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.
Rachel, these are good observations. We need to look at the "Try-Pots" chapter to see some more of what you're saying here. Melville threads these ideas throughout the book in different chapters.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you deconstructed this chapter. I agree with the idea of the sea bringing tragedy, more so than the idea of it being evil. Both I find to be great observations, and show a very close read to the novel, for I do agree that Melville hints towards the evil man is capable of. Tragedy happens, whereas evil is thought out, and planned. The ocean is unpredictable due to the fact that it is part of its nature to be so. Though the ocean brings tragedy it also brings life, therefore I cannot view the ocean as malicious. For the whales, it is there home, along with many other creatures. However for man, land is meant to be their home, hence the ocean will act how it acts with or without the men being present in its waters. What I mean by this is that the men choose to put themselves in harm’s way, it comes with the occupation.
ReplyDelete