Herman Melville and Herman Melville and his masterpiecehis masterpiece

Moby DickMoby Dick

Born - August 1, 1819-Born - August 1, 1819-

Died - September 28, 1891Died - September 28, 1891

Melville is considered anAnti-Transcendentalist

Moby Dick or

The Whale

Melville’s Major Work – Melville’s Major Work – Moby DickMoby Dick

Moby-DickMoby-Dick

an encyclopedia of everything =history,

philosophy, religion, the whaling industry

a Shakespearean tragedy of man fighting against fates

Images o

f the famous

Moby Dick

Moby-Dick, Moby-Dick, oror The Whale The Whale

Published in 1851Published in 1851

Moby-DickMoby-Dick has become Melville's has become Melville's most famous work and is often most famous work and is often considered one of the greatest considered one of the greatest literary works of all time.literary works of all time.

Part epic, part adventure story, Part epic, part adventure story, part allegorypart allegory

It was dedicated to Melville's friend It was dedicated to Melville's friend Nathaniel Hawthorne.Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Pequod

Moby Dick

Moby DickMoby Dick - The Plot - The Plot Narrated by a young sailor, named, Narrated by a young sailor, named,

Ishmael Ishmael Ishmael goes go to Nantucket to seek work Ishmael goes go to Nantucket to seek work

on a whaling vessel.on a whaling vessel. Ishmael befriends a ‘native’ by the name of Ishmael befriends a ‘native’ by the name of

Queequeg, a harpooner.Queequeg, a harpooner. They join a rough crew on a savage looking They join a rough crew on a savage looking

ship, The Pequod.ship, The Pequod.

Queequeg

IshmaelThe Pequod

Moby DickMoby Dick - -The Plot, continuedThe Plot, continued They meet Captain Ahab, the They meet Captain Ahab, the

mysterious, peg-legged mysterious, peg-legged captain--his leg taken by a captain--his leg taken by a legendary great white whale legendary great white whale named Moby Dick.named Moby Dick.

Thus, Ahab turns the ship’s Thus, Ahab turns the ship’s quest into tracking the whale quest into tracking the whale and killing it as a sort of and killing it as a sort of revenge. His behavior revenge. His behavior becomes monomaniacal, becomes monomaniacal, leading everyone into danger.leading everyone into danger.

Captain Ahab

The PequodThe PequodThe ship is The ship is a symbola symbol of the of the world and all of its peoples- world and all of its peoples- it is microcosm of the entire it is microcosm of the entire

worldworld

•Microcosm

•Small (micro)

•World (cosm)

More on the famous ship!

Setting Most of the action takes place on the ship in the

1800s

The Pequod – The Pequod – A SymbolA Symbol

a symbol of DOOM

Named after a Native American tribe in Massachusetts

Tribe did not long survive the arrival of white men (extinct)

The ship is painted gloomy black and covered in whale teeth and bones

the mementos of violent death

like a primitive coffin

Captain AhabCaptain Ahab Ahab lost his leg to Ahab lost his leg to

Moby Dick on the Moby Dick on the previous voyage. previous voyage.

He is single-minded in He is single-minded in his pursuit of Moby his pursuit of Moby Dick, obsessed with Dick, obsessed with killing the white killing the white whale.whale.

He has a He has a compassionate side compassionate side as seen when as seen when speaking of his family speaking of his family and his care for Pip.and his care for Pip.

He is an example of He is an example of the destruction that the destruction that revenge brings.revenge brings.

Moby Dick , Moby Dick , from THE QUARTER DECKfrom THE QUARTER DECK (From your reading)(From your reading)

Ahab announces Ahab announces his intentions – to his intentions – to catch Moby Dick, catch Moby Dick, the White Whale!the White Whale!

