Lea's Reviews > Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Moby-Dick or, The Whale
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![38055348](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p2/38055348.jpg)
Lea's review
bookshelves: classic, fiction, owned, book-club-d, favourites, recommended, kindle
Jul 19, 2020
bookshelves: classic, fiction, owned, book-club-d, favourites, recommended, kindle
“And God created great whales.” —Genesis.
And Melville created a great American novel!
What a classic of American literature. I was postponing this review because at the same time there so too much to be said about this complex work and yet I feel it’s quite hard to grasp the core of its brilliance.
First of all, this book was so unevenly written that I was wondering at times a) am I reading the same author b) is this the same book. In its versatility, it is the most unique book I’ve ever read, and Melville made his point - he plays around throughout different literary genres, but proves he can write stupendously in most of them. This book can be characterized as fiction, but also scientific and historical text, with sparks of poetry and some chapters that read like a stage play. This doesn’t even feel like a novel, rather a prose-epic. At times, the constant change in writing styles can be conflicting as you don’t really know what kind of book you are reading. Writing style is somewhat simple yet it gets more convoluted and dense, especially towards the end. Melville can write ironically, humorously, seriously, profoundly, tenderly, violently - as a writer he is insanely talented. Ishmael's voice is particularly appealing, with a charming mix of skepticism and hope, seeing the light and funny side in the darkest of events. I was sad his voice faded through the novel, and through the whole novel he is an odd narrator - sometimes describing events he couldn’t possibly see. At times the writing can be dry, especially in the famous encyclopedic sections about cetology, but I wasn’t bothered with it at all because of both literal and metaphorical meaning of the chapters, and the structure of this book really beautifully describes how the mind of a person that obsesses over the topic work. I was a little bored on, what at times seemed endless, descriptions of ship and whaling. There is a disproportion between the experimental parts and parts focused on plot and characters (it seems there is more plot in the first 100 pages than in the rest of the book) and one could say that this is a poorly constructed novel. But in a way, Moby Dick can get a pass because I got a sense that like Frankenstein's monster, the novel took life for itself, independent of Melville, as it is almost uncontrollable. The novel is insane as Ahab himself!
I have a theory - the book can be read as Ishamel’s internal adventure in the psychic realm - characters can be read as his internal representation of archetypes and the whale as the representation of ultimate invincible nature, inscrutability of the universe, that man can’t understand or conquer. The dichotomy of land and ocean is important here - the ocean is chaotic, undefined, and boundless while the land is solid, material and defined. Land symbolizes the static knowledge, while ocean ever-changing and evolving process of meditation and thinking. And the ocean seems to be superior in significance to the path of our protagonist.
Ishmael's ultimate quest for meaning and Ahab chase for the whale both contain a universal journey for the ungraspable phantom of life. The whale can also be a symbolic representation of what man perceives as cruel God, and Ahab the figure of a disobedient idolatry king that thinks he can defeat the force of God. Still, I think the book would be misinterpreted if read only in an allegorical sense, in the end, I feel Melville wanted to write a book about whales. But he made a strong philosophical point in the process - even a physical creature of a Moby Dick can be endlessly ruminated upon and explored, so how can any philosophy or religion claim to have ultimate truth about something as abstract as the meaning of life.
The book seems to be imaginative protest against monolithic monotheism - there is no right way to draw or describe Moby Dick so the author has to go to all the perspectives he can to grasp particles of truth, and throughout the process broadens the perspective on different cultures, gods and taboos and sets you in the peculiar game of interpretations. And in the end, there is no ultimate meaning or comfort from the interpretations - at the same time, the answer is to reject and accept everything.
