Let’s talk about a twist in the
story parallels. In the animal story, Pi
throws Richard Parker the life buoy (99). In the story with humans, the
cook throws Pi the life buoy. That suggests Pi = the cook? (clearly not
entirely, but, I mean, what the heck?) Explore the significance of this and how
it might apply to Pi's need to have RP in his story.
If Pi were to represent the cook, then in this interpretation it could further be reasoned that the hyena represents Pi to some degree. If that is the case, we can further look into the dynamics between the hyena and Richard Parker on the boat to get a better understanding of what it would mean to have Pi = the cook.
ReplyDeletePi mentions that “Richard Parker also explained the animals’ strange behavior… [the hyena confined itself and waited so long to kill the zebra out of] fear of the greater beast.” Thus, Pi implies that Richard Parker is symbolic of something much more powerful than what the hyena is symbolic of. Through the brutal deaths of the zebra and Orange Juice, the hyena likely symbolizes cruelty.
We can see Pi, to some degree, directly displaying a level of cruelty as well, especially in conjunction with the cook in the story with the humans. As Pi describes how the cook cut up a rat for food, Pi also admits that he “had a small piece, very small, behind Mother’s back.” The fact that Pi hid this action from his mother, who is portrayed as a highly moral character, proves that this action was indeed cruel and unnecessary. Furthermore, in Hinduism rats symbolize greed; Pi eating the rat could symbolize his growing greed on the boat. Pi is also greedy when he accepts biscuits from the cook that were supposed to be rationed out. If Pi = the cook, then Pi was wholly responsible for these two incidents.
Now, let’s go back to when Richard Parker killed the hyena in the animal story. Pi is terrified that Richard Parker will kill him, but instead “The hyena neither whining nor whimpering, and Richard Parker killed without a sound.” This silent death is paralleled when Pi details the death of the cook. As the cook dies, “He didn’t say anything. He had no last words.” In both deaths, there is almost a satisfaction that follows because both the hyena and the cook act monstrously in their respective stories; some sort of justice is being served when they die because they can no longer harm others. The silence that follows these clashes between evil and less evil is a stabilizing moment.
After the hyena’s death, Richard Parker accepts the rat that Pi offers, symbolically ridding of greed in the animal story. After the cook’s death, Pi eats part of the cook, symbolically ridding of greed in the human story.
Though, Richard Parker is not necessarily a force of good. He does not actively prevent evil from happening. Rather, Richard Parker may serve as a force of justice; he punishes wrongs after they occur. Then, Richard Parker is essential in portraying certain facets of reason, specifically justice and order. As Pi discusses the power dynamics, on the boat he says that “all of us were prey” to Richard Parker. Pi could need Richard Parker to illustrate that cruelty (the hyena/the cook/Pi), suffering (the zebra/sailor), and righteousness (Orange Juice/Pi’s mother) ultimately operate together under the limitations imposed by justice and order.
--Kelly Liu
Hi Kelly! I really enjoyed reading about your observation pertaining to how Pi/the cook/the hyena/ Richard Parker are illustrations of cruelty, suffering, and righteousness, and I agree! I think each of the characters and their animalistic representations each represent a certain characteristic and you identified exactly what each are meant to emulate. Reading the question, “Pi= the cook”, I took it very literally, but reading into your insight made it much more clear that it’s more representative of characteristics they embody, and how despite Pi and the cook being two very different entities, they are two sides of the same coin of cruelty in the sense that both characters commit cruel acts to other organisms, and this reflection of behavior in each may blend their personas into a singular body regardless of the actual differences between Pi and the cook.
DeleteConner Gruezo