually being sincere in their practices. CHAPTER 26 – 29The encounter with the 3 wise men makes Pi brave. Asks to be baptised and to have a prayer rug. At first his parents are upset but they cannot fault his arguments and finally agree. See the introduction of the politics that eventually cause Santosh Patel leave India. Pi states that “people move in the hope of a better life.” (p 83)Santosh is upset by Indira Ghandi’s regime and decides to move his family to Canada. CHAPTER 30 – 31The author is surprised to learn that Pi is married. It is only after this discovery that he sees the signs of a family that he has been oblivious to all along – his focus has been on Pi and his story. In chapter 31, the 2 Mr Kumars meet. They both visit the zoo at the same time. Pi is very concerned that he will not be able to recognise the very plain looking Mr Kumar (baker) and thus hurt his feelings. When the 2 Mr Kumars accidentally meet, the difference in their approach to the animals is evident. Both contribute to Pi’s love of religion and zoology respectively. He does not choose between them, he accepts them for who they are. CHAPTER 32 and 33Pi refers to “zoomorphism” – animal attributes are imposed on non-animal objects, humans, and events and animal features are ascribed to humans, gods and other objects.” to him it is the result of a “need for companionship.” (p 90) foreshadows his desire for companionship that leads to his relationship with Richard Parker. In chapter 33 the author looks at Pi’s family pictures. While Pi appears to be happy in the photos, “his eyes tell another story.” (p 91) Pi is deeply scared by his past. Pi mostly has photos of his present life. Except for the few photos sent by mamaji, all photos of Pi’s life in India wer lost in the sinking of the Tsimtsum along with his family. He is left with “four nearly irrelevant photographs.” (p 92) – very sad. What troubles Pi the most “is that I can hardly remember what my mother looks like anymore.” CHAPTER 34 – 35Columbus (p 93) – navigator who nearly lost his life during his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1476. Foreshadows the sinking of the Tsimtsum.The animals of the Pondicherry Zoo were sold to Zoos across the globe. They leave Madras “on June 21st, 1977, on the Panamanian-registered Japanese cargo ship Tsimtsum” (p95). Mother is also sad to be leaving India while the “men” “were in a hurry to get going.” (p95)Pi is excited to leave India but “things didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to.” (p 95)CHAPTER 36Pi is married with 2 children, Nikhil and Usha. His wife’s name is Meena. The author is “incredulous” (p96). Pi seems to have a loving relationship with his family. Pi’s current life “has a happy ending” (p 97) but his past life with his past family had a very tragic ending. END OF PART ONEPART TWO – THE PACIFIC OCEANCHAPTER 37 – SAVING RICHARD PARKER“The ship sank.” – 3 words. Very direct. Final. Uncompromising. Opens with Pi encouraging Richard Parker to enter the life boat. This is the turning point in the story. RP can be seen as a symbol for Pi’s survival instinct. It is interesting that Pi invites RP onto the lifeboat. It is an active choice – to survive, to become part beast. He regrets his decision – stupid to share a lifeboat with a tiger (paradoxical) but it’s too late – he realizes that it may imperil him and his spirit. Page 99 – “Jesus, Mary, Muhammed and Vishnu” – continues with his religious convictions.“TREEEEE” – here he uses the whistle to attract the attention of RP. Later he uses the whistle to train RP.“He looked small and helpless.” – ironic as RP is the opposite. Page 100 - talks to RP – Anthropomorphism – Pi assumes that RP feels the same as he does. He is desperate for some link to his past. He has lost everything thus wants to hold onto RP as he represents his past. RP displays an animal instinct to survive. Theme of The Primacy of Survival is clear. Page 101 – “I felt ill with grief.’ – Pi battles with 2 things: Grief and the instinct to survive. “We’re in hell.” – this is a very traumatic experience for Pi. “Wait a second. Together? … mad?” – Pi realizes too late that he has made a big mistake by saving RP. To Pi, he is “to be the next goat.” (father sacrificed the goat to teach the children a lesson. Description of RP shows that he is a very dangerous wild animal.CHAPTER 38 – SINKING OF THE TSIMSUMPi starts off the trip to Canada (with his family) with absolute enjoyment. He tracks the ship’s progress daily, with precision.Ship is like “a continent.” Seems to be indestructible – ironic. Pg 103 compared to “A mountain”.Pg. 102 – ship stops in Manila for 2 days for: “fresh feed”; “new cargo”: “we were told, the performing of routine maintenance work on the engines”. Seems there was already something wrong with the ship. Foreshadows the sinking of the ship. Bottom of page 102 – reference to bananas and chimpanzee – later on, Orange Juice floats to Pi’s boat on a bunch of bananas. Pg. 103 – “Something was wrong with the engines, he said” – prepares us for the sinking of the ship.Ship sinks 4 days into their journey. Understatement when Pi says “My chest hurt with pain and fear for days afterwards.” – this lasts the rest of his life – hoards food, extra warm house. Pi unsure of what happened – he was asleep like most others. – “I think there was an explosion … It woke me up.”“The ship was no luxury liner” – litote expressing poor condition of the ship. “There were all kinds of noises all the time.” Thus when the explosion took place no one was worried. No one else wakes up. Pi is observant. He notes the noise had “a different quality”.“Oh Ravi!” – Ravi dies. Pi is upset. If Ravi had woken up he would still be alive. Pg. 104 – “I felt the night in me.” Premonition that something bad was going to happen. Weather symbolic of the bad things that are about to happen – raining and windy – almost a storm. At first Pi thought of this as “adventure.”Pi leans in the railing and says, “Canada here I come!” - he really does go to Canada alone as the rest of his family dies. Ironic that he feels “safely ensconced in his seat.”Pg. 105 – sinking of the ship. Lots of noises and the ship fills with water “where my family was.” – implication that his family had drowned. “Where were the officers and the crew?” – at the end of the novel, Pi tells the Japanese officials that the ship’s crew was incompetent. He only sees “some men” running around. P. 106 – Pi mentions the “dangerous wild animals” – reminds us that the animals were also on board and foreshadows the animals that will be on the lifeboat with Pi later. He has no idea how the animals got out of the cages they were locked in. Pi is thrown into the lifeboat by three crew members. He thinks they