ALTER EGOS IN LIFE OF PI

Untitled Slide

• a second self, or a second persona
• characters who are psychologically identical 

hOW aLTER eGOS aRE seen in the Novel

• Through Richard Parker
• Reverse Anthropomorphism
• Through Pi
• Through The Island
• Through The Blind Man

Richard Parker

Reverse Anthropomorphism

• He is the animal inside of Pi
• Has all the traits Pi finds hard to accept

"Either I Tamed Him Or I Died"

How Pi Uses Alter Egos

• Companion
• Defense Mechanism

Companion

• "I love you Richard Parker" (262)
• If I didn't have you now, I don't know what I would do"
• "If he died I would be left alone with despair" (182)

Defense Mechanism

• Prevent Insanity
• Preserve Morality
• Acquire Animal Prowess 

Acquire Animal Prowess

The Island

• Day Vs. Night
• Life Vs. Death
• Creation Vs. Destruction

The Blind Man

• "Something in me died then that has never come back to life"
• The Blind Man is another side of Pi