Moby Dick, or TheWhaleI. Author InformationHerman Melville, was born in 1819, ina very “good” neighborhood in New York.
A. Many influences on Melville’sworks were European literature, experiences in his travels, and tragedyin his life. B. Melville was born into the time when inspiring works ofAmerican literature began to emerge.
Yet, European heritage in literaturestill had a strong hold on American writers of the time. C. Other contributionsby Herman Melville were his narrative poems, and writings of other seajourneys. II. SettingMoby Dick is set in a time when whalingwas a very well known trade, it was made popular because of the dyer needfor oil for lamps. A.
The time of the journey was started on a cold Decemberday, where he enters with a carpet bag on his shoulder at the shippingport of New Bedford, and finds a room at the Spouter Inn with a massiveSouth Sea Islander named Queequeg. ” What a pity they didn’t stop up thechinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there. But it’s too late to make any improvement’s now. The universe is finishedthe copestone is on, and the chips were carted off a million years ago.
“B. The setting, over all, suggests a rustic, hard seamens life on the openocean, it being very hard on a man, but very fulfilling. III. CharacterCharacters in this classic novel are veryunique, in physical, emotional, and mental aspects.
A. Ahab is a one-leggedman, feared by most of the crew, he is the Captain of the Pequod, and hehas sworn death on Moby Dick, the great white whale, whom left Ahab withonly one leg. Emotionally and mentally Ahab is a scared man, from his lastencounter with Moby Dick, he seemed like a man very determined in his ways,willing full, and moody. B. The characters of this work have many impactson the feelings in the book, Ahab is the strong force, while Ishmal, thenarrator, is the understanding compassionate man of the Pequod. IV.
PlotThe plot of Melville’s work is very distinguishedin all perspectives of the novel. A. The exposition is set at the beginningwhen Ishmal sets forth on the journey on the whaling ship, the Pequod,with Captain Ahab. In Ishmal’s talking of the whale, and Ahab’s cravingto put death to the great fish, the narrative hook is created. As the signups for the Pequod are occurring the action rises as the would-be crewmembers hear the name of the captain, “Ahab”.
As the ship sets out on thewater to sacrifice the “great whale”, Moby Dick, the climax is reachedwhen the altitude of the “chase” begins. The action falls as Ahab plungesth last harpoon into Moby Dick, and the rope grabs Ahab by the throat andboth are pulled into the depths of the sea as the Pequod sinks. In theRevolution Fedalah’s prophecies are fulfilled, and it was not the whaleseeking Ahab, it was Ahab’s evil seeking the whale. B. One of the manyconflicts in this classic was having Ahab as the Captain, this is re! solvedthough through the crew learning to coupe with the strangeness, and moodinessof the determined old man. Another conflict is encountered between Ahaband the whale, which is resolved when the both parish, this is conflictthat most stands out in one’s mind after reading Moby Dick.
V. ThemeMany themes are represented through thesetting, plot, and different situations created by the characters of MobyDick. A. A “life lesson” learned by reading Moby Dick is that life is likethe sea, in that in life men have fears they must overcome to gain a fullerunderstanding of life, just as Ahab, and his crew, had to overcome therefears to understand more of the presence of Moby Dick.
VI. EvaluationA. Positives in this novel are prominentin the philosophy of Melville, and it’s aspects which can be inferred inman’s continual struggle with himself in this universe. This novel hasinfluenced my attitudes and beliefs on the destiny ofman and has shown me that there is morethan one view of every object. It showed me that I need to be open mindedand examine things from more than one viewpoint.
