1、1ContentsAbstract.2Introduction3Chapter I The Symbolic Meaning of the Tragic Fate of the Crew on Pequod31.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Pequod41.2 Symbolical Meaning of the Captain Ahab .41.3 Symbolic Meaning of Ishmael .51.4 Symbolic Meaning of Elijah 61.5 Symbolic Meaning of Queequeg6Chapter II Symbol
2、ic Significant of the Voyage7Chapter III Symbolic Meaning of the White Whale Moby Dick83.1 A Symbol of the Huge and Strong Capitalist Mode of Production83.2 A Symbol of Nature83.3 White Standing for Innocence and Chasteness10Conclusion.10Notes 10Bibliography .112AbstractMoby-Dick is Herman Melvilles
3、 representative work, and is considered to be one of the most symbolic novels in world literature. I will have a tentative analysis on the symbolism, which is abundant in the novel: the final destruction of the crew on Pequod symbolizes mans fate in society, nature and the universe; the ship, death
4、itself; the captain Ahab, the evil in human nature; the voyage, mans pursuit for the final truth of life; the white whale, the huge capitalist production way and nature; its whiteness, purity and innocence.Key words:Symbolism, Human, Nature, Voyage, White Whale摘要白鲸是美国作家赫尔曼麦尔维尔的代表作，被认为是世界上最有象征意义的小说之一
5、。本文将对小说中的象征主义进行探索性的分析。象征主义在小说中无所不在：裴考德号全体船员的最终灭亡， 象征着人类在社会、自然及至宇宙的命运； 这艘船的名字本身就象征着灭亡； 而它的船长亚哈伯是人类本质中邪恶的一面的象征； 这次航海本身象征着对人类生活最终真理的追求； 白鲸既象征着那庞大的资本主义生产方式又象征着自然，而它的白色象征着纯洁和无辜。关键词:象征主义； 人类； 自然； 航海； 白鲸3IntroductionMoby-Dick, also known as The Whale1, is a novel first published in 1851 by American author
6、Herman Melville. Moby-Dick is widely considered to be a great American novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the the wandering sailor Ishmaels adventures, and his voyage on the whaler Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab seeks one specific whale: Moby
7、Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahabs boat and bit off his leg. Ahab intends to take revenge.In the nineteenth century, Moby-Dick was once submerged by the tide of American Literature. After half a century of silence, when the new era with
8、 a new perspective for people to reexamine it, this epic masterpiece of literature see a bright future as the jewelry buried in a tomb, shine ever bright light. Now it has become recognized as one of the worlds great literary masterpiece, known as “a mirror“ and“ Americas most brilliant expression o
9、f the imagination“1.From 1920s on, people have been doing some analysis on the book from different points of view. Especially they did some research on the symbolism used in the book with high interests. In this work, I will give some exploratory research on the symbolism.Chapter I The Symbolic Mean
10、ing of the Tragic Fate of the Crew on Pequod1 “Moby-Dick; or, The Whale: Publishing history“ - Melville Society.“ First British edition (entitled The Whale), expurgated to avoid offending delicate political and moral sensibilities, published in three volumes on October 18, 1851 by Richard Bentley, L
11、ondon. First American edition published November 14, 1851 by Harper and they are all the better off for it. A souls a sort of a fifth wheel to a wagon.“2 Later in the conversation, Elijah adds:“Well, well, whats signed, is signed; and whats to be, will be; and then again, perhaps it wont be, after a
12、ll. Anyhow, its all fixed and arranged already; and some sailors or other must go with him, I suppose; as well these as any other men, God pity em! Morning to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye; Im sorry I stopped ye.“3 1.5 Symbolic Meaning of QueequegQueequeg hails from the fict
13、ional island of Kokovoko in the South Seas, inhabited by a cannibal tribe, and is the son of the chief of his tribe. Since leaving the island, he has become extremely skilled with the harpoon. He befriends Ishmael very early in the novel, when they meet in New Bedford, Massachusetts before leaving f
14、or Nantucket. He is described as existing in a state between civilized and savage. For example, Ishmael recounts with amusement how Queequeg feels it necessary to hide himself when pulling on his boots, noting that if he were a savage he wouldnt consider boots necessary, but if he were completely ci
15、vilized he would realize there was no need to be modest when pulling on his boots.7Queequeg is the harpooneer on Starbucks boat, where Ishmael is also an oarsman. Queequeg is best friends with Ishmael in the story. He is prominent early in the novel, but later fades in significance, as does Ishmael.
