Hell on a Whaling Voyage

Building on what I’d discussed previously about Melville’s representation of the human soul in the chapter ‘Brit’, and his likening the ocean to God, the chapter ‘Try-Works’ conjures up an alternative image of the sea – the image of hell. The try-works are now in use and so the fire on the ship is overwhelming.

There are numerous biblical references throughout the novel, but in ‘Try-Works’ Melville conjures up an image of hell; “shot her red hell further and further into the blackness of the sea and the night” (327). The hellish red fires on the ship are surrounded by the dark sea, and ocean full of unknown horrors, and the black night. At one point Ishmael becomes disorientated in the dark, and loses his bearings. He describes how a “stark, bewildered feeling, as of death” (327) came over him.

When Ishmael describes the harpooneers ‘huge pronged forks’ (327), it brings to mind images of the devils fork. These references to the devil hint at the horrors of whaling, and the way the harpooners violently kill the whales.

There are many other references to hell in this chapter; “devils in the forking flames” (328). These references could mean a number of things. Is Ishmael becoming disillusioned with the whaling voyage? Has he begun to see just how dangerous it is, that death is almost certain. The idea of almost certain death, combined with having to violently kill whales could be a situation close to hell for some. Alone in this darkness Ishmael begins to see things differently; “Wrapped, for that interval, in darkness myself, I but the better saw the redness, the madness, the ghastliness of others” (327). He may be starting to see the realities of the voyage he is on, and his doubts are represented by these hellish images.

It is also interesting how he refers to the whale as a burning martyr in this chapter, supplying its own fuel to burn its own body. The way he refers to the whale as a martyr could be ironic, or maybe his is hinting at his admiration and respect for whales. They are creatures Melville finds so fascinating that he wrote a whole book about. Since the only way to become so familiar with whales is in a whaling voyage, maybe Melville does view them as martyrs. He makes a biblical reference about the day of judgement when the whale has died, could this be interpreted to mean he believes whales have some form of judgement day? He has applied human traits to whales before, presenting Moby-Dick as an evil whale, so it makes me wonder how Melville views whales.

Historic Whalers

 In chapter 82, “The Honor and Glory of Whaling”, Ishmael reveals his admiration for historic whalers. He talks of the stories of Perseus, St. George, Hercules, Jonah, and Vishnoo. As the name of the chapter suggests Ishmael believes there is great honor and glory in whaling, and he uses these mythical stories as justification for his belief. He suggests the fact that whales live and are caught in the ocean makes it a more heroic task; “Any man may kill a snake, but only a Perseus, a St. George, a Coffin, have the heart in them to march boldly up to a whale” (285). While his images depict whaling in such a heroic light, I fail to see what is so glorious and heroic about it. While I understand that whaling is an extremely difficult and dangerous task, they are not fighting off whales that threaten their community, or predators endangering the lives of their families. They are simply hunting. They spend months chasing whales only to brutally kill them, for no purpose but their own economic gain.

The way Ishmael tells these mythical stories also gives an insight into what he thinks is important in storytelling. Ishmael focuses on the parts relevant to his point, and twists stories to suit the message he is trying to make. For example he claims the dragon St. George killed was actually a whale. If he can claim a dragon was actually a whale it makes me wonder what else he thought it was appropriate to change. This throws much of the novel and the mythical stories he had told about Moby-Dick into doubt.

The way he criticizes the people who look for the truth in these myths suggests he places less value on truth when trying to make a meaningful point. He might believe that a story which strays from the truth, or embellishes it, is ok because of the message it conveys. In chapter 83, “Jonah Historically Regarded”, he talks of the criticisms of the story of Jonah and the whale. He disregards Sag-Harbor’s ideas which go against the story, but argues for the reasons why it is true. While some argued a man could not survive in the gastric juices in the whale, Ishmael chooses to believe the arguments that Jonah stayed in the mouth of the whale, or took refuge in a dead whale. He seems so desperate to believe this story is true, that he disregards some explanations in favor of more unrealistic ones.

