Chapters 62-69

Chapter 62

Pi checks the solar stills and notices they have about 1L of water each. He gives some to Richard Parker and gives him food as well. He makes sure the tiger knows Pi is in charge.

As soon as Pi found the water attached to the solar stills, he immediately compared them to a cow, "'My sweet sea cow!' I exclaimed to the solar still." (Martel 207) Once again, this shows how deeply rooted animals are in Pi's mind.

It's also interesting that Pi notes Richard Parker's area is becoming more and more like a zoo enclosure. This shows how Pi is progressing while taming him. Pi has essentially followed in his father's footsteps and became a zookeeper in his own right. Like his father, he relies on reason and faith in himself.

Chapter 63

Pi steps back and looks at his journey as a whole. He mentions that he survived on the boat for 227 days. He credits his prayers and Richard Parker for keeping him busy.

This shows how closely related zoology and religion are for Pi. The two things that managed to keep him occupied were religions and animals (Richard Parker and fish).

Chapter 64

Pi talks about how his clothes disintegrated and he got boils from the salt water.

Chapter 65

Pi tries to decipher the survival handbook to no avail. He has no knowledge of stuff like latitude and longitude. He realized he can't control where he goes, that's up to the wind and currents.

It surprised me that he didn't credit where he goes to God, but I suppose maybe God controls nature.

Chapter 66

Pi wasn't having much success with traditional methods of fishing, so he began impaling them. He also began catching and killing turtles.

This shows Pi is slipping further and further from humanity. Like the orang-utan, Pi is no longer the Pi he once was. His personality is fading, being replaced by instinct.

Chapter 67

Pi is getting extremely bored of the monotony that is his life. He became attached to the sea critters that lived on the bottom of the boat as they gave him something to watch. He also enjoyed eating the crabs on the life boat.

It's interesting that the first time something happens, Pi becomes enthralled by it. As this is the first mention of the new found sea life, the reader is given a great description of it because Pi is so interested in it. As it becomes just the same old, I doubt it'll even be mentioned again.

Chapter 68

Pi's favourite distraction is Richard Parker. For the most part, he just watches him.

Chapter 69

Pi saw lights in the distance and, thinking they were ships, he set off his flares. The smell of the used hand flares reminded him of cumin, which reminded him of back home.

This helped Pi stay sane as he could essentially imagine himself back at home as soon as he smelled one. This helps him put his dire situation out of his mind and relax for a few minutes.