16、Chapter II Symbolic Significant of the VoyageThe voyage symbolizes a kind of searching and finding for the final truth of human life.Ishmael, the teller of the story is just a type example. He escapes from his life, attend the ship Pequod, hoping that he could find a kind of real life that makes him
17、 feel happy and rich. He escapes from social reality, for he feels life is so empty, lifeless, and senseless. He has always been controlled by the feeling of lonely and lonely, its a kind of alienation between human, between human and nature, and between souls.And thats one of the main topics, for t
18、he author thought America had been controlled by such aloneness in 19th century. So Ishmael attended the Pequod with Americans dream of seeking after the truth and finding a new view of value.This voyage symbolizes Ishmaels a kind of search for knowledge and lifes value. He gradually realized the va
19、lue of love and friendship during the voyage. He had learnt how to accept, and thats what the author thinks its the essential promise for humans life. And that can be shown from his transformation of his attitude toward the black sailor Queequeg. Queequeg is the first sailor he had met. He was frigh
20、tened to die when he was arranged to sleep with Queequeg on one bed, for he is determined that the black is the kind if race which eat live human. The transformation of the attitude toward Queequeg begins with his looks and appearance, his solidity and depth moved him deeply. 8Whats more, Queequegs
21、brave behaviors that saved other sailors without considerating himself, finally established his hero appearance in Ishmaels heart, And it changed his views for humans nature and life, and saw the value of life. So this voyage symbolized Ishmaels pursue for knowledge and life value, also Americans se
22、eking for the final truth of life. The ship is just the ship of Americans soul, but the ruin of the ship embodied the authors negative views toward life and world.Chapter III Symbolic Meaning of the White Whale Moby Dick3.1 A Symbol of the Huge and Strong Capitalist Mode of ProductionIn the novel, t
23、he most symbolic character is white whale Moby Dick. It is given symbolic meaning in multi-levels. The west critics thought that Moby Dick is the incarnation of evil. Really, in the fiction, the white whale is described as a super mystery which cant be subdued, has strong destruction, and hold hosti
24、lity to human. However, the evil is not only proforma. For we can see that, in the fiction, Melville describes the whaling as a process. Therefore, from some level, the white whale can be regarded as a symbol of the capitalist method of produce. It just likes the power fights again the productive fo
25、rce and the production relations. The mystery author produced accurately in the fiction. He expressed the humans week when they face to tragic fate. On one hand, it reveals that author was frightened by the high speed development of capitalist prolificacy, and was felt horror about the about the soc
26、ial condition. On the other hand, he showed his trepidation about humans fate in the turbulent time. And he showed his mercy on their unfavorable situation.3.2 A Symbol of Nature9To Herman Melville, the Moby Dick stands for the nature which has super mystery power, especially the ocean. His other th
27、eme is the relation between human and the nature. Melville thought that there is a kind of power which cant be conquered controls humans fate, and the power is cant be discovered. The power is the mystery natural power.In the mystery fiction, the author showed the power through to methods. The first
28、, he showed us the power by the description of multi-terminal change of the ocean. The endless sea is unpredictable: sometimes, it is silent, solemn, mildness, give people endless good feelings; but, it will raise high waves at other time, and let people feel it is terrible. Whether in sunny, sunny
29、day, or a starry night, its deep hard always contains some powerful mystery power which can ruin anything, and there is strange dangerous hidden in its chest.The second, the frequent appearance of the predictions and ban omen in the fiction, added more mystery to the whole work.For example, in chapt
30、er three, the inn which the sailors put up for the night, its name is Spouter, the name is to be explained as big whale. And its dark and gloomy front let people feel that have stepped in the stomach of the whale. “ On one side hung a very large oil-painting so thoroughly be smoked, and every way de
31、faced, that in the unequal cross-lights by which you viewed it, it was only by diligent study and a series of systematic visits to it, and careful inquiry of the neighbors, that you could any way arrive at an understanding of its purpose.”4“The opposite wall of this entry was hung all over with a he
32、athenish array of monstrous clubs and spears.”5After reading the words selected from the chapter there, a horror image will in our brain, the inn is so fearful. The words tell us that all the whalers who put the inn up for their night could get rid of the tragic fate. They will have a bad final. The
33、 fate and the white whale which stands for 10nature are related with each other deeply. Here, the author tells us faintly that the last end of human who fight against nature, he or she will get perished.3.3 White Standing for Innocence and ChastenessWhite is the symbol of chasteness and innocence. T
34、he author also has other intentions for selecting white as whales color. White symbolizes chasteness and innocence .The author do not think nature will destroy human only if human could understand the conscious between human and nature, for nature is very calm, peace, and friendly. Or human will bri
35、ng ruin upon themselves. The struggle between sailors and white whales in the novel just the war between human and nature in life. White whales used to live in nature without worry and never approach and attack human initiatively. But the sailors which stand the evil aspect of human manage to conque
36、r it, ruin it, so ruined by it at last. Whats more, white also represent the mystery of the universe. To human, the secret of universe if just like white. We can nothing but white. This is also one of the authors passive views: human is very small before the strong nature, and could never know the s
37、ecret of nature.ConclusionThere are more examples of symbolism used in the novel. Methods the author used to make the novel had a further meaning. The symbolic characters make the fiction memorable. So it is called as “can be understand from any points”. As a masterpiece, it is welcome by so many re
38、aders and modern critics, and it gained much praises. The symbolism used in the Moby-Dick is a huge treasure which is worth to be researched.Notes111 Moby-Dick, Second Edition (Norton Critical Editions), Edited by Hershel Parker, and Harrison Hayford, New York : W.W. Norton Publishing, July 1999 (2n
39、d ed. 2002).1002 Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. Princeton University Press, 2007, Chapter XIX - THE PROPHET, 913 Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007, Chapter XIX - THE PROPHET, 914 Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007, Chapter II
40、I- THE SPOUTER INN, 105 Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007, Chapter III- THE SPOUTER INN, 11Bibliography1 Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick: A Longman Critical Edition, Edited by John Bryant and Haskell Springer. London: Longman Publishing, 2007.2 Moby-Dick, Second Ed
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