'’Indefinite is God’’
That is what I experienced as Melville’s world-view - meaning that could not be found in only one perspective, and you have to be brave enough to explore every possible stance on whatever subject in an attempt to understand it but there is no definite answer. Most men try to find the truth and impose on it its own meaning as Ahab did - his obsession with a personal interpretation of Moby Dick with oblivion to whale’s totality was his fatal flaw of the character. But the narrator, Ishmael, or Melville himself, who is brave enough to go to every possible source of knowledge without any prejudice - is the only one who survives the attack of Moby Dick. Ahab is forcing the universe to an answer, which leads to disaster, while Ishmael is an authentic truth seeker and he confronts the indefinite head-on, and survives. Melville also shows a strong stance on determinism. Fate is already written in the stone, the premonitions announce the destiny of the ship and its passengers, and free will can’t change its course. Characters also seem to be out of control of themselves - Ishmael goes on the sea because he feels like it as he is completely dominated by urges and emotions, and even Ahab who seems strong-willed admits in the end that he is not in the jurisdiction of his actions, he knows he is destructive to himself and everyone around him but still has to pursue the path of destruction. But Melville seems to praise the joyous acceptance of tragic fate as his quote says: "Whatever my fate, I'll go to it laughing."
This book will have something for every reader - a parable of religious-moralistic character, political allegory, a study on the ethical distinction, American imperialism and colonialism, individualism, democracy, transcendentalism, existentialism, madness, all displayed while describing whale hunting. Whale hunting is described humanely and you really get a grip on violence and sorrow that fill this business, not shying away from its terrible nature. I feel that there is not one field that this book doesn’t touch while writing about whales - myth, science, history, religion, ethics, metaphysics. I don’t think that a similar book was ever written or I will be written in the history of mankind. And I honestly, only Melville can pull this one.
This is the kind of book I want to ruminate upon in my older age, and I feel I will appreciate it much more at a later time. But even now I think it is unforgettable work that will linger in my mind long after first read. It took me some time to read the book, some passages are one’s you have to read several times to fully grasp. And I want to give credit, some of my reflections were influenced by Hubert Dreyfus brilliant lecture on Moby Dick that can be found on youtube. If you’ve read the book I highly recommend it.
The book itself has also the highest recommendation, but only for the brave readers open to the indefinite mysteriousness of the world!
And Melville created a great American novel!
What a classic of American literature. I was postponing this review because at the same time there so too much to be said about this complex work and yet I feel it’s quite hard to grasp the core of its brilliance.
First of all, this book was so unevenly written that I was wondering at times a) am I reading the same author b) is this the same book. In its versatility, it is the most unique book I’ve ever read, and Melville made his point - he plays around throughout different literary genres, but proves he can write stupendously in most of them. This book can be characterized as fiction, but also scientific and historical text, with sparks of poetry and some chapters that read like a stage play. This doesn’t even feel like a novel, rather a prose-epic. At times, the constant change in writing styles can be conflicting as you don’t really know what kind of book you are reading. Writing style is somewhat simple yet it gets more convoluted and dense, especially towards the end. Melville can write ironically, humorously, seriously, profoundly, tenderly, violently - as a writer he is insanely talented. Ishmael's voice is particularly appealing, with a charming mix of skepticism and hope, seeing the light and funny side in the darkest of events. I was sad his voice faded through the novel, and through the whole novel he is an odd narrator - sometimes describing events he couldn’t possibly see. At times the writing can be dry, especially in the famous encyclopedic sections about cetology, but I wasn’t bothered with it at all because of both literal and metaphorical meaning of the chapters, and the structure of this book really beautifully describes how the mind of a person that obsesses over the topic work. I was a little bored on, what at times seemed endless, descriptions of ship and whaling. There is a disproportion between the experimental parts and parts focused on plot and characters (it seems there is more plot in the first 100 pages than in the rest of the book) and one could say that this is a poorly constructed novel. But in a way, Moby Dick can get a pass because I got a sense that like Frankenstein's monster, the novel took life for itself, independent of Melville, as it is almost uncontrollable. The novel is insane as Ahab himself!
