re: Life Of Pi, A Question About Richard Parker?

Actually, you have the choice of 3 stories. A third interpretation of the ending could be that the “truth” is a mix of both stories. Like Pi and his three-tiered faith routine, the viewer/reader can always pick and choose the parts that benefit their preferred version of the tale.

The initial two stories (which leaves us a way to actually choose from three) is set up to help viewers/readers consider which version of the world they prefer – the one where we make our own way and suffer through the darkness via self-determination, or the one where we are aided by something greater than ourselves regardless of which version of “God” we may accept.

Are you a person who prefers to believe in things that always make sense/things that you can see? Or are you a person who prefers to believe in miracles/take things on faith? There are no right or wrong answers – just an opportunity for introspection.