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Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick. Herman Melville. Herman Melville. Born in New York City in 1819, Melville’s father died when he was just 11 years old. Melville had to work to support his family while he was still a child. At 19, he became a sailor and spent several years on whaling ships in the South Pacific.

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Moby-Dick

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  1. Moby-Dick Herman Melville

  2. Herman Melville • Born in New York City in 1819, Melville’s father died when he was just 11 years old. • Melville had to work to support his family while he was still a child. • At 19, he became a sailor and spent several years on whaling ships in the South Pacific. • He became friends with Hawthorne when he moved to Massachusetts. Hawthorne encouraged him to write.

  3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville • Famous epic American novel; first line: "Call Me Ishmael.” • Sailor Ishmael tells the story of his voyage on the whale-hunting ship Pequod

  4. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville • The Captain, Ahab, lost a leg to a deadly white whale named Moby Dick • Ahab is bent on revenge and convinces the crew to follow him on his quest.

  5. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville • What follows is a long novel that combines adventure with information about whaling, as well as psychological insight.

  6. Melville’s Other Works • Before Moby-Dick, Melville was famous for writing stories of his journeys in the south Pacific. • These stories were basically cheap entertainment - scantily clad hula girls and scary cannibals. • Moby-Dick alienated all his fans because it was so intellectual and dark.

  7. Moby-Dick and Anti-Transcendentalism • Hawthorne was one of the few people to give it a heartily positive review; the book is dedicated to Hawthorne. • Like “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Moby-Dick is a work of anti-Transcendentalist literature. • The whole book is a rejection of the optimistic Transcendentalist views on humanity and nature.

  8. Captain Ahab and Transcendentalism • In the novel, even though Captain Ahab believes in revenge and evil, he shares many Transcendentalist views. • The fate of the voyage reflects Melville's views on reality, rules, and religion.

  9. Quick Write: • Melville’s character, Captain Ahab, is determined to the point of obsession. While Americans tend to admire persistence, can one be too determined? Write a brief paragraph expressing your point of view.

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