Humanity has always questioned its existence, and the billions of people that have lived on earth have called their lives into question for one reason or another at some point in their lives. Attempts to answer life’s questions have led people in many different directions, and the quest for answers has resulted in many different conclusions. As with most humans, Herman Melville struggled with the life’s questions, and he posed his answers as an epic that portrays the profession of whaling as an extended metaphor for human life and existence. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville uses literary elements drawn from the epic style of writing, including the use of superhuman motifs and the portrayal of the characteristics of a group in a single character,
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Melville shows a superpower watching over the crew on the Pequod, a power that has a master plan in mind for them, and that will eventually lead them to Moby Dick. This connection to God-like figures or superpowers is also seen when Ishmael is speaking and the wisdom and power of the whale, and it is said that the whale’s head “was a black and hooded head; and hanging there in the midst of so intense a calm, it seemed the Sphynx's in the desert.” (Pg 249) Comparing the whale’s head to that of a sphinx imparts the characteristics of intelligence and strength on the whale. Sphinxes were built as God-like beings having both immense strength and intelligence superior to that of a human, imparting these characteristics on the whale lends …show more content…
For example, when arguing with Starbuck over the importance of catching Moby Dick, Ahab says, “If moneys to be the measurer, man, … then, let me tell thee, that my vengeance will fetch a great premium here!” (Pg 139) Ahab tells Starbuck that although money may be the stated reason for their voyage, there is so much more than money that is going to be achieved through the hunt. Ahab challenges Starbuck to look past the materialistic views of their occupation and see the world as Ahab does; looking for a sense of knowledge and strength; both of which will be obtained through the conquering of the beast, Moby Dick. Later, in discussing how complicated the world is, Ishmael says, “But thou sayest, methinks this white-lead chapter about whiteness is but a white flag hung out from a craven soul; thou surrenderest to a hypo, Ishmael.” (Pg 164) Here, Ishmael explains that the depth and intricacies of the world are all too much for one person to understand, and that anyone who tries will find no other choice, but to wave a white flag and surrender to the immense, immeasurable amount of knowledge that exists. Melville tries to help people understand that it is next to impossible to grasp all of the knowledge that exists in the world, and that if one were to try to do so, they would be fighting an up-hill battle and their entire life would only end
Melville shows a superpower watching over the crew on the Pequod, a power that has a master plan in mind for them, and that will eventually lead them to Moby Dick. This connection to God-like figures or superpowers is also seen when Ishmael is speaking and the wisdom and power of the whale, and it is said that the whale’s head “was a black and hooded head; and hanging there in the midst of so intense a calm, it seemed the Sphynx's in the desert.” (Pg 249) Comparing the whale’s head to that of a sphinx imparts the characteristics of intelligence and strength on the whale. Sphinxes were built as God-like beings having both immense strength and intelligence superior to that of a human, imparting these characteristics on the whale lends …show more content…
For example, when arguing with Starbuck over the importance of catching Moby Dick, Ahab says, “If moneys to be the measurer, man, … then, let me tell thee, that my vengeance will fetch a great premium here!” (Pg 139) Ahab tells Starbuck that although money may be the stated reason for their voyage, there is so much more than money that is going to be achieved through the hunt. Ahab challenges Starbuck to look past the materialistic views of their occupation and see the world as Ahab does; looking for a sense of knowledge and strength; both of which will be obtained through the conquering of the beast, Moby Dick. Later, in discussing how complicated the world is, Ishmael says, “But thou sayest, methinks this white-lead chapter about whiteness is but a white flag hung out from a craven soul; thou surrenderest to a hypo, Ishmael.” (Pg 164) Here, Ishmael explains that the depth and intricacies of the world are all too much for one person to understand, and that anyone who tries will find no other choice, but to wave a white flag and surrender to the immense, immeasurable amount of knowledge that exists. Melville tries to help people understand that it is next to impossible to grasp all of the knowledge that exists in the world, and that if one were to try to do so, they would be fighting an up-hill battle and their entire life would only end