The setting of Moby-Dick is critical to the story, and fits the time period the story takes place in very well. Most of the book takes place on various oceans, such as the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific, in the early to mid 1800's. However, a good deal of the first part of the novel takes place in New England inside and around Nantucket. .
A. Some evidence of this story taking place in this time period can be conveyed through examples from the book. For example, in the seventh chapter entitled "The Chapel", the book shows specific dates in the form of plaques that are dedicated to the lives of men who have perished at sea. These plaques site specific dates such as November 1st, 1836, December 31st, 1839, and August 3rd 1833. The fact that these dated plaques represent dead men insinuates the story takes place at a later date. Also, the three-year whaling voyage that Ishmael eventually sets out on leaves on Christmas. This not only says that the time of departure was during the cold of winter, but also further supports the idea that Melville was representing his search for faith when he wrote Moby-Dick.
The place is also a factor to consider when discussing setting. There are many instances where Melville specifically states that they are near the cities of New Bedford and Nantucket. Also, the foods that they eat suggest that they are in a New England type atmosphere. Furthermore, he gives a lot of information about local ports as well as people, all of which point back to a New England origin. All these facts and bits of information allow the reader to gain a better idea of the time and place the story takes place in.
B. The setting of this novel has a great influence on the story itself. For instance, the sea-going atmosphere of the port town Ishmael stays in before the voyage conveys many messages and is very symbolic of the rest of the story. In the Spouter Inn, the hotel he stays at before the voyage, you can pick up on many subliminal messages.
Just as many people fear God they also feared Moby Dick. Moby Dick possesses an array of symbolic meanings for a variety of individuals. ... Melville shows that Moby Dick is capable of great violence. ... Moby Dick is symbolic of nature. ... It is evident that Moby Dick holds a great deal of power. ...
Biblical and Mythological Allusions in Moby Dick An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. ... In Moby Dick, Herman Melville frequently uses biblical and mythological allusions. ... Melville not only used a number of biblical allusions in Moby Dick, but he also used many mythological allusions. ... Another mythological allusion Melville used in Moby Dick is mentioned of the Fares. ... The allusions in Moby Dick are to commonly known people and conflicts. ...
This being the case, it makes sense for Moby Dick to be white. ... He's lucky Moby Dick didn't kill him outright! ... Moby Dick was an exceptionally intelligent whale. ... While Moby Dick went out of his way to avoid hurting a human again, Ahab went insane hunting down Moby Dick to avenge himself. ... He joined the Parsee in his watery grave trailing Moby Dick. ...
Furthermore, while on their journey to find Moby-Dick, the phenomenon of St. ... Lastly, Ahab's treatment of Moby-Dick is very brutal. ... He talked of killing Moby-Dick in all his waking hours. ... In this book, Moby-Dick is portrayed as being godlike. ... Ahab is closely linked with evil in Moby-Dick. ...
The Redeeming value of Moby Dick Moby Dick was, in the physical, written to tell a story of the ever-allusive white whale. ... Moby Dick, in all actuality represents the idea of Christianity and purity. It could even be said that Moby Dick represents the figure of Christ. ... Ahab's main objective was to discredit and destroy Moby Dick. ... This is the redeeming value of Moby Dick....
The underlying themes to Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, are far-reaching and studied in many academic areas. ... When this idea is brought to Moby Dick, many interpretations can be made. ... I see the ways of Moby Dick, like those of a god, as being unknowable to man. ... In reality it can be true, and in Moby Dick it is certainly true. ... Ahab exploits the crew to have them share his idea of their fate, to find and destroy Moby Dick. ...
The American Classic ~Moby Dick~ The story of Moby Dick is truly an American literary classic. ... Moby Dick was first published in 1851 and to this day is still being studied by many scholars. There is much to be learned from the theme of this novel, as in any book, there is a message or a "moral of the story" type lesson you can learn from Moby Dick that keeps not only the new age scholars interested, but the average reader as well. "Moby Dick is not a dream but a work of imaginative art, and this means that it is the product of a complex creative process- (Arvin; 278). ... So in concl...
Moby Dick Synopsis Melville's novel Moby Dick tells us a strange journey of an ordinary seaman named Ishmael, who decided to go on a whaling voyage in Massachusetts during the 1840s. ... As the ship was destroyed by the Moby Dick, it sinks. ... Individualism in Moby Dick. ... Shulman indicates that in Melville's novel Moby Dick, he questions traditional answers about where evil comes from. ... Moby Dick is a great example of nature's destructive way. ...
Annotated Bibliography The Shining and Moby Dick LoBrutto, Vincent. ... In Search of Moby Dick, Great Britain, Abacus, 2000. ... His record of this adventure was read by Melville, and incorporated into the greater story of Moby Dick. ... In the "Introduction" to the Oxford World Classics edition of Moby Dick, 1988. ... By using such analysis of The Shining as a type of voyage, this may offer another line of comparison to Moby Dick. ...
Moby Dick, a Man's Obsession Herman Melville's idea of human obsession as demonstrated in Moby Dick is clearly a sign that it shall be man's downfall. ... Throughout the years many have studied Moby Dick is hopes to find the true meaning, or just deep literary value the book provides. ... Which of course was the captains fault for being obsessed Moby Dick. ... He has two sides to him, and the darker one was released whenever Moby Dick was mentioned. ... Melville must have sensed this too, because not long after he wrote Moby Dick he wrote Moby Dick, or the whale, which is pret...
