Herman Melville Moby Dick Essay Research Paper

Herman Melville- Moby Dick Essay, Research Paper

Herman Melville- Moby Dick

I. Biographical Insights

A. The culture this great author was a part of was the time

in American history where inspiring works of literature

began to emerge. It was also a time when American writers

had not completely separated its literary heritage from

Europe, partly because there were successful literary

genius’ flourishing there.

B. Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819, he was the

son of Allan and Maria Melville. During Herman’s childhood

he lived in the “good” neighborhoods of New York City.

In 1832 Herman suffered tragedy when his father died after

trying to cope with the stress of debts and misfortunes.

After a short time in a business house in New York City,

Herman determined he needed to go to sea.

He spent years traveling on a variety of ships, including

whaling ships.

C1. Melville’s perspective on life is that God created the

universe with an infinite number of

meanings and man is always trying to determine one specific

meaning.

D2. The “lessons” that Melville is likely to weave into

his writing are 1. An exposition on

whales and the whaling industry. 2. A commentary on the

universe and human destiny. 3.

Thoughts about God and Nature.

III. Characters

B. The protagonist in this book is Ishmael, a Christian,

schoolteacher and part-time sailor. Ishmael’s role in the

hunt for “Moby Dick” is to interpret what is happening. He

discusses his reasons for going to sea and interprets and

looks for understanding a number of reasons for any specific

action where other characters only understand one reason.

C. It is hard to say what changes take place in Ishmael’s

personality, since he is the narrator he doesn’t

talk about himself, he only talks about what he sees.

D1. Ishmael befriends Queequeg who is a cannibal. Even

though Queequeg is very ugly Ishmael sees that Queequeg has

an honest heart, great honor, and a lot of courage. This

friendship had a positive influence on Ishmael’s behavior

because it taught him not to judge on outward appearances.

E2. Another relationship that was very short was the

relationship between Ishmael and Captain Ahab. For the first

few days aboard the Pequod Ishmael always saw Ahab in the

shadows. When Ishmael finally saw Ahab he had shivers run

through his body. Ishmael felt Ahab’s attitude of

determination, dedication and hatred towards “Moby Dick” in

Ahab’s appearance. This relationship was a negative

relationship because Ishmael now feared Ahab and did not

want to become friends with such an evil person.

F. The conflict that Ishmael experienced was that he saw how

Ahab was such an evil man and that

Ishmael was a good natured man and did not want to be

corrupted by Ahab. To resolve this conflict

Ishmael stayed away from Ahab.

Representative Passage on Imagery and Figurative Language

“Yonder, by the ever-brimming goblet’s rim,

the warm waves blush like wine. The gold brow plumbs the

blue. The diver sun long dived from noon, goes down; my soul

mounts up! she wearies with her endless hill. Is, then, the

crown too heavy that I wear. this Iron Crown of Lombardy.

Yet is it bright with many a gem; I, the wearer, see not its

far flashings; but darkly fell that I wear that, that

dazzlingly confounds. ‘Tis iron that I know not gold. ‘Tis

split, too that I feel; the jagged edge galls me so, my

brain seems to beat against the solid metal.” Chapter LV

A. The details being used to make us feel like we are

watching a sunset is that it says “the warm waves

blush like wine. The gold brow plumbs the blue. The diver

sun long dived from noon, goes down; my

soul mounts up!”

B. The similes the author uses are the comparison of the

colored waves of the sunset to wine. I believe

that when the author is talking about the “Iron Crown of

Lombardy” he is talking about the sun. When it

says “Is, then, the crown too heavy that I wear.” he is

talking about the sunrise as the sun first starts

ascending. I think that noon is where it is says “Yet is it

bright with many a gem; I, the wearer, see not its

far flashings;”. I also think that “‘Tis iron that I

know not gold. ‘Tis split, too that I feel; the jagged

edge galls me so, my brain seems to beat against the solid

metal.” means he wants to take off the crown

signifying sunset.

IV. Symbolism / Allusions

D. The objects that are representative of larger ideas are

Moby Dick who is a symbol of all of the things in the

universe. The color of the whale being white could mean so

many different and conflicting things that it can’t be

narrowed down to one meaning. The coffin that was turned <

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