Daniel Quinn

Ishmael Summary and Analysis Ishmael is a philosophical novel written by Daniel Quinn in order to address our environmental crisis. He tries to answer questions in environmental ethics by using biblical allusions, metaphors from Hinduism and other philosophical notions. In this essay I am going to summarize Ishmael and analyze important terms and concepts the author uses. In the first part I am going introduce to the main characters Ishmael and the narrator, in the second part I am going to discuss their dialogue and Ishmael’s teachings, and in the third part I am going to conclude what the narrator learned. In Classical Indian Philosophy a teacher teaches the highest truth to his student if the student is ready, which means the student…

in past tense. Furthermore, by adding “he” at the end of the phrase, he excludes himself from being Daniel Quinn. However, the reader must read further along the page to discover this. Hereby Paul Auster, the author, creates a need for the reader to continue reading, which is typical in the detective genre. A few lines later the reader reveals that he is not Daniel Quinn, as he refers to him in third person; “As for Quinn, there is little…

characters, and even the author, are unclear. The protagonist, Daniel Quinn, embarks on solving a mystery for his unknown employer, but as the plot unfolds, he becomes increasingly unsure of his own identity. Thus, while Auster initially presents his novel as a work of mystery focused on the secrets of the Stillman family, his novel ultimately tackles the uncertainty of identity. Tim O’Brien similarly writes In the Lake of the Woods as a seemingly characteristic mystery novel that fundamentally…

In order for the agriculturalists to expand and fulfill their Taker "destiny,” spreading the way of life they believed was right, they had to take land from the herders. This is represented in the story of Cain’s murder of Abel. From here the agricultural revolution took off, and the taker culture expanded, while the smaller leaver culture was almost forgotten, but did not die out. The use of the terms “leavers” and “takers” by Quinn, and his explanation of their historical split through these…

“Ishmael”? I don’t think everyone would know that that’s the name of the main character in the story Moby Dick, do you? Well, the main Character in “Don’t Call Me ISHMAEL” has that exact name. The Author (Michael Gerard Bauer) uses humorous and light-hearted language to inform readers about bullying which is a very serious topic. Not all, but many teenagers can relate to this book's target (to understand the consequences of bullying). And that it’s a horrific thing to do to others and that there…

Through the novels,” Ishmael” and “Story of B”, the author Daniel Quinn provides the readers with a distinct perspective about humans in relation to the global issues in the world and how humans have contributed to them through our modern-day culture. In Daniel Quinn novels, various key ideas are explored which directly or indirectly influence the state of the world due to our lifestyles and personal beliefs. This helps the readers understand the vast social, economic and political dilemma’s…

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…

The term hubris is defined as excessive pride, or self-importance committed by a character that will eventually cause their downfall. There are two types of hubris that can be committed: knowing and unknowing. Although any form of hubris is seen as a terrible thing in a Greek tragedy, if an act of hubris is done unknowingly, it can ultimately be justifiable. In the the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the character Jocasta commits several instances of hubris. In the end, her hubris, also…

The opening chapter of the novel instantly draws the attention and curiosity of the reader since the opening sentence, “Call me Ishmael” (Melville 3). It suggests that the narrator is not really named Ishmael, instead he asks the reader to call him by that name. This implements a great sense of excitement that pulls the reader to continue exploring the mind of this unknown person since all humans have a tendency to be drawn towards the mysterious. Herman Melville captures this perfectly when…

International award-winner Carlos Espinal returns to the New York stages with his solo Peter El Rojo, The Gorilla. The play is a stage adaptation of the Franz Kafta’s story about an ape who learns to behave like a human and becomes an immigrant among them. After rave reviews and awards for its performances in New Jersey and the Dominican Republic, the New York premiere will take place at IATI Theater (East Village, NY), avant-garde Latin Company that for 48 years maintains a solid reputation…