are trying to help him when they give him a life jacket with “an orange whistle.” He “felt grateful” but “only when they threw me overboard did I begin to have doubts.” The ambiguity of these lines is important – why do they throw Pi into the lifeboat and not jump in themselves? (they know the hyena is on the lifeboat and throw Pi in to see what would happen)CHAPTER 39 – THROWN INTO THE LIFEBOATPi lands in the lifeboat but is unhurt. Significantly, while he loses the life jacket, he keeps the whistle. The crew members loo at Pi and were “pointing wildly at the lifeboat shouting.” He was confused.A “male Grant” zebra then jumps into the lifeboat causing the entire lifeboat to crash into the sea.Unknown to Pi, there are now two wild animal onboard – the zebra and the hyena (which he hasn’t seen yet). CHAPTER 40 – ALONE WITH A TIGERPi jumps into the water when Richard Parker drags himself onto the lifeboat..Pg. 108 – Pi’s experience in the ocean here is very different to his experience in the ocean in part one.The personification of the ocean prepares us for the difficulties Pi experiences during the next 227 days at sea. Pi sees a “triangle slicing the water” – he is caught between 2 dangers – the tiger on the boat and the shark in the water. Pg. 109 – Pi taps into his imagination when he uses the oar and the lifebuoy strategically and creates a place of “relative safety” for himself between the boat and the water. He had to face “one terror at a time. Pacific before tiger.”CHAPTER 41 – HYENA ON BOARDPi is left “alone and orphaned” on the boat with the animals. He watches the ship sink knowing there was nothing he could do to save his family. Pg. 109 – he is uncomfortable and has no choice but to get back into the lifeboat. He still does not know that there is a hyena aboard. Whilst he previously reacted on instinct, he now starts to think about his survival. His knowledge about tigers becomes clear. Pg. 110 – he is surprised to see that RP “had not killed” the zebra – it is still alive but broke its leg when it jumped into the lifeboat from the ship. Pg. 111 – “The reason behind its spared life was revealed shortly.” Pi sees the hyena, a “jagged edge testimony to violence.” He thinks that RP fell back into the sea when he saw the hyena as “There couldn’t be both a hyena and a tiger in such a small space. He (RP) must have fallen off the tarpaulin and drowned.” Pi realises that “the hyena was the reason those sailors had thrown me into the lifeboat. They weren’t trying to save my life.” They had hoped the hyena would attack Pi and he would get rid of it so they could get on the boat. Pg. 112 he sees the presence of the hyena as “good news”. He was thrown into the lifeboat because of it and he felt it was better to face the “upfront ferocity of a dog than the power and stealth of a cat.”Pi admires the beauty of the ocean while waiting to be rescued.The emotional trauma he experiences is clear but he remains both optimistic and practical. CHAPTER 42 – ARRIVAL OF ORANGE JUICEPg. 113 – Orange Juice “came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of light.” The description shows Pi’s positive attitude towards her. She is a welcome addition to the group on the lifeboat as she is not a threat – seen as a mother figure. Represents comfort, hope (ORANGE Juice). She will not last long.Like Pi’s mother, she is a “mother of two fine boys.” She comes on an “island of bananas” – at the end of the novel, Pi proves to the Japanese officials that bananas do float. (Proof that this story may be the truth?????)Pi grabs only the net without thinking that he should grab some bananas. He only regrets his “stupidity” later when he is starving. Pg.114 - OJ is very upset by all that has happened and at the death of her two sons. They “hyena’s scream” prepares us for her killing the zebra and Orange Juice later on. CHAPTER 43 – HYENAPi hopes that someone would have been tracing the course of the Tsimtsum and would realize it had sunk and thus come to the rescue. He still harbours hope that his family has survived. Pg. 115 - he realizes that the hyena poses a great threat. The animals were seasick – may explain why the hyena hasn’t attacked yet. Could also be that they were in an unfamiliar environment.Pg. 116 – the hyena is a hive of activity running around, preparing for an attack. Pi’s experience with animals makes his realize that “the hyena’s behavior was highly unpredictable.” Pi’s description of the hyena makes it clear that he hates it. His father’s teachings help him greatly in dealing with the animals, starting with the hyena. He knows that hyenas are dangerous and destructive. He is disgusted by them – prepares us for the hyena’s disgusting behavior. Pi is afraid of what it is capable of. His description of it makes us very unsympathetic towards it. CHAPTER 44 – END OF DAY 1Pi spends most of the day looking out for help. He is bored and tense. The first day on the boat is filled with lots of activity: the hyena, the zebra, OJ and flies. As the days go by, everything disappears until inly Pi and Richard Parker are left. Pg. 119 – that night is cold, dark and desolate. It is quiet. Pi was “floating in pure abstract blackness.”He starts to hear sounds on the boat – “loud expirations and groans and grunts and various wet mouth sounds” – hyena eating the zebra.CHAPTER 45 – HYENA STARTS EATING ZEBRAPg. 120 – Pi finds hope in a new day. Imagines being rescued and finding his family alive.Pg. 121 – Pi realises that the hyena has eaten the zebra’s leg while the zebra was still alive. He is sad that he only “felt pity then moved on”. Later on, as an adult, his callousness still haunts him. The effect of these incidents were long lasting. It has a profound effect on him – “Not a prayer goes by that I don’t think of it.”Pg. 122 – Pi, OJ and the hyena are seasick. Pi is amused by the seasickness of the animals. OJ’s behaviour while seasick cheers Pi up. He finds comfort in her presence.Pg. 124 – Pi sees his first turtle. It “would become a dear, reliable friend of mine.” Pi would use the turtle for various things later on. CHAPTER 46 – ZEBRA EATEN ALIVETime passes. Pi’s suffering becomes more intense. He is depressed. Pg. 125 – “My mood plummeted.”Hyena starts to attack the zebra viciously. Pg. 126 – hyena eats zebra while it is still alive. Pi gives a very disgusting description of what hyena does to the zebra. This reinforces the disgusting nature of the hyena and the effect it has on Pi. OJ realises the danger of the hyena. She tries to enforce her dominance. She reacts to the hyena’s behaviour and the hyena reciprocates. Pi “began to tremble uncontrollably.” Blood falls into the water and sharks surround the boat. Pg. 128 – Pi realises that his family is dead. He is traumatised