Creation Myth In Daniel Quinn's Ishmael

Daniel Quinn tackles multiple issues with today’s society in his novel Ishmael. Through the viewpoint of a gorilla, Ishmael, who is someone that is not part of the modern human culture, Quinn attacks culture as the source of today’s problems, whether it is conflicting views on moral issues or the problem of global warming. Quinn grapples the issue of the creation myth, from which most problems plaguing Earth today stem and the concept of prophet, which promotes the same notions as the creation myth. In addressing these two issues, ultimately, Quinn concludes that people are in need of a new narrative to play out and that this can be a positive narrative that can help save the world. The novel starts with a narrator, who after hearing the …show more content…
As Ishmael defines a “prophet,” humans are portrayed as people in need of some kind of guidance. Whether its Hammurabi, Jesus, Buddha, or Muhammad, all “prophets” come bearing the true way to live life. “Prophets” are main part of today’s “taker” culture and provide guidance for people, who are flawed and in need of a narrative since they do not know how to live (89, 205). Often times though, a “prophet’s” way of life is not in accordance with another concept of Ishmael, the laws of nature. Like the creation story, “prophets” and the culture they create ignore the fact that humans are part of the Earth and must obey the laws of Earth (99). This leads Ishmael to promote the “leaver” society, or the people who society deems as not part of civilized society. “Leavers,” in contrast to what one may expect, live with fewer problems and tolerate the fact that there are multiple right ways to approach life (147-148). Most importantly, the “leaver” culture does not fight against the laws of nature, but lives by them and accepts that humans will not always be in control. With the world being plagued with multiple problems, according to Ishmael, it may be time to adopt a “leaver” way of