Moby Dick | American Survival Novel | Herman Melville: Introduction, Summary, Theme, and Conclusion -- englit.in

Q: What is the main significance of Melville‘s “Moby Dick” in “death” and “other.”

An influential nineteenth century American novel, “Moby-Dick”; or, “The Whale” (1851) by a famous American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael’s narrative of the maniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg on the ship’s previous voyage. “Moby-Dick” was published to mixed reviews, was a commercial failure, and was out of print at the time of the author’s death in 1891. Melville began writing Moby-Dick in February 1850 and finished 18 months later, a year after he had anticipated.

On the ground, the White Whale is modeled on a notoriously hard-to-catch Albino Whale Mocha Dick, and the book’s ending is based on the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820. The book’s literary influences include Shakespeare, Thomas Carlyle, and the Bible. In addition to narrative prose, Melville uses styles and literary devices ranging from songs, poetry, and catalogues to Shakespearean stage directions, soliloquies, and asides. It is rarer for Melville to create his own verbs from nouns, but he does this with what Arvin calls “irresistible effect”, such as in “who didst thunder him higher than a throne”, and “my fingers … began … to serpentine and spiralize”.

At the beginning, the protagonist Ishmael’s ominous decision to go to sea. As he boards the Pequod, he encounters a prophetic figure named Elijah who warns of impending doom. This foreshadowing sets the tone for the perilous journey ahead. Regarding the context, Ishmael reflects, “And, doubtless, my going on this whaling voyage, formed part of the grand programme of Providence that was drawn up a long time ago.” This line emphasizes the inevitability of fate and the looming specter of mortality. In biblical stories, particularly the tale of Jonah and the whale, which Ishmael ponders deeply.

As the Pequod sails on, the crew encounters other ships, each serving as a harbinger of the destruction to come. On the other side, Captain Ahab’s monomaniacal quest for vengeance against the white whale Moby Dick, becomes increasingly apparent, driving the ship and its crew towards their doom. Ahab declares, “All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event — in the living act, the undoubted deed — there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.” In the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God, it highlights the elements of man versus nature and the price of defying the natural order.

The novel's exploration of death extends beyond the physical to encompass spiritual and philosophical dimensions. This is particularly evident in the chapter “The Whiteness of the Whale,” where Ishmael contemplates the terrifying blankness of death and the unknown. He muses, “Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with the thought of annihilation?” According to the profound meditation on mortality, it is mirrored in the frequent allusions to Shakespeare’s works, particularly “Hamlet” and its famous “To be or not to be” which grapples with similar existential questions.

The narrative culminates in a three-day chase and battle with Moby Dick, resulting in the destruction of the Pequod and the death of all crew members except Ishmael. In his final moments, Ahab cries out, “Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.” It encapsulates the futility of Ahab’s quest and the inevitability of death. The epilogue describes Ishmael’s survival that echoes the biblical story of Job, and the sole survivor of great calamity. It is reinforcing fate, mortality, and the inscrutability of existence that permeate the entire novel.

Throughout the novel, obsession and revenge drive Ahab’s pursuit of the white whale that symbolizes humanity’s struggle against nature and fate. The omnipresent threat of death at sea reflects life’s fragility and unpredictability. Ishmael’s philosophical musings explore the nature of existence, mortality, and the unknown. The diversity of the crew represents the universality of human experience in the face of cosmic indifference. According to D.H. Lawrence, “ it’s one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world”, and “the greatest book of the sea ever written.” Ultimately, the novel grapples with the human condition and our place in an often hostile universe.

In conclusion, Melville’s “Moby Dick” weaves a complex narrative that culminates in the tragic confrontation between Ahab and the white whale. The plot’s progression from Ishmael’s initial voyage to the Pequod’s destruction mirrors humanity’s journey through life, facing challenges and ultimate mortality. Overall, the novel serves as a profound meditation on existence, blending adventure, philosophy, and symbolism. The omnipresence of death throughout the story underscores life’s precariousness and the futility of defying natural forces. According to E. M. Forster (1927), : “Moby-Dick is full of meanings: its meaning is a different problem.”