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Why was Pi going to jump on the hyena? And why did the sight of Richard Parker stop him?
Interesting story about Richard Parker's naming. What about this story gives us insight into Richard Parker's personality or how he might behave today when it comes to temperament?
How is it possible that Pi could be on a 26-foot boat with an adult male tiger and not see him? Is this plausible?
16 comments:
When Pi describes Orange Juice as being Christ-like, he is saying that the orangutan is in a way self-sacrificing and brave. The orangutan had not made much noise or movement until he saw the hyena torturing the zebra. Orange Juice then decided to get up and roar at the hyena. In my opinion, I think Orange Juice was standing up for the zebra and trying to stop the hyena. This scene that the orangutan makes is Christ-like because Christ stood up for what he believed in and ending up dying in the end for trying to save the lives of others.
Pi decided to attempt to jump on the hyena because he knew he was next in line to be the hyena's victim. He thought he might as well put up a fight and try to kill the hyena rather than lay there helpless and let the hyena win. Richard Parker stopped Pi because he realized why the hyena had been hesitant on killing the zebra and why the hyena had not killed him sooner. Now that Richard Parker is in the picture, Pi is safe on his side of the boat considering the hyena would have to cross Richard Parker's path to get to him.
Richard Parker was raised in the Pondicherry Zoo since he was just a cub. Although a tiger, Richard Parker did not grow up in the wild where an animal has to kill and hunt to survive. His food was given to him and he was raised with other cubs and with humans. Richard Parker does not have the instinct to kill whatever is in front of him. This will be an advantage for Pi because Richard Parker will not be aggressive and have a temper. This could even mean that they become close alliances with one another.
Honestly, I do not think it is plausible that Pi is on a 26-foot lifeboat and he did not realize that Richard Parker was on there with him. Although this is not plausible, it acts as a shocker and brings an all new scenario to the novel.
Orange Juice as a mother shows maternal instinct. Whether she was protecting Pi or acting at her own personal defense, Orange Juice was self-sacrificing. Pi refers to her lifeless body as Christ-like to show the symbolism between Orange-Juice and Jesus Christ dying for our sins on the cross. Both Orange-juice and Jesus Christ sacrificed themselves for the good of others. Orange Juice shows Pi not to give up and to stand up for himself in time of absolute trouble.
Pi out of anger wanted to rebel against the Hyena not considering the consequences. Until seeing Richard Parker’s face did Pi realize that his actions were not in a form of good justice. The hyena was not the real enemy, but Richard Parker was. Pi figured that since Richard Parker was the alpha he would take down the hyena first before either animal would notice Pi. Hiding was Pi’s best option until Richard Parker finally slays the hyena.
Richard Parker was born and raised in a zoo. Richard Parker knows no other than the rod iron steel cage and his daily given meal. Although Richard Parker was found by a human, was being cared by humans, and being watched by humans, that does not mean that Richard Parker has any human qualities. Therefore, like most animals when it comes to hunger, they have a natural instinct to kill. Changing Richard Parkers natural habitat from a zoo to a boat causes unsteadiness and confusion, preventing Richard Parker to result in any action against Pi. Richard Parker may be aware of Pi’s existence but is more concentrated on his unfamiliar surroundings.
-Liz Joyce
The orangutan’s behavior is normally gentle and unaggressive. However, Orange Juice’s demeanor suddenly changes when the hyena ferociously attacks the zebra. When the hyena begins to rip apart the zebra’s body and devour his guts, Orange Juice lets out a deafening roar that makes the hyena cringe and retreat. I personally think that Orange Juice was attempting to stand up against the hyena’s murderous acts. When the hyena threatens to hurt Orange Juice, she thumps the hyena on the head. This is a display of the orangutan’s ferocity, savage courage, and bravery. Orange Juice is willing to do what she must in order to defend herself, even if it means she must fight to her death. Like Christ, Orange Juice died a valiant and heroic death. Christ also sacrificed his life in a display of courage. This is why Pi portrays the orangutan as Christ-like.
Pi’s anger almost led him to jump the hyena. Pi realized that the hyena wasn’t the real enemy; instead, Richard Parker was. I think that Pi came to the conclusion that it would be a smarter idea to let Richard Parker kill the hyena than to risk his life in an attempt to kill the hyena himself.
Richard Parker has grown accustomed to the zoo life because he knows no different. Ever since he was a young cub, the zoo has been provided Richard Parker with all his basic necessities. He has never needed to use his natural predatory instincts. He has never been forced to kill an animal in order to feed himself. Thus, he may be a somewhat less aggressive tiger compared to a tiger that has lived in his wild his entire life.
Richard Parker apparently has been hiding underneath the tarpaulin the entire time. I honestly cannot imagine not noticing a full-grown tiger on a 26-foot lifeboat.
I think the story behind richard parker is very interesting. It might suggest that he would have a grudge against the humans, seeing as they are the reason for his encampment. I do not think it is even remotely possible that he didn't see the tiger. Yes, there was a tarpaulin, but considering the original cast aboard the lifeboat its impossible that a bengal tiger would go unnoticed.
Pi was going to jump onto the hyena to establish himself as the animal in charge.Whether that would have worked or not is the question. He stopped when he saw the tiger because possibly he wanted to let the animals fight first. Possibly the animal that would survive would be wounded in some way that would make it easier for Pi to kill it or it would be so consumed in its wounds it would not notice him.
