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Herman Melville Research Paper

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Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. His best known works include Typee (1846), a romantic account of his experience in the Polynesian life, and his whaling novel Moby Dick (1851). Herman Melville was born in New York City as the third child of a merchant in French dry goods. After his father died in 1832, Melville’s formal education ended abruptly, leaving the family in a financial situation. In 1839 he took to sea as a common sailor on a merchant ship. After further adventures, he returned to Boston in 1844. Melville wrote his first book, Typee, in 1846 which became a best-seller. These successes encouraged him to marry Elizabeth Shaw as he continued to write novels. In
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The Enlightened and the Revolutionary in Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener Herman Melville, 19th century author of various short stories and novels, including Bartleby, the Scrivener, was born in the city of New York on August 1, 1819 (Hillway 29). Melville’s early years were one of familial prosperity from his father’s occupation and the close-knit nature of his family unit (Hillway 29-30). By the time he was 20, Herman was facing a bleak future without a steady job and lack of future career opportunities (Hillway 33). Most of his teenage years were spent seafaring as a whaler and then as a naval officer, both trying and backbreaking labors (Hillway 35-39). When he finally returned to his family home from seafaring, Herman told and retold

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Herman Melville was not well-known in his day, only within certain circles was his work considered legendary. His first two publications Typee and Omoo were highly successful, they told stories of adventure, danger, and sexuality. They were published as a true story of Melville’s travels in Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti. This claim that was later validated by his ship mate Richard Tobias Greene, causing a spike in sales along with the growth of recognition and respect for Herman Melville as an author. However, after these publications Melville’s popularity stagnated then decreased to minuscule amounts.

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After this he still continued to write short stories (Brooks). In his stay he wrote two books in the year 1832 (“Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography”). In the year 1837 he published another book, and met Sophia Peabody who he later married in 1842

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Before adventuring out to sea, he had several occupations: a farmer, a clerk, a teacher, and bookkeeper. While he was at sea, he was inspired to write novels. Since he was not making money off of his stories, he started to write poetry (Melville 603). In this short story, “Bartleby the Scrivener,” the narrator is an attorney that runs a business on Wall Street.

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Herman Melville and his Impact on American Literature “He who has not failed somewhere… that man cannot be great.” This is a quote by Herman Melville that he lived by throughout his life as he struggled to harness a steady income and share his thoughts through literature. Herman Melville’s writings influenced America mainly after his death as we discovered the underlying beauty and validity of his literature, developed from his years of experience as a seaman. There are many reasons why Herman Melville is considered one of the most decorated literary authors of his time. Melville learned to work from a young age when his father passed away shortly after going bankrupt in the fur business(“American Experience”).

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