Sociological novels are those that advocate social change, or make moral observations. Ishmael clearly fits within this category. These novels are often called "problem novels." For Ishmael, the problem is human's selfishness, and the effect of that selfishness on the environment. The change for which Ishmael advocate is one of sustainability. The primary teacher in this novel is a gorilla, a challenge to the concept of human superiority. This gorilla shows that humans are making a false mythology, and many assumptions, about their role on Earth. he challenges the preconception that humans are the end point of evolution, and challenges the related assumption that as such, humans are entitled to treat their environment however they wish. Additionally Ishmael defines civilized humans as takers. They believe they are morally superior and more advanced, but in reality their lasting effect is a negative one, created by their own selfishness.
Ishmael advocates for a social change, and hopes to confront the problems above.
I agree with you that Ishmael is a sociological novel. I believe the point of the novel is to advocate for social change or at least point toward what is morally right for our environment and world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I really like you observation that the teacher being a gorilla is a challenge to human superiority. I thought the same myself as I was reading. The "problem" in this problem novel is the wastefulness of humans and the destructive path that we are going down, so it is fitting that the teacher be what we humans believe to be superior to: gorillas. It is a commonly held belief that we evolved from apes, but this problem novel begs the question: Are we truly superior than what we have evolved from? It seems Quinn is challenging that notion and saying that we have devolved in our current state. We are destroying the planet that we inhabit; something that seems far from evolutionarily superior to a gorilla who has come to live in harmony with its environment. We, as humans, do just the opposite of that. Every move we make is deteriorating our planet. Ishmael is trying to convey the message that possibly we are no better off in our superior state than we were when we lived in harmony with the Earth. This, and what its solution should be, is the problem this sociological novel presents...