by this thought. Can’t handle the thought, especially “To lose your mother, well, that is like losing the sun above you.” The pain of this loss remains with him forever. He spends the night crying, unlike the hyena that spends the night eating.CHAPTER 47 – HYENA KILLS ORANGE JUICESad, lonely, gloomy - weather reflects Pi’s mood. Zebra clinging to life but dies at noon. Pg. 129 – violence breaks out between OJ and the hyena. Hyena attacks OJ who defends herself. Gives Pi hope. OJ was a pet and he would be safe with her. She was abanddoned by her human familywhen she grew too large and ended up in the Pondicherry Zoo. As a child, Pi spent a lot of time playing with her. She practiced her maternal skills on him. The OJ he sees in the boat is a very different, wild OJ.Pg. 131 – hyena kills OJ. Pi believes he is next. The death of OJ represents the death of Pi’s hope. He is tired of struggling to stay alive. He decides to attack the hyena. Pg. 132 – just before he attacks the hyena, he looks down and sees Richard Parker. He is devastated as he now has 2 predators to deal with. Pg. 133 – he spends “the night in a state of delirium.” He dreams of a tiger.CHAPTER 48 – HOW RICHARD PARKER GOT HIS NAMEThis chapter is a respite from the tension of the previous one. “Richard Parker was named because of a clerical error.” Hunters were looking for a panther that was terrorising the village and instead they found a tiger and her cub (Richard Parker). They captured the pair. The cub was named thirsty by the hunter whose name was Richard Parker (because it rushed to drink water when he found it). The shipping clerk in the Howrah station mixed up the names on the papers and thirsty the tiger cub became know as Richard Parker. CHAPTER 49 – HELLO AGAIN RICHARD PARKERPi is exhausted, starving and thirsty. He has been on the boat for 3 days during which he has had nothing to eat or drink. Pg. 135 – Pi feels he stands a better chance against the hyena than against Richard Parker because they hyena is smaller than RP. He feels that “With a tiger aboard, my life was over.”Pg. 136 – thirst drives him to look for water. (like RP first did when he was found as a cub???)Pg. 137 – as Pi looks at he hyena, he realises that RP is the reason they hyena stayed on one side of the boat. The presence of RP saved Pi from the hyena.Pg. 138 – two possible reasons for RP’s quietness – 1) he was sedated; 2) he was seasick.CHAPTER 50 – THE COLOUR ORANGEDescription of the lifeboat – detailed – talks to Pi’s character. He pays attention to detail, that is why he survives. Pg. 139 – most of the boat is taken up by RP.Pi describes orange as “a nice Hindu colour … is the colour of survival.”Pg. 140 – Pi is confident the lifeboat won’t sink as it was “a heavy, solid construction designed for stolid floating.”Pi is an innovator – a creator, this helps him to survive. CHAPTER 51 – SEARCH FOR WATERPi searches for food and water. He hasn’t had anything to eat or dring for 3 days. Danger of RP contrasts with his basic need for food and water.Finds these and other things in a box under the benches on the boat. In desperation, he punches a hole in the water tin – uses his ingenuity to open the can with a hook. Determines he has enough food and water for a long time.Pg, 143 – see the extent of Pi’s suffering after just 3 days – will get worse as time goes by. CHAPTER 52 – LIST OF ITEMSPi makes a “complete list” of items on the boat. Gives him something to do. He is bored but this gives him hope. Shows he pays attention to detail. Last 6 items on the list are important – he is a realist.Even though he is faced with such adversity, he doesn’t give up on God. Goes to sleep in the mood of elation. He is comfortable and has hope. Contrasts in his mood escalates. CHAPTER 53 – RP KILLS THE HYENAPi wakes up filled with anxiety and the realisation of the desperate situation he is in. Had to save himself from the tiger. “I’m young to die.” Pg. 148He thinks of giving up but his determination and resilience pull him through. He is prepared to do whatever it takes to survive. “I will put in all the hard work necessary.” “I have a fierce will to live.” See Pi’s tenacity.Pi builds a raft to distance himself from RP – creativity. Uses whatever is on the lifeboat. IRONY – he has to build a life raft to save him from whatever is on the lifeboat. The hyena starts to scream again – senses that danger of RP. Builds up tension. Constant prayer for God to guide him.RP kills the hyena.Hyena’s death is quick and painless unlike the death of the zebra. Unsatisfying to both Pi and the reader. Pg. 151 - Despite his fear, Pi greatly admires RP. This is evident in his description of him. Pg. 152 - Pi describes RP’s stare as “intense, cold and unflinching”. This prepares us for the end when RP leaves without a backward glance – devastates Pi.RP focuses his attention on Pi but Pi is saved by a rat. Pi throws the rat at RP who catches and eats it. Seems unrealistic but highlights the art of story-telling – breaks the tension.RP eats the hyena. Pi realises that RP was seasick. Pi gets onto the liferaft to save himself from RP. He is caught between the sharks and RP. His only hope of survival is the raft. PARADOX – neither one of these LIFE crafts is safe. Both threaten Pi’s life to some degree. But Pi has no choice. Pg. 155.Pi is realistic and practical – uses the rain-catcher. CHAPTER 54 – 6 PLANS TO KILL RICHARD PARKERIn keeping with the weather, we see Pi’s gloominess. IRONIC that he is now so desperate to get rid of RP when at the beginning he was so desperate to save him. But he is only alive because of RP – the hyena would have killed him. Comes up with 6 ways to kill RP. 1. Push him off the boat.2. Kill him with the 6 morphine syringes.3. Attack him with all available weaponry.4. Choke him.5. Poison him, set him on fire, electrocute him. 6. Wage a war of attrition – most realistic but goes against Pi’s nature to let this happen.CHAPTER 55 – PLAN NUMBER SIXWeather gets worse. Pi is uncomfortable and tries to rest whenever he can. He feels isolated and alone.Realises that plan number 6 was the worst of all as his desperation and will to survive will force him to reach Pi. Rationalises that if he follows this plan he will surely die.CHAPTER 56 – FEARFear helps Pi to survive – makes him creative and inventive. Realises if he gives into fear, he will be defeated. CHAPTER 57 – PLAN NUMBER SEVENIronic – RP causes Pi much fear, but he also offers Pi companionship, peace, hope, purpose and wholeness. Gives Pi a reason to survive. The sounds RP makes takes away Pi’s fear of him. “Prusten is the quietest of tiger calls … harmless intentions.” (pg. 164)Pi finds a way out of his dilema. Realises what he must do to survive. Needs RP to keep him sane – ???? reason he tried to save him in the first place???? RP is something from home, something familiar. Pi realises that RP can be trained and they may be able to live together.This would mean that Pi would not “be left alone with despair.” (pg. 164)He is clear, “without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.” (pg. 164) Training RP also gives Pi a sense of purpose. It boosts his morale and takes his mind of his distressing situation. He uses Pavlov’s theory of conditioning with the whistle as tool of conditioning.Pi’s plan for RP changes from War of Attrition to Keep him Alive. CHAPTER 58 – THE SURVIVAL MANUALPi reads the survival manual carefully. Fortunate that his mother instilled in him a love for reading. Pi’s experience in the zoo helps him deal with RP. It is difficult, but preferable to being alone. Pi accepts his situation and addresses the need for survival. Starts fishing. Builds a shelter. Improves the raft. Stops hoping a ship will rescue him.He feels isolated and alone. Depressed. CHAPTER 59 – IMPROVING PI’S SITUATIONPi relies physically on himself but emotionally on RP.Brave enough to keep going to the boat for supplies.Pi discovers that the movement of the life raft has an effect on the movement of the boat which affects RP. He later uses this to train RP – makes him seasick. Even the cockroaches, which have been known to survive anything, have died – depresses Pi. If the cockroaches are dying then he has little hope of survival.Pg. 171 – RP has marked his territory. Fortunately it is a small section of the boat. Pi decided he has to “make the tarpaulin mine.” Pg. 172 – Pi’s desperation and thirst are clear. He has to resist the urge to drink his own urine. Uses his good judgement instead - uses it to mark his own territory.Pi starts to take control of his own situation:Stakes his territoryUses the solar stills to produce waterBuilds a canopyImproves the raftHe also starts to train RP but he is still very depressed. Pg. 174 - Pi’s description is in direct contrast to his reality. Makes the atmosphere seem to beautiful and serene. Greets RP like a neighbour. Uses his imagination to occupy his mind and time. He enjoys the marine life and feels almost in control. It also gives him a little bit of hope – he is finally able to sleep.CHAPTER 60 – MY SUFFERING DOES MATTERPi wakes up that night and takes note of his grand surroundings. Acknowledges God’s creation. He tries to see his suffering in the context of a “grand setting.” Page 176Realises that his “suffering does matter”. Remembers God and falls asleep.CHAPTER 61 – PI’S FIRST KILLPi feels stronger even though he has eaten so little.Tries his hand at fishing – needs to sustain RP as “tigers are not carrion eaters.” Page 178. RP would soon require fresh food or he would kill and eat Pi. Pi uses the equipment in the storage box.Uses his shoe as bait but does not catch anything. Is unable to catch a turtle that comes by and is upset with himself.His imagination is both good and bad – it keeps him occupied but also causes unnecessary worry.Pg. 179 – Pi thinks of what to use as bait – toe/ear – foreshadows the incidents of cannibalism later on when he eats a piece of the Frenchman. RP focuses on Pi but but Pi is saved by a flying fish. Art of storytelling. Previously, Pi was saved by a rat. Pi throws the fish at RP and thinks that he would be able to train RP using the fish. “Where a rat had gone, a flying fish would follow.” Page 180.As the flying fish come, we see RP in action. He was a real danger – could kill Pi easily if he wanted to.Pi is hurt by the flying fish but does not want to lose the opportunity. Has difficulty in killing a fish. “A lifetime of vegetarianism stood between me and the wilful beheading of a fish.” Page 182.He finally kills it with “Tears flowing down my cheeks.” Page 182. He sobs over it and still “never forget to included this fish in my prayers.” Page 183.Explains the emotional ordeal he under goes and how it changes him. It may have been difficult to kill now, but as his desperation grows, it becomes easier. “a person can get used to anything, even killing.” Page 185Finally uses a flying fish head and catches a dorado. Thanks God for this catch. Preserves some for later. Feeds the dorado to RP and blows the whistle several times – training of RP has begun.CHAPTER 62 – NEED FOR FOOD AND WATER – SOLAR STILLSRP is thirsty and Pi knows that he does not have enough water for the both of them. Decides to see if the solar stills would work to get more water.Solar stills work – water from the stills are saltless, drinkable.Pi gives RP water and fish and blows the whistle as RP eats. RP goes under the taurplin – training seems to be working.Another turtle passes by and Pi thinks he should catch one. One week has passed since the sinking of the Tsimtsum. CHAPTER 63 – STRUCTURE OF PI’S DAYPi compares himself to other survivors. Outlines his day very precisely. Note the number of times he prays – never forgets God. Pg. 190 - “Any number of events effected this routine.” Uses every opportunity that comes his way.Pi sees RP as a “distraction”. He stops looking for a ship after a few weeks. He survives because he “made a point of forgetting.” He even forgot “the very notion of time.”The story is in a jumble because his “memories come in a jumble.”CHAPTER 64 – NAKED AND SOREOutlines Pi’s physical suffering – his clothes disintegrate and for months he “lived stark naked.” Page 191.He is covered in “sea-water boils” and is in constant pain. CHAPTER 65 – NO NAVIGATIONAL SKILLSPg. 192 - Pi cannot navigate at all. He is unable to use the stars as navigational tools “so I drifted”.CHAPTER 66 – IMPROVING AS A FISHERMANFishing is difficult. Few small fish were caught and RP was forever hungry but Pi is intelligent and creative. He quickly learns from experience. Pi starts to get better at catching fish – battle for survival. Seaweed starts to grow on the cargo nets. Shows the passing of time. Pi was at sea so long that seaweed have time to grow around the boat.Pi catches turtles as instructed by the survival manual which he reads thoroughly. He is deeply distraught at the levels to which he has to sink in order to survive. “Lord, to think that I’m a strict vegetarian. To think that when I was a child I always shuddered when I snapped open a banana because it sounded to me like the breaking of an animal’s neck. I descended to a level of savagery I never imagined possible.” Page 195.These sentiments would explain the need for an ALLEGORY. (the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalisations about human existence)CHAPTER 67 – PI EATING ANYTHING AROUND THE BOATPg. 