The book is scattered with acts of cruelty and a lot of them resulting in Pi becoming a stronger and bold character. Towards the end of the book, we see one significant act of cruelty that leaves hurt and the reader is left confused, that is the quick and rather sudden departure of Richard Parker. Now, there is two reasons for the cause of the pain that Pi endures depending on the story one believes. These reasons relate to the them and displays the change Pi goes through as a character and the way we interpret him.
Some textual evidence to support my thesis would be on page 285, “I was weeping because Richard Parker had left me so unceremoniously. What a terrible thing it is to botch a farewell” assuming the first story is true, this shows a lot about the true meaning of Pi’s suffering towards the end of the book, he was overcome with emotion and the idea that he would never see him again. The animal he had bonded with so much and the only thing in this world that could truly empathize with him the terror that had carried with them both. The days in and days out of suffering and anguish. The sole thing that kept him sane. The thing that gave his life meaning. The thing that kept him going because if Pi died, Richard Parker died with him. Pi humanized Richard Parker to the point where wasn’t even seen as a tiger anymore. So, to see that relationship end within a matter of seconds with no second thoughts was just crushing to Pi.
This act of cruelty is related to theme of the story that is to move on and to use the experiences you’ve gone through to help you later in life. The relationship between Richard Parker was the only thing that helped Pi cope with all the pain and loss that he had gone through. Losing Richard Parker helped Pi move on from these traumatic experiences and Richard Parkers quick departure left Pi with a sense of fortitude. However, now assuming the second story is true adds a completely new layer of meaning to the reason of Pi’s despair. Pi is still really upset when Richard Parker leaves but in knowing that richard parker is not a physical being, then why is Pi still sad? What does richard parker represent that Pi is so heartbroken when it is gone?
Richard Parker was Pi, but a different side of Pi, he was someone who wasn’t afraid to take initiative and take charge, but rather shined bright in the face of danger. Pi had never been one who would take risks and was a courageous character, he was always more cautious and fearful. However, put under these very stressful conditions caused something to come out and him that reader and even Pi himself had only seen mere glimpses of, this was Richard Parker. We see Pi blossom into a character that would hardly harm a bug to a man that brutally murdered a man out of pure fear and selfishness. So, as Richard Parker leave, it’s a piece of Pi’s mental state and behavior going away. While the reader may see that as a good thing, Pi, being the outspoken person he is, liked the ambitious and stronger side of himself that he usually could not seem to be without Richard Parker. This applies to the theme because it since it serves as crucial motivation that even though Richard Parker has left doesn’t mean Pi has to be stuck being a scared and overall tentative character, Richard Parker taught Pi a lot about himself.
Pi endures through a lot at such a young age, this has a lasting effect on him mentally, the act of cruelty of Richard Parker’s absence leaves a lasting impression on Pi that he will carry with him forever and applies to the theme of moving on and to use the experiences you’ve gone through to help you later in life. This act also reveals a lot about the strength that Pi gained from his journey and also that same strength he will carry with him.