Because Richard Parker was born and raised in the wild he probably distrusts humans more than any other animal on the lifeboat. Yes he grew up around humans who gave him food but he was not raised by them like Orange Juice. He was raised by his mother who he watched kill animals so they could survive. He could turn severely aggressive at any moment. This means that like any other undomesticated animal, he cannot be truly trusted.
I think it is plausible that Pi did not see Richard Parker the three days he spent on the tarp. He could have passed off the noises Richard Parker could have made as a different animal. Pi didn't think that Richard Parker was on board and therefore had no reason to search for him.
The orangutan could be seen as Christ-like by the way she was lying on the boat.
Pi was going to jump on the hyena and attempt to kill him because the hyena would kill him next. The sight of Richard Parker probably stopped Pi because he is shocked that he has been on a boat with a tiger and didn't notice him.
The story behind Richard Parker is very interesting. Maybe the mix up was a good thing, maybe it means that Richard Parker has human like qualities.
Pi may not have seen him because he wasn’t looking for him, Pi did think that Richard Parker jumped off the boat and died.
Pi was planning on jumping on the hyena to establish himself as the alpha of the boat. He thought if he did that, then it would protect him from being attacked by the hyena in the future. Pi was taken completely off guard by Richard Parker. For a couple of days Pi thought that the tiger was not even on the boat, so when Pi saw him, it was a complete surprise, and stopped him in his path.
I find it very impossible that the whole time Pi was on the lifeboat that he never once noticed the tiger. Tigers are not small animals that can just hide and be completely unnoticed. During the time they were on the boat the tiger must have moved or made a noise, where Pi could've been made aware of its presence. That situation just does not seem plausible to me.
Being Christ-like is defined as being like God; selfess, self sacrificing, brave, and caring. When Orange Juice let out that roar in chapter 46, she knew that it would attract attention to her, even though the hyena was as dangerous to her as it is to the zebra. However, she did it anyway. Something I find interesting is that along with those heroic acts, she also dies in the same position Christ dies on the cross.
Perhaps Pi was going to jump onto the hyena in hopes of avenging Orange Juice. It did say that he had spent time with her when he was younger, that Orange Juice practiced her maternal instincts on him. Another reason could be he simply did not want to go down without a fight. I believe Richard Parker stopped him from doing it because he either is in shock or he has a subliminal hope that the tiger and the hyena would finish each other off.
Richard Parker's naming could mean two things. Either because of the mix up in names, he will not act like the average tiger would, or because of the fact he has a human name, he will act more human.
Personally I do not think it would be possible to not realize that a tiger was on a lifeboat with you. I mean, there's a hyena, a zebra, and an orangutan on a twenty-six foot lifeboat with you. There can only be so much space left on the boat, and it can't be very much space. Also, I'm pretty sure Richard Parker would have made noise before now.
Part of the reason Pi decided to jump on the hyena is because he thought it would attack him, but once he realized the tiger was on the boat everything changed. He assumed Richard Parker would kill the zebra, hyena, and then him but I think he has a good chance of surviving because the tiger is used to living at a zoo where his food is brought to him, he's not used to fighting for it.
Referring to Orange juice as christ-like is again related to the big influence of religion on Pi's life. Orange Juice can be easily complared to christ be his courageous selflessness. She gives herself up in a courageous way similar to christ. Its very easy for pi to make this connection given his background. To me its no surprise that he finds religion in the death of orange juice.
Orange Juice could be seen as Christ-like because she was courageous and sacrificed herself by going after the hyena. Her death gives Pi the drive to do something and he goes after the hyena to avenge the orangutan. I think it was the last straw for him.
He was stopped by Richard Parker because he may think that the tiger will eventually kill the hyena, or at least be a type of barrier between him and the hyena. The story behind Richard Parker's naming lets me know that this tiger is used to being fed and has had contact with people. Though dangerous, I think he is more docile than a wild tiger would be.
Although the tiger did hide under the tarpaulin I feel like Pi would have seen it much sooner than he did. The tiger should have moved at some time right? It just doesn't seem plausible to me that the tiger went unnoticed.
Pi was going to jump the hyena because the hyena was begining to become a threat to him. The animal had just killed the closest thing Pi had to a friend, so Pi seems to want revenge. The sight of Richard Parker makes him stop to think about his actions. Seeing the tiger makes him realize that there are bigger problems then the little hyena.
orange juice could be seen as Christ like by the way he roared at the hyena while attacking the Zebra. Just how Jesus stepped up and defended us from sin by giving his life.
Pi's brain probably just decided it was going to kick in wit the fight or flight response, and, initially, Pi chose to fight. Richard Parker's appearance made Pi think why try to kill the Hyena when a Tiger is standing between us?
His back story
Maybe.. but I doubt it. I feel like you couldn't help be like "let's have a look around here. Well damn.. that's a tiger.."
The end.
according to Freudian theories, the zebra is Pi's ego or his filter through which he can express his inner animal. it is the first to go, and he is faced with the difficulty of understanding what is right or wrong in his upcoming scenarios. the hyena and the orangutan represent his id or the animalistic part of his mind. it is in constant battle with itself, and is later destroyed by its own self. his super ego or perfectionist is played by the role of richard parker the tiger. he must learn how to tame it in order to succeed with his journey.
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