Alcohol and Painkillers Symbol Analysis

At several points in Ishmael, Ishmael points out that Taker culture is self-contradictory and self-annihilating. One consequence of this is that Takers feel the need to forget about their contradictions. One strategy that Takers use to forget is to escape into drugs and intoxication. We see evidence of this first-hand in Ishmael: when the narrator is overcome by the complexity of his lessons with Ishmael, he often turns to bourbon or other alcoholic beverages for relaxation. (He even turns to painkillers after getting a tooth removed.) Alcohol and painkillers symbolize the hedonism and sensuality to which Takers—indeed, most humans—turn in the vain hope of fighting their depression and anxiety.