In the novel Life of Pi, protagonist Piscine Patel, characters Richard Parker (tiger) and the zebra, quickly develop survival skills on the life boat.
Piscine Patel (Pi) is a young boy from India. He lives with the comfort of his Mother, Father and younger brother Ravi. Santosh, Pis father, is a zoologist and he owns the Calcutta zoo. When the family travels to Canada on the Tsimtsum it sinks and tragedy rages. With a tiger, zebra, hyena and orang-utan aboard, the lifeboat Pi has a lot to deal with. Low supplies of food and water make everything more difficult. Pis life is on the line but somehow he learns to overcome his fear and make the best of his situation.
Pi, Richard Parker and the zebra all learn how to develop survival skills while on the lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Pi is a very strong boy, both physically and emotionally. Any obstacle that you throw at him, he will find a way to get around it, no matter how difficult it may seem.
[I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, so long as god is with me. I will not die. Amen] (pg. 212)
Pi has great determination. By saying this he gained his strength and remembered who he was. Sometimes telling yourself how powerful you are, helps you find a way to tackle the situation.
Was there any reward greater than life? Any punishment worse than death? ... My fear was dominated. Survival was at hand. (pg. 237)
Pi realizes how lucky he is to be alive and how precious life is. He doesnt want to give up. His strength overpowers his weakness and he focuses on staying alive.
The elements allowed me to go on living. The life boat did not sink. Richard Parker kept out of sight. The sharks prowled but did not lunge. The waves splashed but did not pull me off. (pg. 152)
Despite Pis situation, everything seemed to be going his way. Rather than dwelling on the negative, he focused on the positive.
Ultimately, this productive attitude helped Pi achieve survival in every sense.
Pis great determination pushed him to the very limit and he constantly fought despair.
I had not had a drop to drink or a bite to eat or a minute of sleep in 3 days. Finding this obvious explanation for my weakness brought me a little strength ... Truly by comparison, a tiger was nothing. (pg. 193 194)
Pi is going through some very rough moments. He is starving, dehydrated and exhausted.
And I survived because I made a point of forgetting ... I did not count the days or the weeks or the months. I survived because I forgot even the very motion of time. (pg. 277)
If you keep track of the things that are not important misery creeps up on you and takes over. Pi focused on the more important things like finding supplies, food, and water, and most importantly staying out of the sun.
I kept myself busy. That was one key to my survival. On a lifeboat, even on a raft, theres always something that needs doing.(pg. 274)
Pi was constantly doing something aboard the ship. He never procrastinated on doing his work. He found that staying busy helped time pass.
Pi had the courage to overcome certain obstacles without fear. He was very confident and brave.
Pi is adjusting to life at sea.
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