Compare And Contrast Ishmael And Huckleberry Finn

Resentment through Writing Since the beginning of humanity, people established certain beliefs in their societies. In Renaissance Europe, individuals viewed black skin color as evil and white as pure. For many years, males considered themselves superior to females. Although most of the people shared these beliefs, some resented the established ideas. Authors showed resentment through literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(“Huck Finn”) by Mark Twain, Othello by William Shakespeare, and Ishmael by Daniel Quinn challenge the status quo of developed civilizations. The play and the two novels challenge the accepted beliefs on race, gender, and social class. William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and Daniel Quinn addressed the issue of race in
The Duke also hints that Othello is white on the inside. The town accepted Othello in their society and praised him as a hero. By making Othello a person of high status, William Shakespeare showed that a black men match or even surpass the importance of some white men. In Ishmael, Ishmael discusses the persecution of primitive people by more advanced societies. His thoughts resemble the time when Europeans found undeveloped civilizations in Africa. The Europeans felt superior and took advantage of the native population. The difference between the skin color of the natives and their conquerors caused acts of violence and further discrimination. Ishmael explains, “The Leavers were being killed off so that more land could be put under cultivation” (Quinn 173). The Takers killed the Leavers because they used a different method of getting their food. The Leavers were pastoralists, while the Takers were agriculturalists. Similarly, Europeans took advantage of Africans because their lives were more primitive. Ishmael complains about how the Takers destroyed everyone in their way, thinking that they have the knowledge to rule the world. He thinks that they had no right to destroy the peaceful life of the Leavers. Ishmael’s opinions indirectly attack the slave owners around the world. They have no right to mistreat anyone different. To show their discontent with racism, the three authors criticized the
Daniel Quinn criticized upper class in society by making Ishmael discuss the Takers. In Ishmael, the Takers can be compared to elites in a society, while the Leavers are the peasants. The Takers took the land of the Leavers for their own benefit. Throughout history, the elites usually have all the land, and the peasants starve to death. Also, the elites play an active role in the governing process of their city. They rule, and the peasants obey. While discussing this phenomenon, Ishmael pointed out, “[According to the Takers] The world was made for man, and man was made to conquer and rule it” (Quinn 74). The Takers think that they were born to be in charge, just like the elite thinks that only they have the wits to govern. Ishmael explains that the Takers assume that they are better, when they are polluting the environment and the Leavers. In a similar way, the elite rules for their own benefit and destroys their cities and the lives of the lower classes in the process. Daniel Quinn criticized the upper classes by comparing them to the destructive Takers. William Shakespeare’s play describes all social classes and ranks as evil. Some characters from the play care too much about their reputation. Iago wanted revenge on Cassio and Othello because he was not given lieutenancy. Iago wanted a higher rank, a higher salary, and more respect. He took extreme measures to get retribution. Iago