Moby Dick-Journal #3

Ana Luiza Bueno

July 14	18 pages
July 15	18 pages
July 16	18 pages
July 17	14 pages

Moby Dick Journal #3

A big emphasis is brought upon the importance of definitions. Not only was it noticed that approximately 30 pages were used to define unfamiliar words or terms at the end of the book, but entire chapters were dedicated to the clarification of whaling expressions. Page 296, as well as page 298 and many others were used to not only define, but to present an extensive collection of examples and stories behind each unfamiliar term used in the previous chapter. Whenever there isn’t an entire chapter dedicated to definitions, there are always footers that are used to provide a thorough explanation of terms like in page 301, where the words fluke and tail are clarified. I consider this extensive and detailed cautiousness Melville has for the better understanding of the reader an admirable trait. Although the glossary placed at the end was potentially not included in the original copy, the chapters and foot-notes were placed by the author and make the novel an even better experience.

Another notable attribute is Melville’s way of manipulating dialogues as to characterize people’s background by presenting their drawl or accent. Some characters, as seen in page 321, “That lively cry upon this deadly calm might almost convert a better man” spoken by Captain Ahab, is considerably similar to Melville’s style of writing as narration in the novel. Nonetheless, in other instances, when there is a large difference in spoken pronunciation, it is made known to the reader by altering letters in words just enough to change its diction. An example of this is found in page 304, where a man of color, Cook, is shown to have a much inferior education and, in turn, a poor vocabulary. In using phrases such as “dat is natur” instead of “that is nature” and “neighbor’s mout” rather than “neighbor’s mouth” not only adds a depth of reality, but also provides us with a stronger connection to the story in itself. Giving a dialogue its accuracy is much like giving depth and texture to a painting. The more realistic a painting is, the better and more appreciable it is. The same applies to speech in a book; the feeling of being merged in can only be obtained when the reader can relate to what or how something is being said. This, I admit, is very effective, but I do wish that it could be used more often in Moby Dick.

In addition to these things, calmness followed by chaos is an aspect of Melville’s writing that is seen throughout the novel, mainly when getting closer to finding a whale. Ere the capture of the second whale, there was an “intense copper calm” and, one page later, “sail ho!” and they had their second encounter (page 320_. This was a constant theme found as I read. The same occurred when they caught sight of the sperm whale in a previous section. In page 221, a “dreaminess reigned all over the ship and all over the sea”. As before, in the same chapter, they found Moby Dick, which is, in essence, the heart of the novel. Now this “calmness” generates a subconscious alertness and curiosity to future critical circumstances in the novel. This pattern of calmness then climax is engraved in the readers’ minds and forms a type of anticipation that, although some sections might be somewhat dull, what is to come is worth reading.

Finally, the author’s consistency in portraying captains as insane is a noteworthy and interesting characteristic of his writing. As most readers must’ve thought following through the couple few descriptions of Ahab near the beginning of the book, he was somewhat mysterious and, in ways, reminded us of a lunatic. His backstory was a complete mystery and all we knew of him was his greatness, yet harshness. He isolated himself for an extremely long time and, seeing that he was not physically ill, it could’ve only been something going on inside his mind. In addition, his burning revenge was way beyond measure and probably led him to insanity. Similarly, the captain from the Jeroboam was definitely not ordinary. Page 324 characterizes him as a crazy man that suggested he was Angel Gabriel. All of the ship’s members were fearful of him and not unreasonably. This is a pattern I found in the book and consider it quite interesting, although I’m not sure if they were purposeful or not.