English 3667F/G Lecture : Lecture 020 - Moby Dick
23 Dec 2011
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Document Summary
Cetology (zoological classification and study of the properties of whales) calculated ending. Calculating all the dates mentioned from the old testament. Looks to the future of whales; questions the extinction of the whale. Issue of extinction and depredation of nature goes against emerson confidence that nature reduces itself and cannot be depleted. Melville is operating on two different levels: mythic level and economic realism. Similar to captain ahab; mythic, iconic in american imagination; yet only occupies 25 33% of the pages of the book. Introduced as a suffering character; one who carries the weight of the world with him. Ahab given this mythic slayer of monsters characterization at beginning (although we know this isn"t terribly effective) End of masthead chapter (p. 136) platonists atop the masthead fall into ocean from philosophizing. Introducing ahab as a shakespearean tragic hero; enter ahab and all ; build. Ahab up as this melville"s method here is multiple; ahab is byronic, tragic hero, etc.
