Moby Dick is an adventure fiction novel written by Herman Melville in 1851. Melville became a whaler at the age of 19 and spent a lot of time out on the sea, which drew inspiration for Moby Dick. He actually wrote numerous books about his voyages to sea before Moby Dick, such as Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life and Mardi and a Voyage Thither. Moby Dick took place during the American Renaissance (1830s-1840s) and took place on a ship called “Pequod” which sailed through the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. This book is about a ship being led by a captain named Ahab into killing a sperm whale named Moby Dick who Ahab sees as the embodiment of evil. Ahab is Pequod’s self absorbed and overly confident commander. His confidence made him a
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Imagery is found throughout the book describing the environment and the character. The way the story described someone such as Ahab, made me imagine a man with a false leg distraught from his constant search for vengeance, or how the story described Queequeg made me picture a tattooed man that looks rough around the edges but was actually kind and gentle. Symbolism plays a huge part of the story, as the main plot contains symbolism. Moby Dick is a great white sperm whale who symbolizes God, or God-like powers. He cannot be understood or stopped, much like how God is in nearly every religion. Moby Dick can also not be denied as God is seen in religion. The only difference between Moby Dick and God is that Moby Dick can be avoided but God, believed in most religions, cannot be avoided. Foreshadowing is present in the book because it foreshadows the death of Ahab and the destruction of Pequod. Events such as prophets predicting demise for Ahab and many sailors warning Ahab not to go after Moby Dick foreshadowed how Ahab’s confidence and stubbornness is going to play a role in his battle against Moby Dick. A theme found in Moby Dick is the Limits of Knowledge. Ahab spent a lot of his time and dedication to finding out as much as possible about Moby Dick but in the end, his search for knowledge that is beyond the understanding of humans led to his, and many others, death. Another theme that is in Moby Dick is The Deceptiveness of Fate. Fate was a big part of the characterization of people like Ahab, Fedallah, Stubb, and other sailors. Fedallah, like some others, believed he could foretell the future and predict events yet to happen. Many people like Stubb believed in Fate and accepted it. Ahab, on the other hand, used the sailor’s and prophet’s beliefs in Fate against them, manipulating them into thinking that finding and killing Moby Dick was their
Imagery is found throughout the book describing the environment and the character. The way the story described someone such as Ahab, made me imagine a man with a false leg distraught from his constant search for vengeance, or how the story described Queequeg made me picture a tattooed man that looks rough around the edges but was actually kind and gentle. Symbolism plays a huge part of the story, as the main plot contains symbolism. Moby Dick is a great white sperm whale who symbolizes God, or God-like powers. He cannot be understood or stopped, much like how God is in nearly every religion. Moby Dick can also not be denied as God is seen in religion. The only difference between Moby Dick and God is that Moby Dick can be avoided but God, believed in most religions, cannot be avoided. Foreshadowing is present in the book because it foreshadows the death of Ahab and the destruction of Pequod. Events such as prophets predicting demise for Ahab and many sailors warning Ahab not to go after Moby Dick foreshadowed how Ahab’s confidence and stubbornness is going to play a role in his battle against Moby Dick. A theme found in Moby Dick is the Limits of Knowledge. Ahab spent a lot of his time and dedication to finding out as much as possible about Moby Dick but in the end, his search for knowledge that is beyond the understanding of humans led to his, and many others, death. Another theme that is in Moby Dick is The Deceptiveness of Fate. Fate was a big part of the characterization of people like Ahab, Fedallah, Stubb, and other sailors. Fedallah, like some others, believed he could foretell the future and predict events yet to happen. Many people like Stubb believed in Fate and accepted it. Ahab, on the other hand, used the sailor’s and prophet’s beliefs in Fate against them, manipulating them into thinking that finding and killing Moby Dick was their