Tiger as The Best Companion for Pi in "Life of Pi"

I believe a tiger was not the best companion for Pi to have on the lifeboat with him. Tigers are not domesticated creatures they are wild animals. Tiger were not breed to be tamed or trained they are violent creatures that cannot control their actions. Director of Nee stork City’s Bronx’s Zoo states “No matter how tame a tiger might seem, it isn’t tame. Dogs and cats have been bred for thousands of years to live with humans. Tigers haven’t. They’re wild animals.” This explains why Pi was having such a hard time trying to train Richard Parker while in the lifeboat. In chapter 92 of “Life of Pi”, Pi tries to train Richard Parker by using Richard Parker’s seasickness against him and also the sound of an orange whistle Pi finds in the lifeboat. Pi utilizes both of these things to his advantage. To get the tiger to respect and obey him Pi blew the whistle that he had and also rocked the lifeboat. The tiger then begins to realize that the sea sicknesses he is feeling is linked to the sound of the whistle. This means Pi was seen as the dominant.

But this also can create tension between the “dominant” and the tiger. “People who perform with tigers constantly assert dominance over the animals, and that can create backlash. For that reason, says Paquette, it is surprising that Roy Horn and his partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, have not been attacked before. A tiger, especially one under stress, is a time bomb waiting to go off.” This is true because in chapter 92 when Pi and Richard Parker where on the algae infested island Richard Parker went at full speed trying to attack Pi when he regained his strength. In chapter 92 it states “It was Richard Parker and he was coming my way at high speed. He looked purposeful. His powerful neck rose above his lowered head. His coat and his muscles shook at every step. I could hear the drumming of his heavy body against the ground.” It also states “I fumbled for the whistle. When he was twenty-five feet from the lifeboat. I blew into the whistle with all my might. A piercing cry split the air.” These animals build up this tension towards the “dominant” and this can cause dangerous attacks to occur because tigers are not meant to be tamed. Also, when Pi first tries to tame the tiger he has trouble. He used turtle shells as shields when trying to train the tiger but this provoked Richard Parker and Richard Parker repeatedly threw him over board the lifeboat. In chapter 72 it states “Richard Parker made his point with me four times. Four times he struck at me with his right paw and sent me overboard, and four times ah lost my shield. I was terrified before, during, and after each attack, and I spent a long time shivering with fear on the raft.” He was provoked and threw Pi off the ship because he is not used to a dominant species because he is meant to be a wild animal which is why he would not make as a very good companion because anything could happen. If Pi was not protected by any shield the animal could had attacked and seriously injured Pi probably even killed him.

A better option as a companion for Pi instead of Richard Parker would have been a dog. I say this because dogs have been trained for thousands of years to be domesticated animals. In Lemonick, M. Never Trust A Tiger it states “Dogs and cats have been bred for thousands of years to live with humans.” A dog would have been easier to train and tame. Also, while Pi was at sea for 227 days the dog would have been great company because dogs are also labeled as “Man’s best friend.” I believe a dog would be a better and safer companion for Pi than a tiger. Also, dogs do not consume as much food as a full-grown tiger so it would have also allowed Pi to consume a greater portion of food or conserve some food for the future.