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Moby Dick: Subheading Of The American Dream

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A mythology is traditionally a legendary story that promotes cultural values, fears, and ideas. In the novel, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, the harpooning of a great white Sperm whale is the focal point. It is arguable that Moby Dick may have been a myth but in all perspectives, the story reveals certain fears and values that are parallel to a culture specifically familiar to Americans. Those values include, but are not limited to, the American Dream which includes subheadings of equality and equal opportunity, determination, and fellowship. The term American Dream, originally introduced by the American historian James Tuslow Adams in his book, “The Epic of America” published in 1931, highlighted the importance of hard work to achieve personal goals and that every human, despite differences, should compete for success. This important value in America’s culture that is still seen in today’s society, and is incorporated into Melville’s eventful novel throughout the journey of harpooning the albino whale, Moby Dick. …show more content…

With the help of his crew, and the lingering possibility of failure, Captain Ahab continues the voyage aboard the Pequod to kill Moby Dick. Since the Pequod’s journey is supposed to last a few years, it is evident that the hard work and determination of the crew kept the voyage alive. With that, Captain Ahab evidently refused to aid another ship, Rachel, for he was goal oriented towards the harpooning of the rare whale. Additionally, the entire crew contributes their best effort to support the captain towards his goal, as they are also willing to sacrifice a portion of their lives aboard this ship with the inevitability of disaster, making Captain Ahab their

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Success: the immediate and overwhelming drive of work ethic in America. Created by the Protestant Ethic, the American Dream has been a part of American citizen’s lifestyle since its beginning. The definition of the American Dream is said to have been originally defined by James Truslow Adams, in his book The Epic of America, which was written in 1931. Adam’s definition of the definition can be summarized where “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone”, that opportunity should be allowed for all, no matter their circumstance, and that everyone should be able to reach “the fullest stature of which they are innately capable” (214-215). Although the definition is clearly stated, the world is littered with people striving to find the keys to success to allow for equal footing.

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Annotated Bibliography, The American dream Ştiuliuc, Diana. "The American Dream As The Cultural Expression Of North American Identity." Philologica Jassyensia 7.2 (2011): 363-370. Academic Search Complete. Web.

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Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" is a complex and multifaceted novel that explores the themes of obsession, revenge, and the relationship between man and nature. One of the most prominent characters in the novel is Captain Ahab, who is a master manipulator of the crew of the Pequod. From the beginning of the novel, Ahab is portrayed as a figure who exerts a magnetic influence over his crew. He is a veteran whaler who lost his leg to the infamous white whale, Moby Dick, and is consumed by a burning desire for revenge. Ahab uses his obsession with Moby Dick as a tool to manipulate the crew and bend them to his will.

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The Pequod’s interaction with the Rachel exemplifies the magnitude of Ahab’s monomania. As soon as Captain Gardiner tells him that they encountered the white whale, Ahab disregards all formal courtesies usually associated with gams, especially when the other captain is a Nantucketer. In addition, Captain Gardiner seeks the Pequod’s help in searching and rescuing his son that was lost in the encounter with the whale. The old Manx sailor suggests that the seal noises may have actually been the shrieks of the Rachel’s lost, drowning crew- making the Pequod seemingly more obligated to help since they may have knowledge pertaining to the time-sensitive circumstances. However, Ahab remains immovable, cold, and distant from the captain’s heart-wrenching

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“This bird now chanced to intercept its broad fluttering wing between the hammer and the wood; and simultaneously feeling that etherial thrill, the submerged savage beneath, in his death-gasp, kept his hammer frozen there; and so the bird of heaven, with archangelic shrieks, and his imperial beak thrust upwards, and his whole captive form folded in the flag of Ahab, went down with his ship, which, like Satan, would not sink to hell till she had dragged a living part of heaven along with her, and helmeted herself with it”, the author vividly portrays a picture of “after-war” scene, by using simile of Satan and symbolism of the flag of Ahab, to states his opinion of that hate results in chaotic ending of all people dying. Moreover, Melville also writes in the end, “Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago”, which is a peaceful image after the “war” between the haters and the “criminal”. The Ahab achieved his goal of killing the whale, but he also lost his and all his sailors’ lives. After all, no thing left. Thus, this peacefulness correspondingly affirm that the revenge would only cause chaos, but nothing

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Moby Dick tells the story of the determined Captain Ahab’s mission for vengeance on the Sperm Whale. Ahab had lost his leg to the whale years before, leaving Ahab with a peg leg. Ahab is so strongminded by his want to murder the whale, he is ready to risk everything, including his life, the lives of his crewmembers, and even his ship to find and destroy his nemesis, Moby Dick. Ishmael, the narrator of the story, explains that he goes to sea whenever he is depressed.