I have a theory - the book can be read as Ishamel’s internal adventure in the psychic realm - characters can be read as his internal representation of archetypes and the whale as the representation of ultimate invincible nature, inscrutability of the universe, that man can’t understand or conquer. The dichotomy of land and ocean is important here - the ocean is chaotic, undefined, and boundless while the land is solid, material and defined. Land symbolizes the static knowledge, while ocean ever-changing and evolving process of meditation and thinking. And the ocean seems to be superior in significance to the path of our protagonist.
Ishmael's ultimate quest for meaning and Ahab chase for the whale both contain a universal journey for the ungraspable phantom of life. The whale can also be a symbolic representation of what man perceives as cruel God, and Ahab the figure of a disobedient idolatry king that thinks he can defeat the force of God. Still, I think the book would be misinterpreted if read only in an allegorical sense, in the end, I feel Melville wanted to write a book about whales. But he made a strong philosophical point in the process - even a physical creature of a Moby Dick can be endlessly ruminated upon and explored, so how can any philosophy or religion claim to have ultimate truth about something as abstract as the meaning of life.
The book seems to be imaginative protest against monolithic monotheism - there is no right way to draw or describe Moby Dick so the author has to go to all the perspectives he can to grasp particles of truth, and throughout the process broadens the perspective on different cultures, gods and taboos and sets you in the peculiar game of interpretations. And in the end, there is no ultimate meaning or comfort from the interpretations - at the same time, the answer is to reject and accept everything.
'’Indefinite is God’’
That is what I experienced as Melville’s world-view - meaning that could not be found in only one perspective, and you have to be brave enough to explore every possible stance on whatever subject in an attempt to understand it but there is no definite answer. Most men try to find the truth and impose on it its own meaning as Ahab did - his obsession with a personal interpretation of Moby Dick with oblivion to whale’s totality was his fatal flaw of the character. But the narrator, Ishmael, or Melville himself, who is brave enough to go to every possible source of knowledge without any prejudice - is the only one who survives the attack of Moby Dick. Ahab is forcing the universe to an answer, which leads to disaster, while Ishmael is an authentic truth seeker and he confronts the indefinite head-on, and survives. Melville also shows a strong stance on determinism. Fate is already written in the stone, the premonitions announce the destiny of the ship and its passengers, and free will can’t change its course. Characters also seem to be out of control of themselves - Ishmael goes on the sea because he feels like it as he is completely dominated by urges and emotions, and even Ahab who seems strong-willed admits in the end that he is not in the jurisdiction of his actions, he knows he is destructive to himself and everyone around him but still has to pursue the path of destruction. But Melville seems to praise the joyous acceptance of tragic fate as his quote says: "Whatever my fate, I'll go to it laughing."
This book will have something for every reader - a parable of religious-moralistic character, political allegory, a study on the ethical distinction, American imperialism and colonialism, individualism, democracy, transcendentalism, existentialism, madness, all displayed while describing whale hunting. Whale hunting is described humanely and you really get a grip on violence and sorrow that fill this business, not shying away from its terrible nature. I feel that there is not one field that this book doesn’t touch while writing about whales - myth, science, history, religion, ethics, metaphysics. I don’t think that a similar book was ever written or I will be written in the history of mankind. And I honestly, only Melville can pull this one.
This is the kind of book I want to ruminate upon in my older age, and I feel I will appreciate it much more at a later time. But even now I think it is unforgettable work that will linger in my mind long after first read. It took me some time to read the book, some passages are one’s you have to read several times to fully grasp. And I want to give credit, some of my reflections were influenced by Hubert Dreyfus brilliant lecture on Moby Dick that can be found on youtube. If you’ve read the book I highly recommend it.
The book itself has also the highest recommendation, but only for the brave readers open to the indefinite mysteriousness of the world!
