Throughout the novel we have noticed
several allusions are references to biblical characters and themes. On
individual theme that I would like to discuss is the repetition of “white”
symbols, and how these differ from others. In religious terms, white tends to
represent something of purity and peace, however we notice that in Moby Dick it
is referred to more as something of fear and power. So where does this separation
come from? I believe that the nature of the sailors’ voyage, being something of
vengeance especially for Ahab, has put them in the position where they are not
abiding by “Gods intentions”. Similar to Jonah, the man that was swallowed
whole by a whale, Ahab finds himself in a situation where he has not made good
with god and disregards all the signs in his life. In both the stories of Jonah
and Moby Dick, it seems that the “white whale” may act as more of a “holy tool
of punishment” rather than just a symbol of purity. For this reason, it seems
understandable why the sailors fear moby dick, because he IS gods wrath and a
physical symbol of what god can do. Characters such as Elijah in the book create
foreshadowing and hints towards future conflicts and destruction. It seems fit
that these holy forms of retribution and punishment would be in a white and
powerful form.
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