Zebra vs. chinese sailor:
In the novel, the story with the zebra seems to portray the cause of suffering in society, showing that we show pity towards the zebra and the sailor. In both stories, it is logical for the Chinese sailor and the zebra to be the same character, based on their situation, and that all of the other animals have a human counter partner. In both stories, the zebra and the sailor lose a leg. "The zebra's broken leg was missing." (pg.133) and "His right leg was badly broken at the thigh." (pg.338) In both situations, because of his broken leg the zebra/Chinese sailor were hopeless. In both stories we feel bad for both characters because they are both being victimized, although they cannot defend themselves. In the second story, with the humans, the sailor spoke no english, this shows that he is defenceless because he could not even speak up, because no other member on the lifeboat could understand him. Pi says, "We couldn't understand a word he say... It was very, very sad. He suffered and we couldn't do anything about it." (pg. 338) In both stories, the sailor/zebra are the element of sorrow that we feel, neither of them were able to defend themselves, especially against predators. It is logical for the sailor to be the zebra because they both portray the same characteristics, and both of them went through the same pains just in a different manor. Overall, the sailor in the first story is described to be the zebra.
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Characteristics of zebras: As mentioned previously, zebras are the main victims of hyenas, hence how the hyena basically killed the zebra alive. To better your understanding of this situation, here is a fact about zebras. "Known predators of zebras include...hyenas. When danger approaches...running away is its usual tactic, sometimes accompanied by a defensive kick." This quote explains, how defenceless the zebras are, they are not big fighters, only when needed. It is mentioned that zebras, will run away from prey, but again in this case on the lifeboat, the zebra was not able to, hence his death.
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