August 19, 2022
The Lost Raft
Late in his journey, Pi loses the raft during a storm (p. 228). Analyze the significance of this loss and what it suggests about Pi and Richard Parker at this stage in Pi's journey. Consider the loss of the raft on both a literal AND figurative level. (Also, you may wish to consider what it means if Pi = Richard Parker)
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Throughout part 2, Pi is faced with a great number of chaotic, dangerous situations in which he has fought to adapt and survive. Originally, the surrounding waters were both a curse and a blessing for Pi, who was stuck in the boat with the tiger and the hyena; a curse because it kept him stuck on the lifeboat with carnivorous animals, and a blessing because it kept him separated from the other animals, particularly Richard Parker, when he created the raft.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to note that Pi created the raft with creativity - a human trait - which he continuously utilized when usage of the raft was possible. As an example, he attempted to fish from the raft - something that animals, especially Richard Parker, don't tend to do. However, it was also on the raft that he strategized on how to keep his dominance over RP, eventually using the whistle and his urine to mark his territory on the boat.
Literally speaking, the raft was the loss of that safeguard that he had against Richard Parker, who, for all he knew, could decide to eat him whenever he wanted to. It was the final step between safety and reassurance, and the wild circumstance of being stuck on the lifeboat with a tiger - Pi was finally alone with Richard Parker with nothing else to keep himself away.
Figuratively speaking, I think that the destruction of the raft represented Pi's environment finally pushing himself to a true 'survival state', so to speak; it was the place where human ingenuity, much like the construction of the raft and the usage of the survival manual or the whistle, would become more or less useless, and Pi would end up having to become something more similar to a wild beast - essentially, primal - to ensure his survival. It was the destruction of his 'humanity' so to speak. This makes sense if Pi = Richard Parker; the tiger represents a more savage portion of Pi, and him ending up in the same boat as the animal is like the two finally having to come together to live on the boat, and of Pi having to rely on his savagery to keep himself alive.
- Hiroki Uemura
Hiroki, I really liked how you related the creation and usage of the raft to Pi’s more human traits and beliefs, and Richard Parker and the lifeboat to Pi’s harsher more savage side. I also really liked, and completely agree with your interpretation of the loss of the lifeboat being like the loss of Pi’s humanity, and adoption of savagery, particularly if Pi is richard parker. However, I would be interested to know your thoughts on the island, as we see many elements of Pi’s creativity, teaching Richard Parker circus tricks and making a treetop bed, as well as him regaining his humanity as well, separating himself from the tiger. Yet, when Pi is forced to leave the island he has to abandon his newfound humanity, and revert back to his savage survival state. What effect do you think being forced to leave the island in chapter 92 has on pi? Is this effect on Pi the reason why the next chapter, the last one before he is found, so short and depressing?
DeleteNathan Hutchinson
Hiroki, I liked how you compared the Pi's different mindsets and approaches to living before and after the raft was lost at sea-- of having a feeling of semi-certainty with regards to safety to a realization that he was truly alone and that survival was entirely up to his own actions-- to really emphasize its significance. As you had previously mentioned that Pi put creativity/ingenuity into his design for the raft, how do you think losing the raft affected his creative mind? Do you think the event inspired a greater willingness to get creative in his methods of survival, or do you think it had an opposite effect?
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