The Ocean and the Soul

I found chapter 58 (Brit) fascinating, the comparison of sea and land to the human soul really caught my attention. It gives an insight into Melville’s views of the soul and humanity. He describes the idea that there is only a small island of paradise, full of peace and joy, surrounded by the horrors of the unknowable ocean.

He could be suggesting humans are capable of doing such evil. There are certainly many things Melville witnessed himself or heard stories of which could have influenced this, such as flogging or cannibalism. Although few venture out into this evil (the ocean), most people stay on the land. He says you can never return once you’ve left that isle, which appears to suggest a belief that once you stray from the good you will forever remain evil. His description and comparison to the soul appears to suggest that evil dominates. Although many never venture into it, it takes up the majority of the world and by his comparison the soul.

Alternatively it could represent not the horrors humans are capable of, but the tragedies of life. Things such as death, injury and betrayal dominate the soul, but there is still an island of peace and joy.

Melville also talks of the sea’s hidden horrors, which differs from the land as all is visible on land. The ocean equates to fear of the unknown, being so vast and unknown contributes to the dangerous image of the sea; ‘treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure’ (pg.225).

His description appears to suggest that no matter how well you think you know the ocean, it is always dangerous and it is always in control. Again echoing the idea that life or God is always in control. With continued success on the sea you forget the awfulness of it, this could be a comparison to life.

The reference to ‘Noah’s flood’ seems to imply that the sea remains as a way to kill evil, as the flood washed away all the bad in the world. This biblical reference draws attention to the comparison between the ocean and God. In a sense the ocean is like god, you are always at its mercy. He talks of the immense power of the sea; ‘No mercy, no power but its own controls it’ (pg.224), smashing whales against rocks just as it does ships.

Ishmael's fear of Queequeg

What I found so interesting about Ishmael’s feelings towards Queequeg is that they could be interpreted as a representation of the feelings of society at the time. Whether this was Melville’s intention or not, I found it echoed the way many white Europeans and Americans viewed people from other cultures, especially people of a ‘dark complexion’.

Ishmael’s initial reaction simply to Queequeg’s appearance is that of fear, he is terrified at the thought of having to share a bed with him and even considers jumping out the window. Watching Queequeg’s strange prayer before the wooden idol did not fill Ishmael with fascination or interest at observing another cultures practice, but only increased his fear and discomfort. Although Ishmael has not even spoken or interacted with Queequeg yet, he has already formed an opinion of him from witnessing his unusual customs, and becomes increasingly scared of him.

The only thing which justifies Ishmael’s fear is the heads Queequeg is out selling, implying his cannibalism. However, this is mentioned but not elaborated on and does not appear to be the main source of Ishmael’s anxieties, which makes me question if it is only so terrifying when combined with Queequeg’s shocking cultural differences. Would Ishmael be as terrified if a white Christian had come in with these heads and said a prayer before a crucifix? This cannibalism could represent how many white Europeans and American’s viewed Africans and Native Americans as savages, due to a lack of understanding of their culture.

Ishmael comes to realize that; ‘It’s only his outside; a man can be honest in any sort of skin’ (pg.34).

In the morning Ishmael notes how polite Queequeg is, and after actually interacting with Queequeg he begins to view him as more civilized and considerate.  This highlights how often judgments can be wrong, and Ishmael’s initial fear was partly unjustified. This is similar to the way white Europeans and American’s first judged other cultures, Queequeg’s kindness and civility shows how deceiving first impressions can be. This initial judgment becomes even more obviously incorrect when Ishmael and Queequeg develop a relationship. Ishmael even begins to participate in some of Queequeg’s customs, which only recently had seemed so strange and frightening to him.

This represents and reinforces that idea that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, initial judgments are not always correct, and observing and understanding unfamiliar cultures can reveal that they are not always as strange as you first perceive them to be.