Invention in Ishmael

In Ishmael, Quinn uses the invention of the character of Ishmael as a tool to more effectively express his ideas. Ishmael, as a gorilla rather than a human, has a sort of outside, almost unbiased view of the human race, and can therefore give a picture of the human race from the eyes of someone not affected by "Mother Culture." He also has experienced captivity, which is a reason behind why he is able to recognize the captivity of humans within their own society. The fact that he's had students in the past, all of which failed, also adds to the urgency of his message, because the fact that he's still trying suggests that it's something important. Ishmael is not human, yet he possesses the ability to communicate with humans in an effective, clear manner, and therefore is able to try to help them. Another factor that makes Ishmael effective as a the character of a teacher is that he uses Socratic dialogue in his teaching, getting the narrator of the story to understand the idea for himself rather than having it told to him. This creates a better understanding of the idea, and a better understanding of the idea for the reader, because the reader sees all the dialogue that results in the conclusion.