IshmaelDanielQuinn'sIshmaelisthestoryofoneman'squestforknowledgeandhisdesireto "savetheworld".Answeringasimpleadinthepaperofateacherlookingforstudents(p4),the narratorissentonanincrediblephilosophicaljourneyTheteacherournarratorexpectsisnotthat whichhefinds,however,asourtitularcharacterIshmael,soaptlynamedbyWalterSokolow(p18) ashesensedthegorilla'salmostdivinepresence,isthatteacher.Thisteachingismadepossibleby Ishmael'smiraculoustelepathicwayofcommunication(p21).Ishmael'sname,originallyGoliath duehissizeandpresumeddemeanor(p14),Ifindincrediblyfittingashe,likeAbraham'seldestson, appearstobesentfromtheheavensthoughinthisshowmorecontent
TheLeaversdonotexemptthemselvesfromthelawsofcompetitionwhiletheTakersdo.The Takers,inexemptingthemselvesfromtheselaws,exterminateandremoveallformsofcompetition intheirwayInalessonwherethenarratorrole–playsasaTakertryingtoconvinceIshmael,a Leaver,tolivehislife–style(p222)hecomesupontheconclusionthatbeinghumanislivingon yourowntermsratherthanthegods'andthisiswhatseparatesusfromtheanimals(p225).Itis MotherCulturewhoteachesthissincethedaywe'reborn(p37),thatweshouldliveonourown termsratherthanthegods'andthatweknowgoodandevilandevilislivingbychance.Thus, Takersareonaquesttofindtheonerightwaytodothingsandhenceallourlawsandsuch contrivancescomeintobeing.Controllingtheworldandtheuniverseistheprimarygoalofthe Takerssotheynolongerhavetoliveinanysortoffearandassuchtheyareacultureofthenew whereastheLeaversareacultureoftradition(p205).Quinnrelates"culture"toamotherbecauseof itsnurturingqualitiesand"amongLeaverpeoples,MotherCultureexplainsandpreservesalife–stylethatishealthyandself–sustainingAmongTakerpeoplessheexplainsandpreservesalife–stylethathasproventobeunhealthyandself–destructive"(p148).Thatexplanationiswhatsetsthe twogroupsin
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Haveyoueverdesiredtosavetheworld?That'swhatthenarratorin"Ishmael"wantedtodowhen hewasyounger.Thenarratorwassearchingforateacherandhefoundonedecadeslaterinan unexpectedforminastrangeplace.Uponfindinganadinthepaperforateacherseekingpupils,the narratorcuriouslydecidestocheckoutthissupposedgurubentonpreachingloveandacceptanceto theworldWhenhearrivesatarun–of–the–millofficebuilding,thenarratorisconfused,buttheyare evenmorestartledtofindthatbeyondapaneofglassinanotherwiseemptyroomsitsagorilla.
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