On Monday, we talked about the relationship between mythology and sustainability in Ishmael. I would like to further explain about my thoughts on this particular topic as I have only mentioned it briefly in class.
In the book, there are 2 major references to mythological figures in the Hebrew Bible - Goliath and Ishmael - both of which the gorilla has been named after. Hence, these mythological references have a rather significant influence on the message conveyed by the novel.
The gorilla is named after Goliath by the owner of the menagerie to represent the destructive nature and utter ruthlessness of the giant warrior in order to attract more customers. As it turns out, the gorilla is a tame and docile creature. Mr. Sokolow sees the gorilla as a docile creature as well and decides to name him after Ishmael, a prophet who has good moral values and qualities.
To relate this to sustainability may seem a little far-fetched. However, it makes sense if we throw in some irony into the equation. The gorilla is named after Goliath because we humans believe that animals like it are ferocious, dangerous, and have a tendency to destroy things (just like the representation of Goliath in the myth). In fact, humans are the ones that fit such a description due to our tendency to wage wars, consume feverishly, and in the process, pollute and destroy the Earth. Hence, the naming of the gorilla as Goliath in the novel is can be interpreted as a projection of human nature towards the innocent animal because we do not admit our own wrongdoings.
In the Oxford English Dictionary sustainability is defined as "the quality of being sustainable by argument; the capacity to be upheld or defended as valid, correct, or true." When I further asked Professor Graban about this term she said it usually involves nature. I believe the comparison you gave is pretty interesting. We could view Goliath as this savage uneducated wilderness, and Ishmael as this more civilized self aware being. The first time the pupil meets Ishmael, before he even knows he is the teacher, he just sees a sign that says "WITH MAN GONE WILL THERE BE HOPE FOR GORILLA" (Quinn 9).
ReplyDeleteI think we can take this moment where man is staring at gorilla with a sign that basically says if we take it literally "Will gorilla's endure if man does not". I see this in direct correlation with sustainability. If man can't endure on Earth then is there really any hope for the rest of the species on Earth. It's almost comical because before we realize that he is Ishmael who was once Goliath we have this creature that we consider an animal asking us a question that puts a heavy sense of responsibility on man in general.
If an gorilla can go from this wild savage creature to one of great insight then why can't people realize what they do to their environment. I see what you mean by the correlation. I don't know if this correlation is valid. However, even if that isn't what this transition means from Goliath to Ishmael isn't completely about the environment and it is more of a cathartic journey it still makes us think. WIll we take everything down with us.