Final answer:
In "Life of Pi," Pi cleans up Richard Parker's poop to maintain hygiene, prevent disease, and establish dominance on the lifeboat. This is crucial for survival and managing the tiger's behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Why does Pi clean up Richard Parker's poop?" refers to an event in the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. In the novel, the protagonist, Pi, is stranded in a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi cleans up Richard Parker's excrement to establish territory and maintain a sense of order and hygiene on the lifeboat, which is crucial for his survival.
Cleaning up the tiger's waste prevents the spread of disease and helps to keep the limited space of their lifeboat livable. By doing so, Pi also asserts dominance over Richard Parker, which is essential for Pi to be seen as the alpha on the lifeboat and to manage the tiger's behavior.
This act serves as a vital part of their cohabitation and demonstrates the lengths that Pi is willing to go to ensure both his and the tiger's survival, highlighting the themes of coexistence and resilience.