96 - Passing of time allows for sea life to grow under the raft. Pi uses them all. “I tried everything but the worms, including the algae.”He sucks the fluid out of the barnacles and uses their flesh for bait. CHAPTER 68 – PI’S SLEEPING PATTERN CHANGESPi sleeps less and RP sleeps more.Pg. 196 - “It was apprehension and anxiety that roused me.” Highlights the deterioration of Pi’s emotional state as well as the deterioration of RP who is not as active as he should have been. Pi closely observes RP’s sleeping patterns.CHAPTER 69 – HOPES DASHED AND RAISEDPi sets off flares every time he thinks he sees a light but nothing materialises. He does not give up hope.Likens the smell of the flares to cumin (a spice used for cooking) stays with him forever. CHAPTER 70 – BUTCHERING A TURTLEPi’s killing of a turtle is a far cry the boy who couldn’t snap a banana because it sounded like the breaking of an animal’s neck. It’s hard work but rewarding. He doesn’t give up as his “determination was grim and blind” (pg. 199). Pi’s desperation is clear and he is now different to the Pi in Pondicherry who was a vegetarian – now drinks the blood of turtles to survive. The turtle’s flippers continue to beat even after Pi has slashed its neck – much like the zebra that continued to live even after the hyena had eaten its insides. After killing the turtle and feeding RP, Pi realizes he has to continue in his training of RP. “It was time to impose myself and carve out my territory” (p 200). CHAPTER 71 – HOW TO TRAIN A TIGERPi starts his training of RP. Does this very systematically. Sets out his plan in 9 very specific steps. Realizes what is important in the training and how to ensure success. Uses various methods to ensure RP is well trained, e.g. whistle and nausea. CHAPTER 72 – TRAINING A TIGERPi’s first attempt at training RP fails. He is terrified but determined to try again. His creativity is seen in his use of the turtle shell as a shield against RP. When he is thrown into the se by RP, he “swam for the raft in frantic strokes, precisely the sort of wild trashing that sharks find so deliciously inviting” (pg 203). This is very different to the Pi from Part 1 who was an accomplished swimmer. Tells of his desperation and anxiety – unable to do something he previously did expertly. His determination to train RP is made easier because of the tiger’s temperament. It takes Pi another 4 times before he succeeds. It was not an emotionally or physically easy task but he learns to anticipate RP’s moves before RP makes them – Shows Pi’s intelligence and knowledge of animals. CHAPTER 73 – PI’S DIARYPi feels the need to capture his story in writing. To him words are the best way to express things – his love for reading from Part 1. He wrote very small as he was afraid of running out of paper. (ironically he later runs out of ink and not paper). His entries are “not dated or numbered” and he wrote about what happened and how he felt. “All very practical stuff” (pg 206).CHAPTER 74 – ADAPTING RELIGIOUS PRACTICESWhile Pi’s mind wavers, his faith in his 3 religions does not. He sometimes needs to reaffirm God’s presence and existence. But no matter how hard he tries he cannot get rid of his despair, the “heavy blackness” (pg 207) that he feels. He adapts his religious practices to help him survive.He constantly reminds himself of “creation and my place in it” (pg207). One of the things that he clings to is that his family “was spared this terrible agony” (pg 2017).CHAPTER 75 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHERHe never forgets his family. Hurts that he is alone and will never see them again. Estimates his mother’s birthday and sings happy birthday to her. Get an image of a sad, lonely boy. Very disturbing image of Pi.CHAPTER 76 – TRAINING RP USING HIS FAECESPi gets into the habit of cleaning up after RP for a few reasons.1. it is hygienic. “Faeces can be infected with parasites.” (pg 207)2. it is significant in terms of training RP. RP is uncomfortable with his faeces being displayed in form to Pi. “deference to me.” (pg 208)Pi holds the faeces in his hand and stares at RP to show his dominance. “I made it clear to Richard Parker that it was my right, my lordly right, to fondle and sniff his faeces if I wanted to.” (pg 208)This works in the training of RP.CHAPTER 77 – DETERIORATION OF PIAs the days go by, the rations that Pi has diminishes. He has to give larger portions to RP. He starts to dream of the foods he used to eat in India with his family. Sadly, the less he has to eat the more “the range of my appetite increased” (pg 208). By the end of his “journey I was eating everything a turtle had to offer.” (pg 210)To Pi turtles were a saving grace. They offered his so much more than just food and blood to drink. E.g. shield, mixing bowls, shelter.He is no longer as discerning as he used to be. Now he eats anything he can lay his hands on. His desperation is seen in the way he eats. His descent into savagery is clearly highlighted in his eating patterns. He had started to eat anything, “no matter what taste. I could put anything into mouth, chew it and swallow it” (pg 211). His desperation is so deep that he even tries to eat RP’s faeces. CHAPTER 78 – A CASTAWAY IS AT THE CENTRE OF A CIRCLEOnce again we are reminded of the significance to Pi’s nickname. He looks around him and is reminded that he is always in the middle of the ocean. “You are always at the centre” (pg 213). He feels that he is never close to the edge/end. He is never comfortable and always constantly exposed to the elements. Death is constantly on his mind even though he has a strong will to survive. “Only death consistently excites your emotions” (pg 214). Life for Pi has become one of constant contrasts of highs and lows. He has to make the best of everything and motivate himself to keep on going. CHAPTER 79 – AN EXPERT ON SHARKSPi observes everything around him and as a result of the time spent looking at the marine life, becomes an expert on sharks. He can identify the different types and eventually catches them. “I caught them with my bare hands as they came close to the lifeboat” (pg 216). The first one that he catches “was my largest” (pg 216). RP attacks it and is hurt in the process but manages to kill and eat it. Pi is happy with the shark meat as it “was tasty and unfishy and the crunchiness of cartilage was a welcome respite from so much soft food” (pg 217). CHAPTER 80 – ULTIMATE MASTERY OVER RPPi catches a dorado but RP wants it. RP is prepared to attack Pi to get it. But Pi is just as desperate as RP. “But enough was enough. I had suffered so much. I was so hungry” (pg 219). He “looked Richard Parker dead in the eyes.” (pg 219) He holds his stare and RP eventually gives up. Pi wins the battle of the wills against RP. He gains ultimate mastery over RP. It gives him some peace as he is no longer constantly