Ishmael Chapter 13: What he left behind

In this chapter we see how Ishmael died. It is quite a coincidence that Ishmael did the same day that our narrator tried to buy him. This could have been some sort of symbolism that Ishmael would rather be dead than go against what he believed. There were several moments in which our character had to overcome challenges. We also explore some of the narrator’s personality for the first time. Although this book had the narrator all along, it was more of a conversation with the reader rather than with the main character. Somehow, it is even more symbolic that, once he finished his teaching with our narrator, he died. Maybe it was his destiny to teach him last in order to show the world what our society had problems in. It is likely that as he thought it was the gods’ decision of letting him die was because his mission was over and he had saved the gods’ garden’s balance. It was very interesting that our narrator was willing to give all of his wealth away in order to take Ishmael with him. This as noble sacrifice as it seems isn’t what Ishmael thought him to do. Ishmael believed that although he was very valuable to humanity it wasn’t right o interfere with eh gods’ plan. If he was supposed to die it was for a good reason. This is what this quote says:
“ I said, “Ishmael is dead”.
After a pause: “I am very sorry to hear it.”
“We could have saved him.”
Patrick though about that for a while. “Are you sure he would have let us?”
I wasn’t sure, and said so.” (P.262)
Although this isn’t Ishmael talking it represents his thoughts for that was his owner for a very long while and it was him who taught him about our culture and how to speak.
“With Man Gone, Will there be hope for Gorilla? The message on the other side reads: With Gorilla gone will there be hope for man?”(p.262-263)
At the beginning o f the book this phrase doesn’t really make much sense but as you read on and as the wisdom of Ishmael is given to you its meaning begins to clear. Ishmael said that man would be the first of creatures to become a self aware and conscious creature. He wasn’t mean to rule the world but rather to guide all of those other creatures who will reach his same level. So if gorilla were to be the next creature to obtain this level of intelligence then we will be the ones to guide them in to a better world rather in to a self destroying civilization. Because of this, if man is gone there won’t be hope for gorilla, apparently. Yet since it was a gorilla who guided man in to this new civilization it makes it rather hard that without this gorilla there will be hope for man. Of course Ishmael isn’t dead for what he lived for and what he taught lives on through the narrator and the other students, that is what he left behind.