Posted by Troy on September 12, 1999 at 18:37:13:

In Reply to: What does this mean to you? posted by Jesse on August 04, 1999 at 15:45:54:

: Jesse,
Well, first of all I think that the abridged version of novels was invented for Melville. Now that I have that out of the way, I will give you my literal opinion.

He is saying that Ishmael has no hope to understand the intent of the whale because more educated people than Ishmael cannot even figure out each other.

On a less literal note, you could interpret the whale as the object of Ahab's hate ("He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race..."). Therefore, he could be saying that educated men cannot figure out common, everyday thoughts. Ishmael, a common man, could never figure out the deeper emotion of a man's hate. How do you understand the hate of another?

Hope it helps.

Troy

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : Jesse, : Well, first of all I think that the abridged version of novels was invented for Melville. Now that I have that out of the way, I will give you my literal opinion. : He is saying that Ishmael has no hope to understand the intent of the whale because more educated people than Ishmael cannot even figure out each other. : On a less literal note, you could interpret the whale as the object of Ahab's hate ("He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race..."). Therefore, he could be saying that educated men cannot figure out common, everyday thoughts. Ishmael, a common man, could never figure out the deeper emotion of a man's hate. How do you understand the hate of another? : Hope it helps. : Troy

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Classicshall Lecture Hall ] [ The Jolly Roger ]
[ The World's Largest Literary Cafe ]

[Nantuckets.com][BusinessPhilosophy.com][Classicals.com] [Nantucket Poetry Postcards]
[Nantucket Navy Live Chat][The Jolly Roger][Kill Devil Hill][Western Canon University][Federalistnavy.com Spirit of America]
[Starbuck.com Clical Poetry Port] [Kill Devil Hill] [Shakespearean Greetings]
[Conservative Cafe][nantucketnavy.com][hatteraslight.com]
Re: What does this mean to you?: Nantucket Campfire

Nantucket Campfire
& Other Nantucket Live Chats
If ye would like to moderate the Nantucket Campfire, please drop nantucket@nantuckets.com a line.

[Poetry] [Shakespeare] [Classics] [Classic eCards] [American History] [Great Books]
[Tutors] [Great Books Forums] [Greatest Conversation] [Cairn Studios] [Great Books & Classics]

---

Join us before the mast for Moby Dick year.

READ THE GREAT BOOKS
TERM PAPERS, RESEARCH PAPERS, ESSAYS

BUY THE GREAT BOOKS

Free postnuke hosting, blogging, and online photo albums @ mobynuke.net
WRITERSWORD.COM JOLLYROGER.COM US ARMED FORCES PENPALS
THE THREE BOOKS OF THE RENAISSANCE
SUMMER GREAT BOOKS CHALLENGE

Open Source: Free Photo Gallery Hosting for Stock Photography
Open Source Digital Rights Management for Artists, Authors, Bands
Free Open Source Blogging & Blog Hosting
Great Books Discussion Forum
Open Source Business

DR. ELLIOT'S NORTH AMERICAN GREAT BOOKS TOUR--COMING TO A BOOK STORE NEAR YOU
[Shakespeare Forums] [Bible Forums]

Feedback? Would you like to moderate a forum? Contact m o b y d i c k m o v i e @ y a h o o . c o m.

Join The Renaissance!

THE. BEST. GREAT. BOOKS. T-SHIRTS. EVER.