afraid of RP.CHAPTER 81 – WHY RP DOES NOT ATTACK PIOne of the main reasons that RP does not attack Pi is Pi’s training of him. Another reason is that RP was a zoo animal for most of his life “and he was used to sustenance coming to him without his lifting his paw.” (pg 220) In other words, RP knew that he would get food and water from Pi. He needed Pi.CHAPTER 82 – INDISCRIMINATE EATINGPi has an obsession with fresh water for a very valid reason. To him it is more precious than “gold, sapphires, rubies an diamonds” (pg 220). Even though he keeps all the rainwater he can get, they constantly suffered a shortage of it.There was also always a shortage of food as “Richard Parker took the lion’s share” (pg 221). Thus Pi is constantly shoving food into his mouth before RP can see. He realizes that he has sunk to the level of an animal on “the day I noticed, with a pinching of the heart, that I ate like an animal, that this noisy, frantic, unchewing wolfing-down of mine was exactly the way Richard Parker ate” (pg 222). This shows his descent into savagery. He becomes like an animal. Survives on instinct. Loses his human qualities and characteristics.CHAPTER 83 – THE STORMTurning point in Pi’s life at sea. A specific storm that damages everything that Pi has worked so hard for. Forces him to live with Pi on the lifeboat as the life raft is destroyed. Pi is “bruised and cut by bones and turtle shells” (pg 224). “The loss of the raft was perhaps not fatal to my body, but it felt fatal to my spirits” (pg 224). To Pi the life raft symbolized some degree of safety away from RP. It gave him a sense of accomplishment and hope. When it is lost he is disappointment and adds to his declining mood.The only thing that survives that gives him hope, is the whistle. It is the only thing that will help keep him safe from RP – very important considering that they now share a lifeboat. CHAPTER 84 – ENCOUNTER WITH A WHALEPi’s imagination is clearly seen in the way he views the encounter with the whale. His creation of the story when he sees the whales is amusing and one of the ways in which he occupies his time. He sees only 6 birds on the ocean – tells of his distance from land. Catches one bird and eats it. He is disappointed as “there was a disappointing amount of flesh” (pg 228). Pi eats “the bird’s heart, liver and lungs” (pg 228) prepares us for his encounter with the Frenchman who intends eating Pi’s heart, liver and flesh (pg 249). CHAPTER 85 – LIGHTENING HITS THE WATERPi experiences lightening hitting the water. He associates it with something “celestial” (pg 229). He is awe of the experience. Shows that to Pi, all experiences are linked to God – he never loses his faith. Pi is able to see beauty in the face of his extreme suffering. Talks to his religious, positive character. CHAPTER 86 – A SHIPIn all his days at sea, Pi only encounters a ship once. He is so excited when he sees it and his hope that he will be rescued and that he will find his family alive and well, is restored. Doesn’t see the need to fire a flare as he is certain that they would see him. By the time he realizes that they occupants of the ship have not seen him it is too late. He finally decides to fire a flare “but aimed it poorly” such that “Instead of surging over the bulwarks and exploding in the captain’s face, it ricocheted off the ship’s side and went into the Pacific, where it died” (pg 232). Ironically , previously when he thought he saw a ship, he would fire of a flare, but this time when there is really a ship, he fails to do so. The ship passes him by and his chance of rescue is dashed. The only way he can survive the disappointment is to focus on RP. “If I didn’t have you now, I don’t know what I would do. I don’t think I would make it. No, I wouldn’t. I would die of hopelessness” (pg 233) He makes a promise to get RP to land. This clearly explains the relationship between RP and Pi who feels responsible for RP. CHAPTER 87 – ASPHYXIATIONPi invents a stupid game of asphyxiation to pass the time. Shows the lengths that he goes to, to pass the time. CHAPTER 88 – TRASHAs we get closer to the end of the novel, Pi encounters more human things. First he encountered the ship and now he encounters thrash. Prepares us for the arrival of the Frenchman in Chapter 90. Unfortunately, even though these are obviously human trash, nothing is of any value to Pi. He does, however, put a message in a bottle that he finds in the hope that it will elicit a rescue.He still has some hope that his family is alive. CHAPTER 89 – FADING ORANGE, FADING HOPEEverything on the boats suffers the effect of the strong sun. “Everything became sun-bleached and weatherbeaten” (pg 234). Things that were “orange became whitish orange”. (pg 235). The sun was so strong that everything perished, including Pi. “We perished away”, “We were two emaciated mammals” (pg 235). RP has become a shadow of his former self and “his fur lost its luster, and some of it even fell away from his shoulders and haunches” (pg 235). Pi starts to sleep for longer periods of time, much like RP. He starts to daydream. This puts into question whether he really encounters the Frenchman in chapter 90 or not but his eating of pieces of the Frenchman shows us that it was a real encounter. Pi’s last entry in the diary is “I die’ (pg 236). He writes in tiny script on the paper as he was afraid that he would run but ironically, he actually he runs out of ink. With the running out of pens and the fading of the orange, Pi’s hope fades as well. He becomes very sick and emaciated. CHAPTER 90 – THE FRENCHMANPi realizes that RP has gone blind and he goes blind shortly after. He loses hope and “clung to life” (pg 237). He states that “the day I went blind as the day my extreme suffering began” (pg 237). He was desperate for water and food. Sadly, he feels that “this physical suffering was nothing compared to the moral torture I was about to endure” (pg 237) – when the Frenchman is killed and eaten by RP and when he eats pieces of the Frenchman to survive. He eventually resolves to die. He is disappointed that he “could do no more for “RP. (pg 238). As he lies waiting to die, he suddenly hears a voice. At first he thinks it is his imagination. Then he believes it is RP. “It was Richard Parker who was speaking to me!” (pg 241) He only later realizes it is another human being when he realizes that the accent is not Indian but French. “It was utterly incongruous. Richard Parker was born in Bangladesh and raised in Tamil Nadu, so why should he have a French accent?” (pg 243) Pi is ecstatic to finally be with another human. “It was someone else!”, “we have each other. That is something. Something precious” (pg 245). He introduces himself to the man but the man does not introduce