Symbols and meanings in Herman Mervilles Moby Dick

Often in great works of literature, symbols are incorporated to add depth. These symbols make it more
interesting to the reader by making connections from one idea to another. Herman Melville depicts a
great number of characters and symbols in his 19th century novel Moby Dick. Melville uses symbols
and religious undertones to develop plot, characters, and to give the reader a deeper interpretation of
the novel.
Melvilles story is filled whith biblical elements. The sheer magnitude of the subject matter of Moby
Dick offers a multitude of explanations. By studying the varied portraits of the biblical duration and
their differences in Moby Dick, insights into Melvilles view of God can be achieved. The language of
the biblical tale of Jonah is paraphrased in all the waves of the billows of the seas, which in its
biblical source is all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.. The whaling voyage itself links us
to biblical areas where the whale symbol occurs and the symbol of the whale signifies the duality of
the world, black and white, good and evil, life and death. By studying the varied portraits of the
biblical duration and their differences in Moby Dick, insights into Melvilles view of God can be
achieved. The mention of Ahab as being a king in Old Testament times is clearly an apparent
intertextual reference. One wonders if Captain Ahab is going to suffer a similar dreadful fate due to a
vicious character trade. Thus the readers perception of the character is purposefully influenced by a
more detailed reference to the Bible. Aother example of biblical intertextuality can be seen in the
novels first line: "Call me Ishmael" which is a direct reference to the story of Hagar and Ishmael,
which symbolizes all who feel exiled or outcast, as does the character Ishmael.
The Bible offered Melville a wealth of characters to choose from in naming his questor in search of
universal truth.

Moby Dick abounds in religious symbols. The names of major characters and not only have parallels
or references in religion. What is more, we can label the characters in two groups: positive and
negative.
On the one hand, the biblical Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-16; 21:10 ff.) is disinherited and dismissed
from his home in favor of his half-brother Isaac. The name suggests that the narrator is something of
an outcast. In the novel, Ishmael speaks of no family or even a last name: Call me Ishmail-chapter
I.
Further, Father Mapple can be visualized on the pulpit. He represents the leadership of the pastor.
This implies that God himself is the pilot of this ship. Other characters are Fedallah who seems to be a
guru, Elijah and Gabriel. They have such a prophetic rule. Also, they try to advice the crew and to
predict their fate.
On the other hand, Queequeg is the embodiment of the heathenism. He is covered with tattoos
and he uses pagan objects. In spite of these facts, he cannot hide his spiritual nature as Ishmail
conclude: You cannot hide the soul" (Chapter 10). With regard to it, Ahab is an ungodly man. He
wants to be a god. The captain believes that Moby Dick represents evil. It may be true, but I would say
that Ahab is rather a tortured soul the madness personified. Religiously he seems to be the avenger,
the proud man. This novel through his characters is a contrast between God and Evil, goodness and
madness, spiritual and profane.

In Melville`s book we find some religious objects used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. One
representative symbol is Queequeg`s coffin. This coffin symbolizes alternately life and death. The
Istratoaie Lavinia
Ursachi Camelia
Preluca Ioana
coffin was made for Queequeg when he was very ill but when he recovers it becomes a chest. The,
when Pequod sinks, the coffin becomes Ishmael`s float, saving his life. Queequeg dies for him and
Ishmael is reborn on his coffin. So, here the coffin is symbol for life. Pequod can be an other symbol,
it could send us thinking of Noah's Ark. The ship Pequod is the container of the mythic consciousness
of man. Is the container of all forms of mith and organized religions. But it is painted a gloomy black
and covered in whale teeth and bones. It is, in fact, marked for death. Adorned like a primitive coffin,
the Pequod becomes one. Another religious object could be even the small Queequeg`s idol named
yoyo, for whom he builds ceremonial fires.

Moby Dick is saturated with quotations, titles, names and prophecies from the Bible. He uses biblical
inertextuality and symbols to show his views on the American society.

Istratoaie Lavinia
Ursachi Camelia
Preluca Ioana