Gives a ‘Pep Rally’Gives a ‘Pep Rally’ Performs a Performs a

‘Communion’ with ‘Communion’ with officers and crewofficers and crewCaptain Ahab

Call me IshmaelCall me Ishmael Ishmael – narrator of the novel; a junior Ishmael – narrator of the novel; a junior

member because of his inexperiencemember because of his inexperience Biblical reference – Allusion – Biblical reference – Allusion –

Ishmael…Son of Abraham and Hagar, a Ishmael…Son of Abraham and Hagar, a wandererwanderer

The Narrator of the book, Moby Dick

Starbuck – First MateStarbuck – First Mate Starbuck questions Ahab’s judgmentStarbuck questions Ahab’s judgment He is a religious man who believes that He is a religious man who believes that

Christianity is a way to interpret the world Christianity is a way to interpret the world around himaround him

Other CrewOther Crew Stubb Stubb – 2– 2ndnd mate mate

Loves to sail the seasLoves to sail the seas Hardened seafarerHardened seafarer Older than othersOlder than others Answers to 1Answers to 1stst mate mate

Flask Flask – 3– 3rdrd mate mate Loves to drinkLoves to drink Loves the seaLoves the sea Answers to 2Answers to 2ndnd mate mate

Queequeg - HarpoonerQueequeg - Harpooner

Queequeg – Ishmael’s best friend; Queequeg – Ishmael’s best friend; Excellent harpooner – throws the spear.Excellent harpooner – throws the spear. A prince from a South Sea island who stowed A prince from a South Sea island who stowed

away on a whaling ship. away on a whaling ship. He is a composite of elements of African, He is a composite of elements of African,

Polynesian, Islamic, Christian, and Native Polynesian, Islamic, Christian, and Native American cultures. American cultures.

He is brave and generous and enables Ishmael He is brave and generous and enables Ishmael to see that race has no to see that race has no

bearing on a man’s character.bearing on a man’s character.

Other HarpoonersOther Harpooners Tashtego – Tashtego – A Native Indian from A Native Indian from

Martha’s Vineyard, one of Martha’s Vineyard, one of

the last of a tribe about to the last of a tribe about to

disappear. disappear. He embodies certain characteristics of the “noble savage” He embodies certain characteristics of the “noble savage”

and is meant to defy racial stereotypes. and is meant to defy racial stereotypes.

Daggoo – Daggoo – An AfricanAn African He stowed away on a whaling He stowed away on a whaling

ship that stopped near his home.ship that stopped near his home.

Minor CharactersMinor Characters Pip – a young black boy who fills the role of cabin boy. Pip – a young black boy who fills the role of cabin boy. Lost at sea for a night a becomes….half mad, half prophet.Lost at sea for a night a becomes….half mad, half prophet.

Fedallah – a strange “Oriental” (a Persian fire-worshipper) Fedallah – a strange “Oriental” (a Persian fire-worshipper) smuggled on board for his skill at killing whales and prophecy.smuggled on board for his skill at killing whales and prophecy.

Peleg and Bildad – owners of the boat, The PequodPeleg and Bildad – owners of the boat, The Pequod

Father Mapple –former whale man now a preacherFather Mapple –former whale man now a preacher

Captain Boomer – jovial captain who lost his arm to Moby DickCaptain Boomer – jovial captain who lost his arm to Moby Dick

Moby DickMoby Dick

The great white sperm whale The great white sperm whale Took off Ahab’s leg. Took off Ahab’s leg. He is well known by all seamen, He is well known by all seamen,

and feared. and feared. He is symbolic of nature’s He is symbolic of nature’s

indifference to man.indifference to man. Moby Dick…Symbol of nature; a Moby Dick…Symbol of nature; a

Wall; a pasteboard mask. Wall; a pasteboard mask.

Voyage route of the Pequod

Not exactly a big hit…at first…Not exactly a big hit…at first… It did not, however, make Melville rich.It did not, however, make Melville rich. The book never sold its initial printing of The book never sold its initial printing of

3,000 copies in his lifetime, and total 3,000 copies in his lifetime, and total earnings from the earnings from the

American edition American edition amounted to just amounted to just $556.37 from his $556.37 from his publisher, Harper & publisher, Harper & Brothers. Brothers.

Popular today Popular today because….because….

Several layers to Moby-DickSeveral layers to Moby-Dick Part Adventure/Quest storyPart Adventure/Quest story Man vs. Monster (Pre-Man vs. Monster (Pre-JawsJaws)) Psychological Thriller--Why Psychological Thriller--Why

can’t Ahab stop?can’t Ahab stop? Deals with universal themes: Deals with universal themes:

religion, fate, human religion, fate, human nature/quest for power, nature/quest for power, revenge and race. revenge and race.

We all have a White Whale in We all have a White Whale in our lives? What is yours?our lives? What is yours?

Out soon…..