In the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, a whaling ship captain, Captain Ahab; seeks revenge on the whale who took his leg: Moby Dick. Captain Ahab is tormented to insanity and will go to great lengths to satiate his deep need for vengeance on this whale he has come to see as the epitome of evil. Melville exemplifies many common characteristics of the dark side of Romanticism in Moby-Dick, such as remote locations, insanity, and fascination with evil and the power of darkness. In his novel Moby-Dick, Herman Melville reveals the power of darkness representative of the dark side of romanticism through his characterization of Ahab, Moby Dick, and other crew members.
Herman Melville illustrates the power of darkness through his characterization of Ahab. The darkness lurking in Ahab easily took over after the loss of his leg. The evil in him has caused him to spiral into insanity and to obsess over killing Moby Dick, the whale he believes took his leg. Melville displays Ahab's insanity mostly through indirect characterization. Ahab is commonly “so full of his [own] thought” (p. 285) suggesting withdrawal from society caused by insanity. Furthermore, Ahab’s obsession …show more content…
Herman Melville’s characterizations shows the immense power of darkness through a character so consumed by his need for vengeance he neglects any and all logic and reasoning. Captain Ahab’s insanity and bloodlust are contagious, spreading to the crew members. Culminating to a deep desideratum to kill Moby Dick. Moby Dick is characterized by the characters in the novel as a near unbeatable adversary. Moby Dick was seen as the embodiment of evil. Captain Ahab was convinced that slaying Moby Dick was good for all of humanity. The darkness in Ahab led him to play god, telling his crew “God bless ye, men.” (p. 287), convinced he was doing God’s
Herman Melville illustrates the power of darkness through his characterization of Ahab. The darkness lurking in Ahab easily took over after the loss of his leg. The evil in him has caused him to spiral into insanity and to obsess over killing Moby Dick, the whale he believes took his leg. Melville displays Ahab's insanity mostly through indirect characterization. Ahab is commonly “so full of his [own] thought” (p. 285) suggesting withdrawal from society caused by insanity. Furthermore, Ahab’s obsession …show more content…
Herman Melville’s characterizations shows the immense power of darkness through a character so consumed by his need for vengeance he neglects any and all logic and reasoning. Captain Ahab’s insanity and bloodlust are contagious, spreading to the crew members. Culminating to a deep desideratum to kill Moby Dick. Moby Dick is characterized by the characters in the novel as a near unbeatable adversary. Moby Dick was seen as the embodiment of evil. Captain Ahab was convinced that slaying Moby Dick was good for all of humanity. The darkness in Ahab led him to play god, telling his crew “God bless ye, men.” (p. 287), convinced he was doing God’s