Life of Pi

Pi finds solace in Richard Parker’s presence. Because he feels his death is inevitable, Pi has nothing to lose. He compares his situation to that of a tennis challenger who, when faced with inevitable defeat against a champion, suddenly starts “playing like the devil” (135). Effectively, the odds are too stacked against Pi for him to even care. After finally catching a glimpse of Richard Parker’s full size in his “den” under the tarpaulin, Pi starts studying the details of the boat and calculating his rations (140). He compiles a list of emergency supplies found in a locker, which includes tin water cans, anti-seasickness tablets, vomit bags, parachute flares, a notebook, and “1 God” among other items (145-46).

Pi builds a raft connected to the lifeboat to create distance between himself and Richard Parker. As he is constructing his raft, Richard Parker kills the hyena. Upon fixing his gaze on Pi, Richard Parker is about to lunge, when a rat jumps on Pi’s head. Pi tosses the rodent to Richard Parker, who seems “satisfied with the offering” (153). Pi contemplates various foolhardy methods of solving the Richard Parker problem, but he concludes a “war of attrition” is his best option (158).