Mother Culture In Ishmael

In the novel, “Ishmael,” Daniel Quinn introduces two groups of people with an apparent connection with Mother Culture; the Takers and Leavers of the world. Quinn’s intended purpose of introducing these two very distinct groups of people in “Ishmael” is to show an outsider’s perspective on the world’s captivity, the creation myth, and the fate of the world- all of which are often given by Mother Culture. The Takers and Leavers appear to have very different belief systems and methods. The Takers, for example, have their organized religion to tell their stories, while Leavers have their spirituality to tell their stories. As a Taker, one lives by being dependent on Mother Culture and the organized religion apparent in their culture. The basic

As a Leaver, one is considered as part of the whole, similar to how a relationship is established. Focusing on faith and belief in one’s spirituality is important in the philosophy of the Leavers. Unlike the Takers who live off the basic foundations of structure and routine in regards to spirituality, the Leavers are able to explore and imagine in ways the Takers can’t, allowing room for fluctuation. Living under the hands of the gods, the Leavers are always given what they need and they leave the rest for others in the world because they will always have enough for they are provided for by the gods. The Takers, on the other hand, can’t live under the hands of the gods because they can’t even handle not having control over their possessions. Because of this, the Takers tend to ruin everything around them in some way and lower their accessibilities to their resources. The Leavers obviously keep to themselves, but when it’s necessary they help others. The world’s fate should have never ended up in the hands of its inhabitants, but with the destructive behaviors of the Takers, the fate of the world has come to be that