The author introduces the character, Ishmael, in the first few pages. There is not much depth for his character background. He is very poor, with little or no money in his purse (Page 1), but he is anticipative of his dream of exploring the world by sailing through the oceans. The author then interacts with the reader, through Ishmael’s perspective. He refers to the reader when he asks questions. For example, “Why upon your first voyage as a passenger, did you yourself feel such a mystical vibration, when first told that you and your ship were now out of sight of land?” (Melville, page 3)
Towards the end of chapter 1, in page 6, he describes the pleasure of having a whaling voyage. “By reason of these things, then, the whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open, and in the wild conceits that swayed me to my purpose, two and two there floated into my inmost soul, endless processions of the whale, and midmost of them all, one grand hooded phantom, like a snow hill in the air.” (Melville, page 6) Within this passage, he uses metaphor and simile to emphasis his perception of the journey. It`s his greatest passion, and he sees it as his purpose in life.
“You shuddered as you gazed and wondered what monstrous cannibal and savage could ever have gone a death-harvesting with such a hacking, horrifying implement.” (Melville, page 11) Ishmael must stay in an inn to spend the night for his journey. Melville uses this phrase to emphasize the horrific experience that Ishmael must go through because he’s poor and wants to go on a whaling journey. He addresses to the reader, using metaphors to describe what are the events that are happening. It addresses the sacrifice Ishmael must take to pursue his greatest passion.
The Agora: AP LANG 2019-2020 