Analysis That Pi survived, possibly with Richard Parker rather than alone with only horrible memories of his mother’s death and his taking the life of another person, brings the novel to a conclusion that is, although still unreliable, as close to truth as one can get. Although so much of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 100: The ReportSummary and Analysis Chapters 95–99: The Interview
The two officials are very skeptical of Pi’s entire story and try to refute it by questioning simple details, such as whether or not bananas float. Pi becomes frustrated with the two men and yells at them, saying that they are incredibly ignorant of how many animals escape and are […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 95–99: The InterviewSummary and Analysis Chapters 93–94: The End of the Journey and Rescue
Pi is rescued by local people, who bathe, feed, and clothe him. Analysis Despite the dramatic shipwreck, the detailed journey, and the devastating near miss of being rescued by the freighter, the end of Pi and Richard Parker’s journey is uneventful, with a lack of riveting details. The account of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 93–94: The End of the Journey and RescueSummary and Analysis Chapter 92: The Island
However, in time Pi makes the disturbing discovery that the island itself is actually a predator. At night the ground becomes charged and lethal, killing and consuming anything on or below its surface. Pi arrives at this conclusion when, pulling back the layers of what he thinks is a piece […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 92: The IslandSummary and Analysis Chapters 90–91: The Frenchman
Pi then hears another voice. It is a Frenchman on another lifeboat who has also lost his sight. Both clinging to life and sanity, he and Pi tell each other nonsensical stories about bananas and discuss their survival methods. Pi is overjoyed to have a human companion and invites the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 90–91: The FrenchmanSummary and Analysis Chapters 50–89: Survival with Richard Parker
Pi also confronts the reality of trying to survive while sharing the lifeboat with Richard Parker. After carefully reviewing his options, he concludes that he will have to keep the animal alive. Only by caring for the tiger can Pi protect himself from being killed and eaten by him. All […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 50–89: Survival with Richard ParkerSummary and Analysis Chapters 43–49: The First Days in the Lifeboat
The hyena does, indeed, consume both animals. It first eats the zebra alive, which is a horrific and lengthy process. Pi discusses the nature of hyenas in detail, specifically how they are capable of cannibalism and drinking urine. Pi has some hope that Orange Juice will be able to fight […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 43–49: The First Days in the LifeboatSummary and Analysis Chapters 33–42: The Ship’s Sinking
Pi is incredibly surprised when crew members throw him overboard, with a lifejacket, into a lifeboat. Pi sees animals drowning all around him and instinctively begins to rescue Richard Parker, though he does realize what a suicidal move this truly is. Pi watches the ship sink, sure that he will […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 33–42: The Ship’s SinkingSummary and Analysis Chapters 16–32: Religion
Pi’s simultaneous belief in three religions meets with skepticism and outrage from the religious leaders of his community and puzzlement from his family. One day he is the center of a confrontation in the marketplace involving his family and all the religious leaders and mentors he has been worshiping with […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 16–32: ReligionSummary and Analysis Chapters 1–15: Names, Titles, Reality
Pi speaks at great length about the relationship between humans and animals. Pi’s father feeds a goat to a tiger to illustrate how completely wild the zoo’s animals truly are and that they are not to be thought of as pets or people. But the most dangerous animals, Pi’s father […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 1–15: Names, Titles, Reality