A Change of Pace
I thought that it might be worth a change of pace to shift winds. So, I decided to sail the classic waters of the literary ocean with a re-reading of Moby Dick. I must confess that I have not read Melville since my school days and I am glad to report that he has only gotten better over the years (or maybe I have matured somewhat…).
For the Unfamiliar
For those who are unfamiliar, Moby Dick is a classic story written by Melville which describes and discusses whale hunting. The main character is the story teller – one Ishmael. He tells the story of how he joined a whaling expedition with a captain by the name of Ahab. As the story develops it becomes clear that this is no ordinary whaling expedition. Rather, it is a personal journey of vengeance that Ahab has planned in order to hunt down the elusive and dreaded Moby Dick – the white whale which maimed Ahab during a previous voyage. Many of the characters are with biblical names. Ostensibly, the reason for this is that they are all religious Christians and are well connected to their Old Testament traditions. Of course, this also serves as a tool for the author as the reader is supposed to be acquainted with the history of the original biblical characters.
More About Moby Dick
I think that I will devote a few entries to this story as I feel that there is a lot to be derived from this epic classic. For those who don’t care for Melville – I suppose that you will just have to wait until I switch to something else. Those who do read on are certain to find fascinating insights into this great story. I will try to discuss the story from several view points and several levels so that everyone will find a little something…
