WHO IS ISMAIL? - A POSSIBLE SOLUTION

             AN ISMAIL IS AN ISMAIL IS AN ISHMAEL

Speculation is rampant about the origins of IsMail - the name the killer finally assigned himself capping off his historic blood bath at Virginia Tech University. One theory was advanced by tonight's Night Line that IsMail refers to Ishmael in the Old Testament.

I think that a careful examination of the facts reveals the solution to this murder mystery.

Clues:

• The killer was a highly intelligent, presumably well read English major.
• He was clearly on an identity quest - signing his name question mark until just before the completion of his final 31 person execution.
• In his mixed clear and confused packet sent to NBC he names himself IsMail.
• He was obessed with the theme of good and evil - believing himself to being all good - identifying himself as a Christ-like martyr - battling the forces of evil - personified in rich kids who are self indulgent, hedonistic, and cruel - particularly towards him.
• Among other forceful assertions he said: "Dick Must Die."

A P0SSIBLE SOLUTION:

One of the great classics works of American literature is Moby Dick by Herman Melville. The first line of the book is: "Call me Ishmael." Excerpts follow:

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago -- never mind how long precisely -- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off -- then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. <cite>--opening paragraph</cite>

"Now, three to three, ye stand. Commend the murderous chalices! Bestow them, ye who are now made parties to this indissoluble league.... Drink, ye harpooneers! drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow -- Death to Moby Dick! God hunt us all, if we do not hunt Moby Dick to his death!" <cite>--Chapter 36 (The Quarter-Deck)</cite> [http://www.melville.org/hmmoby.htm]

Another article says that Moby Dick is "a story of a common ocean loving seaman caught up in another man’s abnormal and eccentric hunt for a whale of which he has held a grudge for many years. " [http://www.online-literature.com/melville/mobydick/]

The article goes on to analyze the character of peace loving Ishmael and the mad captain Ahab.

"The characters of captain Ahab and Ishmael are almost opposites. About the only things the two share in common are that they are both seamen and they both are on a hunt for a whale."

Note in the analysis that follows that the Virgina Tech killer - Seung Hui Cho - appears to be a combination of Ishmael and Ahab.

"The characters of Ishmael and Ahab are two that have a great and critical impact on the book. Ishmael’s character allows the reader to relate to a love for nature and the earth, as well as a feeling of inner peace and serenity. While on the other hand, Ahab’s character is one of chaos and udder madness. The two characters’ attitudes, thoughts, and feelings permit the reader to explore two polar opposites of the human personality. Ahab’s character is critical to the story element in that without him, the reader could not really experience the insaneness of the voyage and the cruelty of the mission that they have set out to accomplish. On the other hand, without the character of Ishmael, the reader would not know how to react to Ahab, and furthermore would only be able too experience one side of the voyage. The reader would be unable to relate to Ahab’s demented character, and therefore would have no one in the story to relate themselves to. Ishmael’s character gives the reader someone to relate to and identify with. All in all, both characters let the reader better understand the story, and allow for an intense reading experience."

The commentator concludes that the basic message of Moby Dick is "the most prominent lesson ... can be summed up in one sentence; don’t become to focussed and obsessed with one goal to the point that you exclude the more important things in life.

CONCLUSION:

If I am accurate, this complicated tortured student killer and killer of students was literally enacting the story and plot of Moby Dick in his perverted quest for his own identity - one which, he indeed attained with his take them all down with me - heri keri like - act of mass distruction and self destruction - to be forever remembered as a household name - the notorious culmination of an all consuming quest for fame and revenge. In the end of his sad tragic story Question Mark assumed the identity of Ishmael telling the story of his crazy captain Ahab possessed by the obsessive need to kill Moby Dick thereby extracting his long sought revenge.

How terribly sad for all of the innocent students, and teachers caught up in the personal internal whirlwind of this extraordinarily troubled young man.

Comments

[George]

I agree with you. My theory is that the two plays are the "keys" to the meaning of the name. I think "Richard McBeef" alludes to the fact that "Ismail" (sic) comes from "Moby Dick," while "Mr. Brownstone" alludes to the fact that "Ax" comes from "Guns and Roses" frontman "Axel Rose."