himself – he is not interested in being Pi’s friend. The man is also blind and lies to Pi about not having food and water. Pi is astonished to have met him. “I was struck dumb. I had met another blind man on another life boat in the Pacific” (pg 245). Most of their conversation is about food as both are on the brink or starvation and desperate for food and water. His conversation with the Frenchman prepares us for the man’s attempt to kill and eat Pi when he says that he has eaten many different things and has killed two people out of need. “It was them or me” (pg 243). The men talk about food. The man’s desperation is seen in that he has eaten cigarettes. Amusing when Pi is disgusted at the thought of eating a boot considering all the things he has already eaten. “You’re suggesting I eat a complete stranger’s boot?” (pg 247). The conversation between the two castaways is ridiculous showing their deteriorated states of mind. Pi calls the man “brother” and welcomes him unaware of the man’s malicious intent. Pi cries when the man finally comes aboard his boat. “My eyes were brimming with tears and I was smiling.” (pg 249) Whilst Pi calls him “My sweet brother” (pg 249) the man “landed upon me heavily” (pg 249) and “His hands reached for my throat” (pg 249). The man clearly wants to kill Pi but Pi doesn’t realize this and sees his embrace as “overeager” (pg 249). Pi is metaphorically blind to the man’s darker intentions. Pi says “my heart is with you” meaning he is very happy to be with the man and the man replies “You’re damn right your heart is with me!” “And your liver and your flesh” indicating his intention to kill and eat Pi. Fortunately, before he can harm Pi, RP attacks and kills him. While Pi is grateful that he was saved, he is sad to once again be alone. “This was the terrible cost of Richard Parker. He gave me a life, my own, but at the expense of taking one” (pg 249). Pi is deeply traumatised when RP eats the man. “Something in me died then that has never come back to life” (pg. 249). (because RP was his alter ego???)CHAPTER 91 – RESTORED SIGHTPi boards the man’s boat and “found he had lied to me” (pg 249). Whilst the man had earlier told Pi he had “no food either” (pg 244), Pi finds “turtle meat, a dorado head, and even – a supreme treat – some biscuit crumbs. And he had water” (pg 250).Pi cries because of the ordeal and this helps to restore his sight. “Crying as I had done did my eyes some good. The small window at the top left of my vision opened a crack” (pg 250). When he regains his sight, Pi is horrified by the sight of the Frenchman’s “butchered, dismembered body” (pg 250). Pi uses “his flesh as bait” (pg 250) and in his desperation “and driven by the extremity of my need and the madness to which it pushed me, I ate some of his flesh” (pg 250). To Pi, “it looked like ordinary animal flesh” (pg 250). He is really upset by this and explains that his “suffering was unremitting and he was already dead” (pg 250). This lives with him constantly and in the same way he constantly prays for the soul of the first fish he killed and the zebra, he also prays “for his soul everyday” (pg 250). CHAPTER 92 – ALGAE ISLANDIn the height of his desperation, Pi makes “an exceptional botanical discovery” (pg 250). It is this part of the story that creates a hole in Pi’s story as this is unbelievable and the island is never found again. When Pi first sees the trees, he does not react as he thinks “it was an illusion” (pg 250). However, “the trees would not fall” (pg 251). He is extremely excited to find that the island was not an illusion but was real. He is surprised by the texture of the trees and algae but does not question it in his joy to be on land. He finds the algae delicious and “began stuffing the sweet outer into my mouth” (pg 250). After eating his full, he tries to walk further in but can only crawl because of his weakened state. This is the same state he is in when he eventually gets to real land, Mexico. Richard Parker also goes onto the island and Pi spends the rest of the day “eating, resting and attempting to stand” (pg 255) Because he is worried about how RP would react to him now that they were no long in their demarcated areas on the boat, Pi returns to the boat. He is very surprised when RP also returns to the boat “meowing and licking the pads of his feet” (pg 256). He only later realizes the significance of this. The next morning, whilst Pi eagerly goes onto the island, RP “hesitated for hours before jumping off the boat” (pg 256). RP seems to have some animal instinct about the island thus hesitates.He is also probably wary as the island hurt him the previous night. The next night when RP once again returns to the boat, Pi is puzzled but believes that he did so as he “was attached to his den on the lifeboat” (pg 257). Pi has to blow the whistle to stop RP from attacking and getting onto the boat but RP is so desperate to get onto the boat that jumps into the ocean and “energetically paddled his way to the stern of the lifeboat” (pg 257). This behavior of RP’s is only understandable later on. The next day Pi returns to the island and sees meerkats. He is fascinated by them. Gap in his story as meerkats are endemic to South Africa. Why would they be on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Finds much comfort in their warmth – never able to cuddle up to RP. Finds fresh water on the island - -excellent find Comes to the island when he was close to death. He is thrilled “I simply laughed and jumped into a pond” – he asks no questions about these anomalies (pg 262). RP is also very happy as he gets fresh food – “devouring one meerkat after another” (pg 262). Both Pi and RP are rejuvenated. (Danger of RP being rejuvenated). RP’s natural instinct returns. Starts to kill more than is necessary – excited to return to some degree of normalcy. Pi uses the opportunity to clean the boat. Pi spends many days of the island regaining his strength. He feels that “He returned to life” (pg 263). Spends his days with RP on the island. Uses the analogy from his name to describe the island. Finds the “islands complete desolation” (pg 264) very strange. To him the island is paradise. Nothing but the strange trees, the algae and meerkats existed on the island. The healthier RP got, the more dangerous he became but it is strange that he returns to the boat every night. Pi realizes the need to reassert his authority over RP. Starts his training of RP again. Question if Pi really trained RP to “jump through a hoop” (pg 267). Eventually Pi leaves the boat to sleep on the island. (pg 267) He sleeps in the trees with the meerkats. (fortunate for him) That night he notices the meerkats running up into the trees. He goes to sleep with them “snuggled up to me” (pg 