Lots of doom. Lots of description. Lots and lots of description. Many meditations on what life is like for a “savage” as compared to a “civilized Christian” as well as mediations on very “different kinds of “Christians” like Peleg (a Christian in word only) and Bildad (a Christian who lives like a Pharisee) (“His Mark” 90-93). Lots of run-on sentences; separated by semi-colons; and sometimes made up of lists; several lists like “beds, saucepans, knives and forks, shovels and tongs, napkins, nut-crackers, and what not”(98) or “grocers, costermongers, doctors, bakers and bankers”(98).

There is so much to take in from Melville’s Moby Dick that it feels like you are drinking from a firehose or, even better—a whale’s spout! A few specific observations I’ve made about the beginning of the book is that there are recurring allusions to Biblical stories or to other “well-known” events in the world. When Ishmael arrives at Spouter’s Inn, the setup of the bar is within the open jaw/mouth bones of a whale and the name of the barman is Jonah (“The Spouter Inn” 13). Another allusion seen is in New Bedford for the sermon that Ishmael hears. The preacher’s pulpit is within a boat, and the preacher recounts the story of Jonah and the need for all people to repent and for prophets to tell the ‘truth to the face of Falsehood’ no matter the cost (“The Sermon” 49). The Jonah story clearly ties into a story that is largely about hunting whales, but other Biblical allusions are made to also scratch our heads a bit about the themes of the book. 

Why is the narrator’s name “Ishmael”? Is he the result of sinful choice and someone who has no “proper” place in the family of God? What might be hidden about the character in that name? What about the name Ahab?  At this point in our reading, we are just about to get introduced to the captain, and we know that Ishmael has also made the connection between Captain Ahab and King Ahab of the Bible. Ishmael is reprimanded for making a connection between the two by the owners of the Pequod (“The Ship” 82).  Another allusion that isn’t Biblical is that of the name of the ship itself the “Pequod.” The narrator tells us that it is the name of an Indian tribe that was killed off (“The Ship” 72). My understanding is that Melville uses allusions to characters of the Bible (and to other historical events) to give us clues as to what his characters and what the story will be about.  In many of these stories there is a certain sense of doom or sin that is punished. What sin will be punished? What doom is going to come in the next few chapters?     

Ideas for your own reflection:

One of the ideas that you might explore in your own reflection over our first division of the reading is that of “impending doom” or “fate.” What else besides these allusions I’ve highlighted create a dark and fateful mood? What specific descriptions point to this feeling of “doom” and “dread”?  An idea not explored here, that you could also write about relates to Queequeg and the other shipmates: How is Melville trying to challenge presuppositions about Indians? How is Melville also ironically critiquing his own lived out Christianity or other Christians?  A few more ideas to write about:  You could outline the preacher’s sermon, and tell us what the main argument is of his sermon, and how he tries to persuade the audience through it (this includes his words AND his actions).  You could also outline Ishmael’s argument about why whaling is a worthwhile business! What are his main arguments and what’s his evidence to back up each argument (“The Advocate” + “The Postscript”)?

            I am looking forward to seeing what you end up writing! Try to pace yourself. I gave you the goal of the end of this week to write 3-4 well-pondered paragraphs on YOUR reflections and annotations on the language and ideas of the book.

The first few chapters of Moby Dick are enriching and captivating. It seems as if every sentence is laden with depth, and every chapter ends with a meaningful reflection. This initial section is mostly an introduction to the characters and setting, and as such, it contains a variety of descriptions. Long sentences and a multitude of adjectives are common, and the Melville’s care and detail allow us to perfectly envision his world. I found it especially interesting that occasionally, the narrator will dive into some profound reflection; the reading experience becomes even more exciting because we are able to learn something through the author’s wandering meditations. There are even certain moments whilst reading a short description when I think “yes, someone finally put this (feeling, idea, etc.) into words!” I was surprised to discover the book is also incredibly humorous–the series of events during the first meeting between Ishmael and Queequeg being the most noticeable to me–and the use of irony is especially prominent. The characters are vivid and complex. The author masterfully crafts past experiences for his characters, which affect the way they each react to their current circumstances (like the ominous presence Ishmael encountered as a child which resurfaces when he awakes to find Queequeg hugging him). Every individual in the story is completely unique and possesses qualities that truly make the reader interested in their life. Ishmael’s passionate and open-minded nature, the sweet and loving heart of the cannibal Queequeg, and the apprehension built around the mysterious Captain Ahab all combine to form an intriguing, page-turning story, even if the book is not very heavy on plot.

