Right or Wrong?

In Chapter 11 of Ishmael, there are two position taken, the Leavers and the Takers, Ishmael and his student want to create a discussion about the Takers (the student) trying to convince the Leavers (Ishmael) to change from being hunter-gatherers to being agriculturalists. This all started because the student wanted to know the Leaver's story; even though they were already extinct, he wanted to be able to make a clear difference in thoughts and ways of surviving. At first, Ishmael was very tired and didn't really agree with the idea of looking at the other part of the story: the Leavers.

After a while, they both agreed to talk about the Leaver's story and that was when the discussion started. The Taker was trying to convince the Leaver that being a hunter-gatherer was of no use, that it was easier and better if they became agriculturalists as the Takers were. The Leaver wasn't convinced at all, what was wrong about hunting? They had lived all their lives in that way and never had any problems. They did not mind passing away because of a drought or not having food, "If the drought is very bad, then we too dwindle" (pg.225). They lived at the mercy of the gods, they had no control over themselves the gods had control over them as they did with any other animal, "What the gods provide is enough for your life as animals-I grant you that. But for your life as humans, you must provide."(pg.226). This conversation went on for a long time, but the Leaver didn't really understand, but after, the Taker explained that if they produced food they would be able to store food for longer periods of time, if this occurred they wouldn't starve to death, "The gods plant only what you need . You will plant more than you need."(pg.227). If this happens the gods wouldn't have control over you and your actions, you would now be responsible for your own selves, "When you have more food then you need, then the gods have no power over you!" (pg.227).

Overall, the point Ishmael was trying to make with this conversation was to make his student be part of the prerevolutionary story he wanted to know of. This lesson, I thought was more active, they both participated which made it be easier to understand and it was more fun than the others. It was a great story to point out at the ending of the book, from this you can have a better image of what the Takers and Leavers really were. "The Takers are those who know good and evil, and the Leavers are…? The Leavers are those who live in the hands of the gods."(pg.229).