Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore, once said "you cannot cross the sea simply by standing and staring at the water". In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the protagonist, Pi, faces many challenges at sea while accompanied by a tiger named Richard Parker. This tiger, although annoying, proves essential in Pi's survival role. Throughout the story, Richard Parker symbolizes survival, a reflection of Pi, and a being of God. While not obvious at first, the great threat of a tiger on board merges into a symbol of survival for Pi. While Richard Parker is a big problem for Pi, he is not the only problem he faces. Problems such as lack of food, poor drinking water, and lack of sense of direction also cloud Pi's travels. Pi creates a system with Richard Parker to train him and thus establishes a fairly tolerable relationship with the tiger. This relationship that Pi establishes with Richard Parker instills confidence in him. Facing the great threat of a 450-pound beast, Pi realizes how simple all his other obstacles are and how he can easily take care of them too. Furthermore, Richard Parker poses a challenge to Pi because he has to take care of himself and the tiger. As an immediate threat, Pi's main concern is making sure Richard Parker is alive and happy. By keeping him busy and a little distracted, Richard Parker keeps Pi alive and too busy to even consider giving up hope. In a sense, Richard Parker, "the one who scared [Pi] senseless... was the very same one who brought him peace, purpose... even wholeness" because of the unstated relationship between this human being and animal (Martel 162). Pi's purpose gives him a reason to stay alive but also “concern[s] [him] all…half of the paper…wait. Richard Parker's ability to easily end Pi's life at any time also refers to God's power because God has control over mortality as well. Therefore, Richard Parker's divine powers and his abilities to control the human mind connect him to a higher being of divine stature. The complex topics of survival and religion remain prominent throughout the novel. In the journey shared by Pi and Richard Parker, the main assumptions of human nature are broken down and translated through the actions of these two characters. The overall effect of Richard Parker's presence develops Pi as a human and an animal. Ultimately, Richard Parker is a significant symbol and attribute of survival, Pi, and faith due to his actions and effects during the journey. Works Cited Martel, Yann. Life of Pi: A Novel. New York: Harcourt, 2001. Print.