Essay

Human & Tiger

       How are a human and tiger the same? They don’t seem like it, especially when one it a vicious, bloodthirsty beast while the other, a somewhat gentle kind, living in their man-made world. But when tragedy strikes, won’t they both try their best to survive? In the book, Life of Pi, Richard Packer and Pi Patel act similar when stranded in the middle of the sea on a lifeboat.

       When they are first on the lifeboat, they both sort of surrey for the supplies that they have to survive. In a way, both have an advantage; Richard Parker has the bodies of the dead animals while Pi has the locker full of supplies.

       Also, these two creatures start to rely on each other. After a while, Richard Parker realizes that he needs Pi to survive and to look after him, well mostly because a few rotting bodies and rainwater won’t last him long. Pi sort of needs Richard Parker too, as something to focus his mind. Caring for the tiger is what kept Pi mentally sane (well, somewhat) and alive. Day after day, month after month, both starve and weaken together and respect each other by not killing one another. Their journey on the lifeboat creates a strong bond between till they are both faithful companions.

       Besides them relying on one another, they also really start to take advantage of what they have. When food comes their way, they really saver it because they never know when the next time they’ll eat is. Same with water. It is never wasted because of how precious it is. When they find the island, Pi eats the algae while R.P. eats the meerkats. Anyway, they both eat as much as they can to finally fill their stomach.

       Human and tiger are the same in many ways when trapped on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. They act similar in order to survive, or at least survive as long as possible. By the end of the book, when they reach Mexico and get off that lifeboat, human and tiger become of the same kind.