Reading 1001 discussion

What function is served by the story about the man-ape?

It presents the fact that intelligent life existed long before man-ape evolved to a creation that could solve problems (starvation), protect itself (the leopard) and kill other men. And communicate.

I agree with Kristel it also serves to give a kind of time span for the age of the ET's that have been manipulating things.

To me, it shows that the alien intelligence had influenced mankind for ages and that we would have gone extinct without their manipulations. The things they do at the end becomes a neat book end to the manipulations done in the beginning.

I like Paula's answer. I did not really put together all the philosophical parts throughout this story.

I liked that the man-apes and the star-child made something of a bracket around the rest of the story.

I fully agree with Paula.