Furthermore, this first section already introduces a broad set of themes. Fate is among the most noticeable. Ishmael begins his account by stating that despite the various motivations he had for embarking on his whaling journey, really, the sole work of “Fate” was behind his ordeal, and the reasons he had stated were nothing more than a delusion; they led him to believe he was indeed exercising his free will. The theme of death is first introduced within the Whalemen’s Chapel: as Ishmael observes the memorial tablets in honor of deceased sailors, he ponders over the thought of dying at sea. It is quite despairing to never be able to see your loved one again, much less bury them properly. The preacher’s hymn mentions how God is with us in trouble and in death, which gives the reader an impression that the whaling trip will not be devoid of tragedy. The contrast between Western “Christian” culture and “savage” native culture is another theme that is heavily emphasized. However, the author makes use of this to criticize certain aspects or “Christian” culture. After Ishmael’s initial meeting with Queequeg, he remarks that it is better to sleep with a sober cannibal then a drunken Christian. On another instance, Ishmael states that he prefers the genuine, although uncivilized nature of Queequeg rather than hollow Christian courtesy. The very friendship that blooms between Queequeg and Ishmael carries a powerful message to the readers of this time.

One of the memorable scenes for me throughout this section was Father Mapple’s sermon, primarily because it reminded me of great spiritual truths. The biblical story of Jonah was a perfect match to the theme of the book. The preacher’s main argument is that obeying God consists of constantly disobeying ourselves. If we do sin, our Father gladly forgives us. Finally, we should never abandon our duty to share the gospel, as Jonah did. Father Mapple is captivating and preaches with vivacity and fervor, which allows his words to truly impact his audience. He extends Jonah’s story to fit his own reality and fills it with thrilling details. The Bible does not describe exactly how Jonah embarked on his runaway vessel, for example, so Father Mapple takes his own liberties and creates a tense encounter between Jonah and the captain of the ship. Jonah’s thoughts and feelings are described, however, the essence of the Biblical truth remains. You can almost see Father Maple’s wild gesticulations and potent shouts as the tale progresses. Finally, he reveals humility through his passionate reverence towards the Lord. He climbs on a pulpit above the ground, perhaps to symbolize his detachment from the world, Ishmael observes. He informs the audience that his sermon is especially directed towards himself, for he is a greater sinner than they. He finalizes the sermon with an emotion which no one else in the chapel can comprehend, and with a slight touch of melancholy for the fact that nobody seems to fully grasp the essence of that wonderful Truth. He shows care and concern to the small congregation, even though we only see him for two chapters.

There are countless more scenes and descriptions which stand out throughout this section. These chapters have been a buildup of introduction as well as suspense, and now the full scope of the journey will ensue; massive revelations dangers most likely lie ahead.

When you add your account you can post your reflection as your own post.

Thanks!

Moby Dick was written by Herman Melville in the Romantic period of American literature. Some of the elements of Romanticism that we see within his work involve the heavy use of symbolism, preoccupation with nature, and the celebration of emotion over/against reason. In this book, the author is preoccupied with questions related to God and the truth! The backdrop of some of these questions come from a time of uncertainty, when discoveries and theories in geology and biology began to challenge the largely accepted Christian worldview of the day. As we read this book, we can place ourselves in the author’s shoes as empathetic readers. What questions can we bring to our reading of Moby Dick? How do the questions of a Christian in the 21st century relate to Melville’s various questions in 1851? How does a Christian interact with the truth, and how can they relate that truth in times of uncertainty?

Here are some of the reasons I want us to read Moby Dick:

1. It’s a novel. There is an interesting story here despite the length.
2. It’s LOW on PLOT and HIGH on WORDS. This book will help us learn to pay attention to language. Melville’s descriptions, attentiveness to detail, and use of language is noteworthy (and that’s really what AP Lang is about: LANGUAGE)!
3. This book is difficult and from 150+ years ago. The reading we do this year will be difficult and some of it will be especially difficult as it is +150 years old. I hope we can learn resilience through reading a sometimes difficult and boring novel.
4. This book is not as difficult as what you will read this year. A lot of what we read will represent modern and contemporary authors, some of whom will be so easy to you after reading Moby Dick.
5. Melville’s book treads into the waters of non-fiction. Some have described Moby Dick as a fictionalized travel journal, and there are several chapters that deal with non-fiction topics, such as various used of whale-blubber and the functions/duties of a shipmate. Our AP Lang course will deal with non-fiction, and this reading will be a touchstone (something to come back to) as we go through the semester.
6. Your reading of this novel (and a strong reading of it) will pay dividends when it comes to taking AP Literature your senior year. Your knowledge of Moby Dick will aid you in writing essays and interpreting literature your senior year as well!

I appreciate that you are in this class and taking on a new challenge. Don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

-Mr. Davis

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton