Life of Pi Blog

The theme of the second part of the book, once Pi is on the boat, is essentially written about the relationship of fear and its effects on Pi's life. In one sense he is afraid of the tiger, but at the same time he is fearful of his life. So the majority of the chapters revolved around his daily activities and which fear they complied to. Yet it is also fear that controls Richard Parker, the whistling and blowing demonstrate the power that Pi assumes over Richard Parker. In this sense you could say that Richard Parker and Pi are on the same boat (how punny!) Yet it is the fear of death that gives the will to live. When Pi accepts that he has the will to live, he lives. In fact a large part of the book while on the boat is comprised of deciding that death is the greatest fear, not Richard Parker, and by achieving this knowledge Pi can begin to live harmoniously. As Pi stated on page 274, "Only death consistently excites your emotions whether contemplating it when life is safe and stale, or fleeing it when life is threatened and precious." Ironically however, the one thing that Pi initially feared was the dangerous animals. But through his trial to survive he became exactly what he feared-- an animal.