FratFiles

• Save Paper

he moral ambiguity of the universe is prevalent throughout Melville's Moby Dick. None of the characters represent pure evil or pure goodness. Even Melville's description of Ahab, whom he repeatedly refers to "monomaniacal," suggesting an amorality or psychosis, is given a chance to be seen as a frail, sympathetic character. When Ahab's "monomaniac" fate is juxtaposed with that of Ishmael, that moral ambiguity deepens, leaving the reader with an ultimate unclarity of principle.

The final moments of Moby Dick bring the novel to a terse, abrupt climax. The mutual destruction of the Pequod and the White Whale, followed by Ishmael's epilogue occupies approximately half a dozen pages. Despite Melville's previous tendency to methodically detail every aspect of whaling life, he assumes a concise, almost journalistic approach in the climax. Note that in these few pages, he makes little attempt to assign value judgements to the events taking place. Stylistically, his narration is reduced......

View the rest of this paper...

Approximate Word Count: 1321
Approximate Pages: 6 (250 words per double-spaced page)

Similar Essays

1. A Critical Analysis Of Herman Melville'S Moby Dick
   

   A Critical Analysis Of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. ... In Herman Melville's
   Moby Dick, Ishmael is symbolic of the author's own life. ...

2. Melville'S Moby Dick
   

   Melville's Moby Dick. he moral ambiguity of the universe is prevalent throughout
   Melville's Moby Dick. None of the characters represent ...

3. Ahab'S Evil Quest: Melville'S Symbols In Moby-Dick
   

   ... 9. Bloom, Harold, ed. Herman Melville's Moby-Dick: Modern Critical Interpretations."
   New York: Chelsea, 1986. ... "Melville and Moby-Dick." Chase. 49. ...

4. Ahab'S Evil Quest: Melville'S Symbols In Moby-Dick
   

   ... 9. Bloom, Harold, ed. Herman Melville's Moby-Dick: Modern Critical Interpretations."
   New York: Chelsea, 1986. ... "Melville and Moby-Dick." Chase. 49. ...

5. Moby Dick
   

   Moby Dick. Moby Dick The moral ambiguity of the universe is prevalent throughout
   Melville's Moby Dick. None of the characters represent ...