Journal #3

Yuna Lee

June 3-July 9 (Chapter 52-80)

Before reading this section, I thought that the whole story’s focus would be on catching the Moby Dick. However, in certain parts of the book, I realized that there are other aspects that Melville wants his readers to realize. One of them is the interaction between nature and men. It is noticeable when saying, “Swim away from me, do ye? murmured Ahab… the tone conveyed more of deep helpless sadness” (chapter 52, pg. 368). This quote shows Ahab’s reaction when he sees the fishes swimming away from him. Although it might mean nothing in nature, Ahab interprets it in his way – it hurts him and he takes it as a bad omen. It is also shown that Ishmael prioritizes the interaction between men and nature than nature itself. When Ishmael was describing how ridiculous the ancient drawings of the whales are, he says that the ‘best’ is the one that has “…one picture of whaling scenes” (chapter 56, pg. 412). He says, although “serious fault might be found with the anatomical details of this whale, but let that pass; since, for the life of me, I could not draw so good a one.” (chapter 56, pg. 413). Based on this quote, Ishmael believes that the vivid and active interaction between the whales and the men is more valuable than scientific accuracy itself.

Secondly, Melville uses irony to mock and to add some sense of humor to the book. When the pirates say, “… they are infernal villains on both sides, and don’t like to see overmuch of each other’s villainous likenesses.” (chapter 53, pg. 372), it’s funny that they do the same job but think that each other is cruel. Melville mentions that it is ironic how the English whalemen think they are superior when “the Yankees in one day, collectively, kill more whales than all the English, collectively, in ten years.” (chapter 53, pg. 371) Additionally, when he describes the early drawings of the whales, he says, “… and look now at a great Christian painter’s portrait of this fish; for he succeeds no better than the antediluvian Hindoo” (chapter 55, pg. 405). He mocks that both of them focus on what is visually pleasing than the actual anatomy of the whales. I think that by the word “great” Melville wants to show that it is ironic that even the “great” people can’t succeed.

Lastly, many symbols are implying some messages in the book. Both Ahab and the sperm whale, in general, are frequently referred to as pyramids. For instance, “these are hieroglyphical… pyramids hieroglyphics, then that is the proper word of use in the present connection” (chapter 68, pg. 470). When the narrator reads, “… to sketching the profile of a pyramid”, he refers to the whales as a mysterious grand puzzle to solve. Another possible interpretation of the symbolization of pyramids is that it is used as a reference to the discourses of slavery. The top part of the pyramid can represent the small percentage of people who are in control or who have the power. The rest of the pyramid, which is the majority, represent the sailors who follow the captain or the slaves. It is easy to think that the most important part is the top part, in other words, Captain Ahab. However, when the sailors leave Ahab, the pyramid will fall to pieces. The base is needed to sustain the top part of the pyramid. This is noticeable when the sailors desert the ship. The narrator says, “… the captain was forced to enlist some of the more civilized Tahitians, who had been somewhat used to the sea.” (chapter 54, pg. 414) For a pyramid to be well-established, it is not only the ‘top’ that matters.