Part 2, Chapters 68–77 Summary and Analysis
Chapters 68–69
Summary
Chapter 68 describes how Pi’s sleeping patterns changed (he slept only at brief stretches) and how they differed from Richard Parker’s (he slept for a long time). Chapter 69 describes the times Pi thought he saw a light in the distance and set off flares to attract the ship’s attention.
Analysis
If the previous chapters had shown how animalistic Pi had become, these chapters show how great a distance there still is. Pi cannot sleep much because of his anxiety, and it may be false hope that makes him shoot off the flares. Richard Parker just accepts.
Chapters 70–72
Summary
Chapter 70 describes in detail how hard it is to butcher a turtle. Chapter 71 synthesizes Pi’s lessons on how to conquer a savage predator and claim their shared territory. Chapter 72 describes how Pi made shields from turtle shells to protect himself from the tiger’s attacks. Pi challenges Richard Parker four times and fails; each time the tiger knocks Pi and his shield off into the sea. Pi finally conquers Richard Parker after he learns to read the tiger’s signals and to back down before he raises his paw. Then Pi would make his point by blowing his whistle.
Analysis
These chapters focus on the next transformation in Pi: his decision to consciously triumph over Richard Parker. Pi makes himself into a tiger tamer. In doing so, Pi conquers the fear which had reduced him to immobility earlier in his story.
Quotes
It was rights I needed, the sort of rights that come with might. (Chapter 70)
Pi thinks this as he sets out to bend Richard Parker to his will, but it can be taken as a larger reflection on political philosophy. Early in the novel, Pi’s religious sentiments made him wonder why everyone could not simply get along. Now he knows: sometimes force is necessary.
Chapter 73
Summary
Pi wishes he had a book, and he describes how he kept a diary.
Analysis
In itself, this brief chapter indicates just what it says: Pi wishes he had a book, especially a holy scripture of some sort, along to raise his spirits and to allow him to escape. However, in its placement, this chapter also serves as just that sort of escape: Pi needs to think about quiet escape after facing down the tiger.
Quotes
My greatest wish—other than salvation—was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One I could read again and again, with new eyes and a fresh understanding each time. Alas, there was no scripture in the lifeboat.
Pi’s thought here marks several points. First, it is another stage in his development in his new niche; he has time and energy for leisure. Second, it marks his ongoing character that he thinks of this sort of book as scripture (a holy book). Third, it is a kind of structural loop, for Pi ends up telling/writing this sort of story himself.
Chapters 74–75
Summary
Pi tries to elevate his spirits through religious rituals in chapter 74 and through singing “Happy Birthday” to his mother in chapter 75.
Analysis
Here Pi tries to master his moods and his larger environment in a fashion similar to the one that worked on Richard Parker. He is not as successful. He can drive the despair away with words, but it always comes back.
Chapters 76–77
Summary
Chapter 76 describes Pi’s practice of cleaning up after Richard Parker in order to keep him healthy. Pi uses this practice to enforce their positions in the hierarchy, with him on top. He then describes how he reduced his intake of formal rations and shifted more of his diet to food at hand, like fish and turtles. At one point, extreme with hunger, Pi tries eating Richard Parker’s feces.
Analysis
These chapters emphasize how severe Pi’s situation is and how divided: he is at once ruler over a tiger, due to will alone, and so pathetic that he eats the big cat’s feces.
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Part 2, Chapters 58–67 Summary and Analysis
Part 2, Chapters 78–87 Summary and Analysis