Moby Dick Research Paper

The Reality of Moby Dick (Topic sentence) Melville’s work has great potential for symbolism on many levels due to the nature of Ahab and of course, the famed white whale. For this reason its main themes and messages are debated constantly, especially since it would be absurd that such a story should be taken at face value. However, if one looks at the story intently, and remembers how people analyze it to its fullest, it is quite possible that Melville had different intentions for the meaning of the novel. It may be possible that Ahab’s quest for revenge due to his beliefs on Moby Dick, is actually paralleled by the reader’s own quest to find meaning out of the otherwise simple story. This desire of mankind to find meaning in the world is

After all, “…that mortal man who hath more joy than sorrow in him, that mortal man cannot be true- not true, or undeveloped…The truest of all men was the Man of Sorrows…There is wisdom that is woe; but there is woe that is madness.” (Melville 351). Therefore, Ahab’s trueness lies in his great suffering that transformed into a passionate madness. This madness is at the heart of all men, and it truly eats at them from the inside, gnawing at their very soul. However, more often than not, this madness can be diverted and even ignored when meaning and purpose is found in life. Melville toys with this idea of meaning in life, of meaning in actions and most important of all, meaning in

Despite knowing little about Moby Dick, as well as the full effects of consolidating Ahab, the crew eagerly joins. Of course this rash decision ties back to mankind releasing pain and madness through strong beliefs and significance. This is true due to the fact that the crew of the Pequod are not normal, everyday people. They are weatherworn, the life of them squeezed and stretched, seeing the best and worst of the world. Suffering exists in them, and joining Ahab was one small way to relieve that and distract themselves. Surprisingly enough, this situation occurs many times throughout history where people will follow a passionate ruler somewhat blindly. Occasionally it will work out for the best but usually such leaders are revealed to be radicals and eventually take the role of dictators. Therefore, Melville uses the crew as a metaphor to tie in with the theme of mankind’s