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The captain himself does not even know what to do once he confronts the whale, his blueprints are not well designed but still goes on the voyage. With Ahab’s obsession over the whale, it demonstrates how complicated, deep and tortured soul he is. He himself knows he is mad but cannot stop himself from ending the mission, he must continue in order to have peace once

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The American Dream manifested in the Pre-Colonial Era Just as , Pre-colonial literature authors incorporated the astounding ideas of the American Dream into their literature of the Pre-Colonial Era in order to express the dream’s universal beauty and emphasize how America is truly a melting pot. As a prominent group from the Pre-Colonial Era, the Native Americans saw the American Dream as a paradise, comparable to the Garden of Eden, offering an abundance of opportunities for all through their poems, songs, creation myths, and government documents. In addition to the Native Americans, the African Americans view the land of opportunity as a unique place where individuality is accepted and eminent as being the core of American culture and one

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Initially led on by the promise of wealth and stability, Ahab’s characterization and personification of Moby Dick influences the crew in such a way that they share his desire to purge the evil that is Moby from the world, perhaps wanting a taste of the power and sense of self that would be gained from killing the beast. The crew’s desire to kill Moby only furthers Ahab’s own desire; perhaps there was a time when Ahab could have been convinced that his cause was hopeless, but by the time his crew accepts their destiny is to kill Moby Dick or die trying it’s set in stone. According to Caleb Crain, a graduate student and writer for the prestiged Leviathan journal dedicated to the study of Herman Melville, Ahab’s cause somehow creates a spark in members of the crew, especially in Ishmael who suffers from the same unfortunate identity crisis as Ahab, “Despite Starbuck’s appeal to Ahab’s humanity, Ahab feels compelled to act “against all natural lovings”(545); despite Queequeg’s Massachusetts marriage to Ishmael, “a wild, mystical sympathetical feeling” involves Ishmael, too, in “Ahab’s quenchless feud” (179)” (Caleb 11). Ahab’s adamant determination and troubled history gives the crew something to pour their faith and goodness into, something to work towards, although unbeknownst to them the very thing they’re working towards is

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1060 Words | 5 Pages

No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important

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As the whaling ship, the Pequod, sets sail. The Crew doesn’t see Captain Ahab for a few days of being aboard the ship. When they finally see him he makes the three harpooners and his three mates take a blood oath to killing Moby Dick. After a few months of being on the journey they see the white whale and go after him. After hours of hunting him it becomes dark and Ahab is still going after him while all the crew is trying to get him to give up.

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1192 Words | 5 Pages

In Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick”, Ishmael, Captain Ahab, and the rest of the crew are on the hunt for the notorious Moby Dick. Throughout this journey, the book slowly reveals symbolic representations of not just Moby Dick, but whales in general. Each character reveals what it means to them individually, and to the crew as a whole. The whale may be the most complex mammal on earth, but there is still questionable reasoning for the motive of Melville to untangle every detail during the Pequod’s quest in Moby Dick. The way that Melville develops the story, he hints at the whales representing the Pequod’s search (especially Ahab) to unveil the meaning of life.

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1103 Words | 5 Pages

Moby Dick by Herman Melville is a tale of a crew on a whaling vessel Pequod, venturing out to kill Moby Dick, a great white whale who took the leg of the ship’s Captain Ahab. Ishmael, the narrator of the story, is a junior member of the crew. Even though Ishmael does not play a major role in the novel, the narrative accounts show through his persuasive storytelling. He gives insight to the ideals and troubles whaling vessels encounter throughout their endeavors. Even though this book is full of great details about the whaling industry, there are scenes within the text that have more meaning behind them.

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At first glance, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick appears to be a novel about whaling. Moby Dick is a novel regarding whaling, yet Melville uses whaling aboard the Pequod as an allegory to illustrate larger themes regarding humanity. Melville’s Moby Dick features a cast of a variety of races and cultures, and Melville’s depiction of the cultures are central to the thematic purposes of the novel. Initially, Melville, through the sailor Ishmael, appears to view people of foreign cultures from a white American perspective by providing condescending attitudes, yet the attitudes toward foreigners and even Christianity begin to change. Melville reverses the traditional associations of foreign savages and white Christians in order to convey that morality,

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1064 Words | 5 Pages

As a matter of fact, this tragedy had a very important effect on the people; especially, when the men went hunting for the whale’s blubber and waxy oil. These men never considered how dangerous the sea can be. In the following manner, the story of Moby Dick symbolizes the power of nature. Furthermore, the story talks about this man called Ahab that is the captain of the Pequod crew; it demonstrates his desire for vengeance on a whale that took one of his legs. Ever since that terrifying moment he has seen the whale as an obstacle or a wall that needs to de eliminate.

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