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Reading Progress
October 16, 2017
– Shelved
October 16, 2017
– Shelved as:
must-read
May 5, 2020
–
Started Reading
July 1, 2020
–
Finished Reading
July 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
classic
July 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
fiction
July 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
owned
July 22, 2020
– Shelved as:
book-club-d
November 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
favourites
November 5, 2020
– Shelved as:
recommended
January 17, 2021
– Shelved as:
kindle
Comments Showing 1-40 of 40 (40 new)
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![Down arrow](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/down_arrow-1e1fa5642066c151f5e0136233fce98a.gif)
![Momčilo Žunić](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1705650373p1/71834613.jpg)
Za one koji žele dalje da istražuju po dubinama Melvilovog kolosalca na pamet mi padaju Fridmanova studija "Problematični pobunjenik" i Munitićev esej "Ahab i Beli kit" u "Čudovištima koja smo voleli 2".
![tortoise dreams](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1456768521p1/51546630.jpg)
![Jola](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1621600729p1/4785895.jpg)
Dear Lea, I'm impressed by your enticing write-up and the fact that you have read this challenging novel: I've been planning to do it for many years but always feel discouraged and overwhelmed in advance by its greatness combined with difficulty - that's what I've been imagining, judging from everything I had read about it so far. The kaleidoscope of literary genres you mentioned piqued my interest at once! That's something I would love for sure. The comparison of the novel to Frankenstein's monster sounds so intriguing also! I'm impressed by the way you interpret the symbols in this book too. Thank you so much for changing my perspective.
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
There are many unfavorable opinions for this book, even from established readers, even writers.I am convinced that with this review, you will be able to tip the scales for lovers of human's introspection.
![Marc](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1569160429p1/2876105.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Hvala ti puno, mogu tebi zahvaliti jer me tvoj oštroumni osvrt inspirirao da konačno proradim ideje i napišem review. Ali stvarno je knjiga koja zahtijeva puno razmišljanja, nije lako dokučiva uopće! A imala sam osjećaj da što je više iščitavam i promišljam samo nove i nove slojeve otkrivam, nema joj kraja. Čudan stvor od knjige, vidjet ćemo sto će nam donijeti u budućnosti, sigurno lijepe nadogradnje ali kako kažeš dobre smo temelje postavili i ovim prvim čitanjem!
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Za one koji žele dalje da istražuju po dubinama Melvilovog kolosalca na pamet mi padaju Fridmanova studija "Problematični pobunjenik" i Munitićev esej "Ahab i Beli kit" u "Čudovištima ..."
Hvala ti Momčilo, pišem si preporuke jer želim to sve proučiti u budućnosti, definitivno sam zainteresirana. Uzimajući u obzir iz koliko kuteva se može analizirati djelo vjerujem da je svaka studija vrlo vrijedna.
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Thank you tortoise. I hope that your perception of the book will be overall positive and good luck, it is not an easy one to tackle! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Dear Lea, I'm impressed by your enticing write-up and the fact that you have read this challenging novel: I've been planning to do it for many years but al..."
Thank you so much for the kind words and thoughtful comment Jola! I sympathize completely with postponing the reading of Moby Dick, I've done it for the longest time, but now I'm so glad I did it. I see the immense personal gain and evolution of perspective, on life, but on books and reading as well. I hope you will have similar experience! And if you decide to read it count on me to cheer you on. :)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
There are many unfavorable opinions for this book, even from established readers, even writers.I am convinced that with this..."
Thank you so much Theo. I know right, I've seen most experienced readers having negative emotions and even hating the book. I think that every great work of art has extreme reactions in opposites and everybody is entilted to the personal response, but whatever it may be its interesing to observe how it affects you. I'm glad if I was able to transfer part of the positive effect Moby had on me.
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Thank you Marc! I so glad to hear you're reconsidering, this work deserves a second chance for sure. Hopefully, we'll see your reflections on it in the future!
![P.E.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1543802303p1/68429005.jpg)
Definitely! Thanks for your thoughts on this one, Lea.
![Leif Quinlan](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1590108981p1/13300069.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Definitely! Thanks for your thoughts on this one, Lea."
Thanks P.E., I really liked your review on Moby, that drawining was amazing!
