Life Of Pi And Richard Parker's Conversation On The Brink Of Death

In the novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel suggests how an individual seeks truth and meaning from challenging decisions made in their past allowing them to live with their own reality. More specifically, the meaning of Pi and Richard Parker’s conversation on the brink of death, or the significance of the investigation, or the fact that Richard Parker abandoned him and is “hiding somewhere (that no one will ever) find him.” (pg 352)
On the brink of death “it’s astonishing what you hear when you’re alone in the blackness of your dying mind” (pg 269) because as Pi was on what seemed like the last length of his life, the readers receive an omniscient view of Pi and all his thoughts. Martel establishes a peaceful vegetarian side in Pi while constantly contrasting this with a
savage carnivorous aspect. Even though there is such polar differences between the two, the readers “must take (the lives) the way (they) come and make the best of it”(pg 91) because although Pi can not accept the truth he must bestow all his difficult decisions or in this case a animalistic side onto Richard Parker. Martel continuously makes the readers question whether Pi is truly alone by himself. Therefore he would be talking to himself, which is not unlikely because of the effects of starvation but since he can not live with the animal he has become and would rather be a human with “boastful pride”(pg 274). Although underneath it all, Martel suggests “all living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways”(pg 6) and through this act of survival moral standards can be beaten out.
Curiosity drives all humans to discover and uncover the untold truths of the world, however when a story is being expressed there's a certain aspect of the story that is influenced by the needs of the person telling the story. Martel explains “storytelling” as a unique version that best suits us at the time because everything wants to live stress free or in Pi’s case they want to live at peace with themselves and their actions. The interrogators are those that seek their idea of the truth because they find themselves not at peace distinguishing “the possible from the impossible” (pg 371) in the stories. Two stories, both share similar attributes however Martel explores the unsettling truth about the paranelness between humans and animals. Both interrogators decide they like the animal version of the story better - Martel created this specifically to show how individuals force themselves to believe a truth that humans are not capable of acting like such animals without remorse or compassion but “when your own life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival.”(pg 151).
Pi never had a chance to say goodbye to Richard Parker and in doing so Martel made Pi never able to say goodbye to that side of himself because it has been driven into the forest.
After the threat of survival has diminished by the presence of land the necessity for Pi’s animal will to survive (Richard Parker) can leave but “it is true that those we meet can change us” (pg 25) drastically and forever. The author makes a great point about individuals need something to cling onto or a purpose for their life to feel wanted because if not then they become lost. Throughout the story Richard Parker becomes the life source of Pi because to get past the tragic accidents that occurred he needed something to live for other than himself that kept his mind at a distance. “The bungled goodbye”(pg 360) had left an enduring mark on Pi because “it’s important in life to conclude things properly”(360) which is ironic because Martel created a character that’s nickname is infinite and never concludes.
Throughout the novel LIfe of Pi, Yann Martel proposes how people pursue an explanation and correctness for any past mistakes that could potentially allow themselves to thrive in their life. This thematic idea is
evident