269) This happens every night. One night he wakes up and sees dead fish rising in the pond. He finds the sight “sinister” (pg 270) and disturbing. Almost as if he realizes that there is something bad about the island but he doesn’t know what. Even more confounding is that when he awoke in the morning, all the dead fish were gone, and they were not eaten by the meerkats. Eventually finds the answer to this mystery deep within the forest. Comes across a tree that seems to have fruit and wants to try it. He had intended to remain on the island “for the rest of my life” (pg 272) but what he finds in the tree causes him to leave the island. He finds that the fruit are actually tightly wrapped leaves around human teeth. He finds a full set of teeth in the leaves on the tree and “Understanding dawned upon me” (pg 273). He realizes that “The island was carnivorous” (pg 274). That explains “why RP returned to the boat every night” – his animal instinct had warned him of the danger of the island. Pi decides to leave the island. He gathers as much supplies as he can. But he “could not abandon RP” (pg 275). His loyalty to RP remains even though he would have been safer and would have had more food and water, he takes RP with him. He leaves with a very heavy heart – it means more pain and suffering for them on the Pacific Ocean. CHAPTER 93 – ALMOST THEREThe rest of his days at sea are filled with “grief, ache and endurance. (pg 276) but he turns to God. CHAPTER 94 – MEXICOHe eventually lands on the shores of Mexico. Ironic that it was so dangerous for him to land on shore. He was afraid that he would drown.More significantly, it is here that RP leaves him without looking back at him. This hurts Pi greatly because to him RP was “companion of my torment, awful, fierce thing that kept me alive (pg 277) Theme of anthropomorphism. He expected RP to feel the same way about him as he felt for RP.Deeply affect by the loss of RP. Feels this abandonment so keenly that it plagues him for the rest of his life. Even when he is found he cries not out of relief but “because RP had left me so unceremoniously” (pg278). Wants to author to tell his story in exactly 100 chapters so the story doesn’t go on forever like his nickname, Pi. It is important for Pi “to conclude things properly” (pg 278) as he never got to say goodbye to his family. He desired a closure with RP that he never got. Pi finally reaches Canada where he initially set out to 227 days ago. Sadly, he is there on his own. PART 3CHAPTER 95Once again see the narrator in Part 3. He had no place in Part 2 – Part 2 was all about Pi and RP. Introduces us to the interview with Pi. CHAPTER 96 – START OF THE INTERVIEWMr Okamoto and Mr Chiba from the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport go to interview Pi in hospital. They want to know why the Tsimtsum sank. This interview takes place 5 days after Pi is found. Pi seems to be constantly hungry. Not really hungry but after effects of his starvation on the boat. They say, “It’s only a cookie” (pg 283) not so to Pi. (Pi becomes a hoarder later on – Part 1)CHAPTER 97 – THE STORYPi begins to tell his story – the story he just told us, the one with the animals. THE – this is the true story but they don’t believe it. CHAPTER 98 – DISBELIEFThe 2 men do not believe Pi’s story. Pi has started hoarding food – hides the cookies under his bedsheet. Tells of the emotional effects the ordeal has had on PI. CHAPTER 99 – THE INTERVIEWThey tell Pi that they don’t believe his story. Pi insists his story is true and makes them float bananas in the sink to prove his point. Much to their amazement the bananas float. The second thing they question is Algae Island. They are unable to locate it. The third thing is the tiger. “not a trace of it has been found” (pg 288) not so unbelievable if we remember Pi’s story from Part 1. He reminds them of many animals that go missing but they still don’t believe him. Pi is upset that they question his story. The fourth thing they question is the appearance of the blind Frenchman. They try to make some sense of Pi’s story saying that the cook on the Tsimtsum was a Frenchman and maybe the two Frenchman were the same person but have no way of proving it. By way of proof, they find the bones of small animals (meerkats) in the life boat but they can’t prove what they belonged to. They ask for “what really happened” (pg 293) They refuse to accept Pi’s story about the animals. They “want a story without animals that will explain the sinking of the Tsimtsum. (pg 294). And so Pi gives them another story. He is the one struggling in the water not RP. The cook throws him a lifebuoy rather than him throwing RP a lifebuoy.Mother is the one who holds the bananas and comes to the lifeboat not Orange Juice. The cook was already on board rather than the hyena. The sailor broke his leg when he jumped into the lifeboat rather than the zebra.The cook cuts off the sailor’s leg in the same way the hyena ripped off the zebra’s leg and like the zebra, the sailor continues to live. Cook eats their supplies and uses the sailor’s leg as bait.Cook cuts up the sailor and dries parts of him up.Mother slaps cook.Cook eats parts of sailor. Cook kills mother the way hyena kills Orange Juice. Pi stabs and kills cook the way PR killed hyena. Pi’s redeeming quality is that he accepts that what he did was wrong. He only kills because of the will to survive. Pi says “Is there anything you would like me to change?” – implies he only changes the story to suit them. Implies the 2nd story is not true. The men realise the similarities between the 2 stories. The second story makes no mention of anything related to the sinking of the ship. Pi says that the ship and its crew were in a bad condition. – sailors were drunk. Implies that they set the animals free. Pi cannot give them any valid information as it was his first time on the ship – Ravi had paid more attention to the ship while Pi paid more attention to the animals. They eventually give up. They cannot find a reason for the sinking of the ship. Neither one of Pi’s stories explains the ship sinking but both explain his suffering and the loss of his family. He asks them which story they prefer. They choose the first story, the story with the animals. Pi replies, “And so it goes with God” – implies they have chosen the correct story. But could also mean that only God knows the correct story. Even Pi may not be sure as there are parts when he says he was hallucinating. CHAPTER 100 THE ENDBack to the author. Conclusion – they have no idea as to why the ship sank. They do not believe that Pi is a credible witness but they admire his courage and loved his story. Case closed. ................
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