Ishmael Analysis

The book Ishmael is a fictional novel about a man who finds a gorilla that teaches him all about the world and how he views our society. In Chapter 9 of the book Ishmael, the narrator comes back to visit Ishmael, a gorilla who has been his teacher for the past couple days. Normally, Ishmael is behind a glass wall but this time he is outside, sprawled out of the floor. Since the beginning of the book, Ishmael has divided humans into two categories, Takers and Leavers. Takers are members of the dominant culture, which sees humans as rulers of the world, whose destiny is to grow without check and dominate first the planet, then the universe, through technological innovations. He refers to the other culture as Leavers. Leavers are members of tribal …show more content…
However, they worry that he might grow impatient in his quest and choose to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Though the tree would never gave him the same knowledge it gave them (since he was just a man), it would create the delusion that he did have that knowledge. Being under that delusion, he would be able to say anything that he thought was “good” and anything that was “evil”. They worried that if man thought this way then it would cause destruction since he would see any limits as evil and then want to expand until he destroys the world. If he considers himself equal to the gods, Adam would exempt himself from the law that is followed by all other species. He would believe that any suffering he caused was approved by the gods. Realizing all of this, the gods chose to prohibit Adam from eating of the tree of knowledge. Ishmael notes that Takers have always been confused as to why the tree of knowledge was forbidden to Adam. Since they believe such knowledge is of great benefit to man, allowing him to rule the world, it seemed expected that they would be granted it. The world started being destroyed when the Takers decided that they were as wise as the gods and that they could rule the world however they …show more content…
But he thinks it is still not understood, it is a test of Adam’s obedience. But seen from the Leaver perspective, the story is just warning others against assuming that they have the knowledge of the gods. Even though I still believe in the original story of Adam and Eve and what it means, the author did get me thinking about what he was saying. However, if the story of Adam and Eve is just made up, then that wouldn’t make sense because Ishmael had stated before that Adam was the first taker and that he is the reason why man thinks he is superior. It doesn’t make sense to say that Adam is the reason for the Fall of the Takers, but then say that the story is just made up. If it was made up, then how are we this way, and why would the gods forbid us of the fruit if there wasn’t anyone to forbid it to. Overall, I don’t agree with everything he is saying, but I do think that he has a good argument and some good