How Does Daniel Quinn's Ishmael Pertain to the Real World - Book Report/Review Example

Ishmael Daniel Quinn’s novel d Ishmael has often been termed as a philosophical novel due to its exploration of themes that concern spirituality, society, ethics, and so on. The full title Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit suggests just the same. The whole book is centered about the state of the world at present and in the future. This theme has been examined through the use of teacher-student characterization, which helps to conceptualize the deeper meaning of the book. It starts with Ishmael, a gorilla who happens to be a teacher, placing an ad on the newspaper looking for a student who can help him save the world (Quinn, 2). The narrator is intrigued by the idea because he had been one of those who looked for a teacher like this during his years as a student. After the two meet, a new story unfolds where Ishmael, the gorilla, enlightens the narrator regarding the world, its cultural history, and humanity. Ishmael classifies humans into two categories including takers and leavers (Quinn, 21). The classification of human groups into two types is central to the development of the book and the synthesis of the philosophical themes which the book engenders and delivers so well. After having faced some hesitation from the narrator, Ishmael explains the similarity between ‘takers’ and ‘leavers’, and ‘civilized’ and ‘primitive’ with takers corresponding to civilized and leavers corresponding to primitive (Quinn, 22). The main idea is here is to highlight the practices of the so-called ‘civilized’ human beings existing throughout the world who feel they belong to a dominant culture. Takers – who see themselves as dominating and one of the ruling kind – do not keep a check of their practices and their actions often lead to adverse implications for the environment in which they live. Takers dominate in every sphere of life expanding their knowledge in science and technology, making innovations but without much regard for the world around them. Leavers include those cultural groups who live simple lives, comprise of mostly indigenous people, and are those who follow the natural laws of life and the earth. While the takers may have achieved the glory of the world through their advances, they may be unaware of the damage they have and are doing to the ecology, habitat, and other forms of lives. Hence, the modern way of life has caused considerable damage to the Earth which houses all humans and other biological organisms that are crucial to the sustenance of the world. Quinn’s book is undoubtedly an exploration into the deeper concepts of life that not only deal with nature in a vacuum but in relation with the various species that make up the natural environment, including humans. In many ways, one can notice the consistency of the book with the different issues facing the world today. It is an intellectual exploration of the world, its cultures, dominance, and hegemony. All of these themes have been examined in relation to the natural world – Earth as a planet comprising of ecological and biological artifacts. While many advanced cultures may have achieved the heights of technological innovation, there is one other stakeholder which is being impacted throughout all the development – Earth. The Earth is home not only to humans but to a wide spectrum of living things ranging from micro-organisms like bacteria to the various classes of the animal kingdom. Although humans may see themselves as superior living beings in comparison to other living organisms, it is a fact that any human action directly impacts all inhabitants of the Earth. In the book, Quinn has deeply explored the state of Men and their development over time which yielded a highly civilized Man on Earth. Given the current advancements in the world, mankind has clearly established itself thus differentiating it from its ancient forefathers. While analyzing humanity and mankind in the book, the author has also explored the history of humans and the emergence of various cultures. In particular, the author has pointed out the social elements that make up cultures. Here the author discusses some mythologies that have supposedly shaped the different cultures. Some “myths” are indeed debatable. This includes Quinn’s depiction of the story of Adam and Eve mentioned in the Bible as a mythological story (Quinn, 109). The point which Ishmael puts forward is that Adam and Eve lived a simple life in the gardens of Eden. However, this is the normal lifestyle of a leaver without having to need the presence of any god to decide who should live and who should not. Quinn has used the Adam and Eve story as a myth and used it to explain cultural dominance. Ishmael explains that the myth of Adam and Eve which the takers use to explain the creation of the world and humans was even used by Leavers at one point in time. But the leavers used the story in order to explain the expansion of the takers’ culture. According to the story, takers believed they were like gods because they possessed the knowledge of God when in reality no one can know this knowledge. Many Christian stories from the Bible have been depicted in ways different than how they are presented in the Bible. While Quinn has used these presentations to explain the difference between different cultures and the construction of ‘cultures’, the making of the world is a subject that has interested the scientific community for years on end. Goliath, the giant mentioned in the story of David and Goliath in the Bible, is spoken by the visitors near Ishmael’s wagon during his captivity (Quinn, 8). Every individual has a name and this does not only apply to humans but to animals as well. The idea of animals having a name is hard to contemplate and the theme revolves around the attachment of a name to an individual as an indicator of identity. Ishmael is told he is not a goliath and it felt to him as though he is not anyone at all (Quinn, 10). However, he is named Ishmael after which he begins to feel like a self again. Name describes an individual and creates a sense of identity for a person. Quinn has used the idea to demonstrate one’s realization of self if he is not his name. The identity of the self holds vital importance in the book. For one, Ishmael is only a gorilla who has a remarkable intelligence and possesses sound knowledge of the world’s cultures. However, he was not always called ‘Ishmael’ as his days during captivity intuitively earned him the name ‘Goliath’. The author tells the relationship between name and identity formation. During his captivity in the circus, the gorilla known as ‘Goliath’ was only a circus animal meant for entertainment of the audiences. But he is told that he is not Goliath. Walter Sokolow, the person who tells Ishmael this also purchases him. However, Ishmael feels like he has lost an identity by not being Goliath which is he often referred to as. But Walter gives him a new identity – a name called Ishmael. Walter also gives him the knowledge and the freedom to follow his need for knowledge. And this is how Ishmael develops from a circus Goliath to a well-read and well informed teacher named Ishmael. What is attached is the theme of identity and that too of a gorilla, which one may not expect to have a name to spark a distinct identity and hence, an importance of his own. Throughout the story, Ishmael gives lessons to the narrator about the world, nature, and cultures all with references to the practices and disposition of takers and leavers. The relationship between takers and leavers in the book holds key importance for the development of the main idea about which the storyline is based. The focus on saving the world is great as it is made clear during the start. Ishmael has a far seeing perspective of the world reflecting an awareness of the implications of Man’s action on the environment and the world. Towards the end, Ishmael dies of pneumonia while being part of a traveling circus thus demonstrating the vulnerabilities of organisms. In conclusion, the book has touched upon several crucial subjects pertaining to the world. It has explored the issues so relevantly that it helps one to understand the relationship of man with other men and that of man with the world. The exploration of cultures as comprising of takers and leavers helps to explain cultural hegemony and dominance which is visible today. The gap between the cultures exists on several grounds but most markedly on the grounds of differing values. The takers seem like the winners making progress in every field however the leavers try to spend a simple life in accordance with the laws of the nature. The myths that have shaped these cultures do not matter and that which matters is the relationship of Man with Earth which is being exploited at the hands of the takers. Works Cited Quinn, Daniel. Ishmael. Firexis. N.p., 1991. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. http://firexis.com/readers/Ishmael-Daniel_Quinn.pdf Read More

