"Suddenly, his brute strength meant only moral weakness. It was nothing compared to the strength in my mind..."

Life of Pi 

A novel by Yann Martel

Part Two: The Pacific, Chapters 56-89

 

"I had to tame him. It was at that moment that I realized this necessity. It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me. Most likely the worst would happen: the simple passage of time, in which his animal toughness would easily outlast my human frailty."

In my third posting on the novel, it's still hard to tell if I really like this story. It's interesting, to say the least. In the beginning of this portion of Pi's journey, tension is still on the rise between Richard Parker the tiger and Pi himself.

Pi pulls out the survivor manual he once found in the lifeboat. Curious, he delves into everything the book has to offer him through advice and tactics. He comes to the realization that he needs to handle two things: fishing and creating a shelter. Meanwhile, Richard Parker has clearly "marked" his territory. Pretty disgusting. To make matters worse -- Pi did the same and marked his own.

Here, I can see how Pi has begun to really become one with nature. His transformation is heavily displayed throughout this section. As he becomes one with natural life and the surrouding elements, he begins maintenance on the raft, water system, and shelter/lifeboat. He eats his rations and basks in the ocean and wildlife surrounding his world.

Lifelong, Pi has been a vegetarian and pacifist. That philosophy quickly goes down the drain...he kills a fish with his bare hands! Ewwwww.

By Chapter 62, it has been one week since the shipwreck. In the next few chapters, Pi has counted a total of 227 days as the lost, deserted seaman. Likewise, he has developed several every day chores and activities to stay busy and keep a routine. He feeds himself as well as Richard Parker, keeps the vessels clean and functioning properly, and stimulates his mind by praying, writing, and resting. In order to stay sane, Pi had to forget the notion of time completely...who wouldn't? After 227 days, I would definitely be in a panic.

Time passes and Pi's clothes deteriorate...causing sea boils from the wetness. Okay. Too. Much. Information. That is really disgusting.

He becomes better and better -- a natural, you could say -- at fishing. He learns to use a net and soon catches more fish than he is able to eat. Pi spends hours observing sea life...there isn't much else to do, after all.

 Pi sticks pretty closely to his survival guide. One piece of advice -- drink animal blood to quench the thirst. So -- Pi drank TURTLE blood. Ick. He begins thinking of his own survival guide -- of training and taming a wild creature in a lifeboat while at sea. Pi keeps a diary to recount the daily events, as well.

Here's what made me almost put the book down -- Both Pi and Richard Parker defecate once a month due to constipation and high protein dieting...once, Pi tried to EAT Richard Parker's feces. I draw the line there. That is absolutely repulsing.

Pi becomes almost too good and too natural when it comes to the wild. Whether catching a shark with his bare hands or wolfing down his food, Pi has transformed into an animal.

At the close of this section, Pi endures several storms at sea. Whether physically or emotionally, Pi has faced many trials and tribulations. A tanker -- rescue ship, Pi thought -- gave Pi false hope. Pi sent out a message in a bottle through the ocean. Defeated, Pi is just sure he is nearing death. His pen loses its ink. He begins sleeping more and more. And Pi eventually goes blind and faces delirium.

His crazy bizarre incident is a great indication of his delirium -- a French accent "voice" who turns out to be a cannibal. Okay, Pi...

The plot is interesting (that's an understatement), but who could come up with this stuff?! It's nuts...I can't wait to find out how he'll make it back to civilization. The question is -- will he be able to function in society ever again?