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Absolutely agree, the book is hardly comparable to any other. And enigmatic as the whale himself :D
![Alen Piralić](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1596905816p1/92365056.jpg)
Najviše mi se sviđa 3. odlomak. Mislim da si pogodila bit sa punkt-kontrapunkt Ahab-Ismael analizom. A pogotovo mi se sviđa kako si usporedila kopno i ocean (kozmos i kaos). Kroz povijest se ipak pokazuje da Bog očekuje da se predamo kaosu.
![Alen Piralić](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1596905816p1/92365056.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Meni je isto to bio izvrstan dio, i baš sam promišljala i o paraleli između Jone i Ahaba koja se može povući. Jona je prihvatio utrobu kita koja u alegoričnom smislu može biti dio psihološkog razvoja u kojem se događa gubitak sustava vjerovanja, prepuštanje kaosu, patnji i bezdanu i zbog toga je kit bio samo dio njegovog puta (kao i onom kapetan u knjizi koji je izgubio ruku zbog Moby Dicka), a Ahab se odupirao suočiti s time i ostao vječno fiksiran na kitu i nešto što mu je moglo služiti za razvoj ga je uništilo.
![Gaurav](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1507460267p1/8148922.jpg)
Thank you for such an amazing review of The Greatest Book Ever Written, it is by far my favorite book of all time, and I have never even read it. I started reading it once and was astonished at the words Melville used, and also wept because of the beauty of his writing. It seemed too beautiful to finish. I loved what you said about his ocean being a meditation, I believe this too because of the waves.
![Andrew✌️](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353241952p1/13998557.jpg)
![Ivana Books Are Magic](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1578249636p1/56173179.jpg)
This is certainly the most amazing review that has ever been written about Moby Dick, and there are more reviews of this book than any other. I too am enraptured by Melville's writing, and by his all-encompassing story of whales, harpoons, and rope. Your review is beautifully written, the way you write reminds me of a story I used to listen to on a little record player... The only part of the story I remember is about a girl who was so nice that whenever she spoke diamonds fell out of her mouth. I am on about page 100 of Moby Dick but it is already my favorite book!
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Da! Sad kad gledam unatrag Melville ima nevjerojatnu sposobnost da napravi i enciklopedijski dio knjige zanimljivim :)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Thank you so much, Gaurav, so sorry for the late reply... I'm looking forward to your thoughts and reflections on this masterpiece!
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
James, what a kind words! Thank you :) Enjoy reading the rest of this phenomenal book, I was also completely engrossed in it.
![Numidica](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1585183805p1/62390164.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Thank you so much Numidica! And it's so fortunate you had a quality literature professor and mentor. Knowledgeable interpretation really gives a brand new value to the book!
![Tristram Shandy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1628062674p1/18181298.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Dear Tristram, thank you for the kindest words! I completely understand your standpoint as I was also deeply affected by this book. To this day I think about Moby, and I feel like it will linger in my mind forever...
![Cecily](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1480285828p1/1199525.jpg)
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Thank you, Cecily! It is a daunting book, but in my opinion more than worth the work and time you have to put in to read it. And I loved your review of Bartleby, I heard nothing but great things about the novel, so it is on my 2022 reading list.
![Lea](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1710698180p1/38055348.jpg)
Absolutely agree, Dimebag. Moby Dick is in my all-time favorite books. There is no other book quite like this monumental novel.
![Clint Hall](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1423102726p1/12839675.jpg)
There is nothing like the feeling I got from reading Ahab's words on the page. It was written with such intensity that I had to read it with intensity.
You're right about the style being all over the place, though. Maybe it took him many years to complete the book and he just forgot how he started.
Loved this book!
![Thrift Store Book Miner](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1702363896p1/172410229.jpg)
I ja definitivno planiram ponovo čitati Mobija u zrelijoj dobi, uvijek je zanimljivo porediti sopstvene impresije o istim knjigama pročitanim u različitim razdobljima života. Ali mislim da ćeš i tada biti zadovoljna ovim prikazom. :)