Quinn’s book is undoubtedly an exploration into the deeper concepts of life that not only deal with nature in a vacuum but in relation with the various species that make up the natural environment, including humans. In many ways, one can notice the consistency of the book with the different issues facing the world today. It is an intellectual exploration of the world, its cultures, dominance, and hegemony. All of these themes have been examined in relation to the natural world – Earth as a planet comprising of ecological and biological artifacts.

While many advanced cultures may have achieved the heights of technological innovation, there is one other stakeholder which is being impacted throughout all the development – Earth. The Earth is home not only to humans but to a wide spectrum of living things ranging from micro-organisms like bacteria to the various classes of the animal kingdom. Although humans may see themselves as superior living beings in comparison to other living organisms, it is a fact that any human action directly impacts all inhabitants of the Earth.

In the book, Quinn has deeply explored the state of Men and their development over time which yielded a highly civilized Man on Earth. Given the current advancements in the world, mankind has clearly established itself thus differentiating it from its ancient forefathers. While analyzing humanity and mankind in the book, the author has also explored the history of humans and the emergence of various cultures. In particular, the author has pointed out the social elements that make up cultures.

Here the author discusses some mythologies that have supposedly shaped the different cultures. Some “myths” are indeed debatable. This includes Quinn’s depiction of the story of Adam and Eve mentioned in the Bible as a mythological story (Quinn, 109). The point which Ishmael puts forward is that Adam and Eve lived a simple life in the gardens of Eden. However, this is the normal lifestyle of a leaver without having to need the presence of any god to decide who should live and who should not.

Quinn has used the Adam and Eve story as a myth and used it to explain cultural dominance. Ishmael explains that the myth of Adam and Eve which the takers use to explain the creation of the world and humans was even used by Leavers at one point in time. But the leavers used the story in order to explain the expansion of the takers’ culture. According to the story, takers believed they were like gods because they possessed the knowledge of God when in reality no one can know this knowledge. Many Christian stories from the Bible have been depicted in ways different than how they are presented in the Bible.

While Quinn has used these presentations to explain the difference between different cultures and the construction of ‘cultures’, the making of the world is a subject that has interested the scientific community for years on end. Goliath, the giant mentioned in the story of David and Goliath in the Bible, is spoken by the visitors near Ishmael’s wagon during his captivity (Quinn, 8). Every individual has a name and this does not only apply to humans but to animals as well. The idea of animals having a name is hard to contemplate and the theme revolves around the attachment of a name to an individual as an indicator of identity.

Ishmael is told he is not a goliath and it felt to him as though he is not anyone at all (Quinn, 10). However, he is named Ishmael after which he begins to feel like a self again. Name describes an individual and creates a sense of identity for a person. Quinn has used the idea to demonstrate one’s realization of self if he is not his name. The identity of the self holds vital importance in the book. For one, Ishmael is only a gorilla who has a remarkable intelligence and possesses sound knowledge of the world’s cultures.

However, he was not always called ‘Ishmael’ as his days during captivity intuitively earned him the name ‘Goliath’.

Read More