Power

This is the hierarchy of animals on the lifeboat. Richard Parker has utter dominance over the others. His physical brawn alone is what makes him the top. He was born a tiger with no hope of becoming something else. Tigers are on top so Richard Parker, with no other choice, is the top carnivore from birth. Using his birthright, Richard Parker is able to use the others to benefit his needs. He eats the Hyena, which ate Orange Juice, and the Zebra. He uses Pi the most because Pi is pretty much his slave bringing him food and water. And only because he was born a tiger.

The same thing happens around the world. People are born to billionaires, others to people without homes. There is desperation among the less fortunate, just like in the lifeboat. They will do anything they can to save themselves from the almost inevitable. What is happening in the lifeboat is exactly what’s happening everywhere.  

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(Forced)