As an expert in literature and a fan of the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, I can provide some insight into how the tiger in the story, Richard Parker, got his name.

In the novel, the protagonist, Pi Patel, is asked by a writer about the origin of the tiger's name. Pi explains that the name was chosen somewhat randomly from a list of names when he was registering the tiger at a zoo. The name Richard Parker was not a deliberate or symbolic choice but rather an arbitrary selection. However, upon reflection, Pi notes that the name has a certain ring to it and seems fitting for the tiger.

After the novel was published, some readers and scholars have speculated that the name might have deeper meanings or connections to other literary works where a character with the same name appears, such as in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket." This has led to discussions about possible intertextuality and thematic connections, although these are not explicitly confirmed by the author.

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The importance of the Tiger being named Richard Parker is because it makes Pi's tiger seem even more human. He receives this unusual name through "clerical error" (ch. 48), he is supposed to be named Thirsty, by the hunter who captures him.read more >>