Final Answer:
The narrator, echoing Mother Culture's teachings, believes man's destiny is to build civilization and create paradise on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Chapter 5 of Ishmael, the narrator recounts the myth of creation according to Mother Culture. In her story, All-the-Leaver gives humans the world as a gift and sets them the task of creating a Garden of Eden, a perfect world of abundance and harmony. This becomes the driving force behind human civilization, the narrator explains, fueled by the belief that humans are destined to achieve paradise through progress and technological advancement.
Therefore, when Ishmael directly asks about man's destiny, the narrator, without hesitation, echoes this core belief of his culture. He sees the struggles and imperfections of the world as temporary setbacks on the path towards realizing this ultimate goal.