Imagery and Allusion

Herman Melville has written Moby Dick in first person, from Ishmael's point of view. Ishmael tells his story with a remarkable degree of imagery and incorporates an array of allusions. In the opening chapter, Ishmael uses words and phrases like "driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation", "growing grim about the mouth" and "athirst" to describe his "itch" to go to sea. In doing so, he makes clear the natural, almost primal urges to be at sea. In addition, on page 45, he compares the pulpit to a ship, saying "the world's a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow". This comparison to his religion implies a higher level of thought and consciousness than does the former example. So again, we see Ishmael's inherent need and desire to be at sea.

In addition to imagery, Ishmael uses many allusions. Being a proclaimed Christian, it makes sense that he makes a lot of Bible references. Again, he seems to use these allusions to either explain and/or justify his love of open waters. He does this on page five with his references to some of the wonders of the world: the "Prairies", "Niagra", "Rockaway Beach", etc. He also makes allusions to people. For example, page 5, Narcissus, page 37, Herr Alexander, and Jonah in chapter 9.

Side note: I think it is really interesting how Melville strung together a whole narrative, in excrutiating detail, of Jonah's story. I still have yet to figure out of what significance, if any at all, this has. Maybe it really will serve as a model, as suggested by the preacher, for repentance in the novel.