Chapters 64-81

(Sullivan, Kevin P.)

Summary:

Over several weeks Pi becomes a very good fisher.  His favorite catches are sea turtles, although they are very hard earned.  However, this food comes with a price.  He "descend[s] to a level of savagery [he] never thought possible." (Martel 197).

Pi continues to try to tame Richard Parker.  By positioning the raft such that it caused the boat to lie horizontal to the waves, he is able to create a sickening rocking motion that made Richard Parker very seasick.  He starts to blow a whistle so that the tiger associates the sound of the whistle with the nauseating motion.  However, Richard Parker retaliates be knocking Pi off the boat. However Pi is persistent.    On his fifth try, he dodges the tiger and makes his point.  Pi has established himself as the alpha male.

("Opposites Photography")

Pi describes being a castaway as being caught in an endless cycle of opposites.  Light makes the day to bright and dark makes the night terrifying.  The day is hot and stifling and the night is freezing.  When there is food, it is more than one could possible eat before it spoils.  Otherwise there is no food at all.  One moment one is bored out of their mind and the next they are scared beyond compare.

Pi's status of the alpha male is confirmed one day when he catches a fish and Richard Parker fixes his eyes on him, planning on stealing the fish.  Pi stares back intently and ultimately wins the staring contest.

Hyperbole:

Pi experiences many incredible things on his journey.  To convey to the reader the greatness of some of the things he witnesses, Life of Pi contains many examples of hyperbole.  For example, when Pi is starving and he catches a fish he says "It would feed a horde.  Its eyes and spine would irrigate a desert." (Martel 221).  Another example is when Pi discovers that the solar stills have succeeded in converting sea water into fresh, drinkable water.  He says "'My sweet sea cow! ... What a delicious milk.'" (Martel 187).  The solar stills are not cows and the water is not milk but at this stage in Pi's survival the water is just as nourishing and vital.  These are a couple of many examples of hyperbole throughout the novel.

Sources:

Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Orlando: Harcourt, 2001. Print.

"Opposites Photography." Pixshark.com. Disqus. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

Sullivan, Kevin P. "First 'Hobbit' Clip Equips Bilbo For 'An Unexpected Journey'" Movies Blog. MTV, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.