Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

"As I was floating down unconcerned Rivers

I no longer felt myself steered by the haulers..." A. Rimbaud.

Apparently, this novel is one of those classic works of world literature, which is to get acquainted with each, so to speak, self-respecting bookworm. In fact, the word "Moby Dick" and "white whale" came, I think, one of the most vivid images of ideas of Western literature with Gulliver, Don Quixote, with Pantagruel Gargantua and so forth.

It is believed that the "Moby Dick" is written against all canons of literary genres. But it is, perhaps, one of the characteristics of the most classic works, often referred to as "great" (we can recall textbook Pushkin novel in verse and epic novel of Leo Tolstoy). As for the actual language of Melville's novel, it is, in my opinion, quite adequate to the modern reader's perception. While talking here about a special "pleasure reading" when the text "swallowed heavily," it is probably too complicated. The difficulty in this case may be caused by the composition of the novel, determined, in turn, is the author's intention, the most important task. "Moby Dick" is characterized by the fact that the novel is not only certain events occur with the characters, but it happens, and the transformation of the style and genre of the narrative. Melville begins from afar. Initiation of entry, philosophical arguments about the benefits of voyages carried out, we note in the first person, the name of Ishmael. And Ishmael initially appears to the reader quite mature, wiser life. Then, all of a sudden (though it is in the novel about the events separated by "joining" a few years) Ishmael is a young man, a romantic hero, willing to see the world. And yet his behavior, words, actions, thoughts vividly testify to this. His familiarity with Queequeg, the entire length of time before getting on board the "Pequod", all it concerns the young Ishmael. Here it becomes clear that the original "Ishmael philosopher" - is someone different, perhaps the author himself. And in the course of the story of a young Ishmael gradually replaced by this author alter ego, happening kind of psychological substitution. For example, in the case of serious illness Queequeg, happened to him in swimming, in the author's voice is heard for a detached sympathy, there is the initial heat, do not have the touching concern for his friend, with whom Ishmael break out the door to the hotel nantaketskoy. But, in addition, imperceptibly it ceases to be carried out in the first person, except for a brief epilogue purely nominal. Ishmael becomes the main character, as it seemed at first, but only a "pretext" for the philosophical and psychological reflections, let's call them so the author. Images of other heroes of the novel, which, in contrast to the image of Ishmael can be called "real", Melville created with great artistic skill, in the best traditions of realistic art.

Once Verne (in whose work, by the way, marine theme plays a prominent role) criticized overburdened his literary works lecture inserts. The author of "Moby Dick" seems far surpassed Verne in this regard. Without any concern, of course, about entertaining, he deliberate slowness and thoroughness presents the classification of whales, paints subtlety and nobility of whaling. All this is interesting in itself, and therefore, in particular, shows that the relationship between man and nature of the nineteenth century. It is interesting to note that the conviction with which the author proves the impossibility of a significant decrease in the number of whales by the fishery. And the famous "cunning" and "malice" Moby Dick are, in fact, only in the fact that he does not want to be killed, like other whales. But all these descriptions, preaching, false novels, creating an epic picture of life, and that makes "Moby Dick," they say, "a wise book", are also a common problem. Somewhere far behind the apparent slowness of the narrative, romance and meager daily cares swimming specter of the white whale, like some concise and ready at any moment to straighten a powerful spring. Captain Ahab had said, or rather groaned his words: "Find me Moby Dick! Find me the white whale! ", And a gold doubloon - a reward to the first one who noticed it - is nailed to the mainmast. And gradually increasing the reader's impatience: "But where is this whale, and when, finally, the outcome?" But the isolation does not occur for a long time. Only the atmosphere condenses on the "Pequod" and around it. Incredible coffin Queequeg, crazy Negro Pip storm and St. Elmo's fire, finally meeting with the "Rachel", lost their whaleboats and children Captain, these events are themselves quite "normal", build a series of ominous omens and create the oppressive atmosphere of hopelessness. From adventure story narrative is transformed into a psychological thriller, ending apocalypse. There is no place like the beginning of the novel, ironic remarks and humor. And even the denouement is stretched for three days. In psychological terms Ahab from the beginning of its pursuit confronts Senior Assistant Starbuck. He seems to be embodied in the "Pequod" the spirit of sanity. But, it seems, and Starbuck, in the end, subject to the general madness doomed voice referring to Ahab and said, "Oh, my captain, a noble heart." In addition to Ahab, who, for the pursuit of Moby Dick refused to help the captain, "Rachel" in search of his people, and that in the last moments of his life the sailors shouting: "You are no longer men, you are my hands and feet; and therefore obey me! ". The climax of the story ended with the death "Pequod" Ahab and the whole crew, except Ishmael, though proclaims that the monsters do not live in the deep sea and in unbridled passion-ridden human brain. Ahab overwhelm Lin, it goes to the bottom of the sea with all its fanatical hatred. All his passion and pathos of the eschatological, the depth of his heart, from which he strikes a whale, you might say, in vain, his life ends ingloriously. This final novel could be called moralistic and even "ironic," but the ship, being a closed space, contributes to the fact that the will of a strong personality (and yet still dominated Ahab and positions) dominates the life aspirations of the whole team. The impression is that people meet their untimely end as a pattern, nobody even tries to escape. Fantastic scene! The same fantastic Moby Dick has, in my opinion, it is the service and the nature of the border. While the image of a huge snow-white sperm whale with a wrinkled forehead and rolled jaw-inspired, probably not a science fiction writer.