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Just finished Moby Dick - is my interpretation valid?
I finished reading Moby Dick for the first time (I read an abridged version when I was 12, but I don’t think that counts). I loved it! I have a lot to consider about it now, though.
Especially: Is Ishmael “mad”?
I know he’s said to be an unreliable narrator, but what is the reason for this? As I was reading it, I found him to be a very romantic, poetic character and so perhaps embellished things with the intent to add flair, being unreliable on the way. This was especially reinforced when he said he had whale dimensions tattooed on his arm (I loved that part, it was so unexpected). A few things, like the tattoo, seemed so unlikely but merely led me to think he was making things up to support his story. Also, his narrating of conversations he wasn’t present for also made it clear that he must be adding context as he sees fit.
But then, after documenting Pip’s shock into “madness” due to being stranded overboard, he mentions he was also later stranded in the ocean and then this was confirmed at the end, which is when I realized his exaggerations may not be flair but him being disconnected from the events of reality due to this trauma.
This then made sense as to why he spoke of many conversations or feelings he did not witness, narrated the other characters in his own philosophical voice (especially Ahab’s increasing insights), identifying so many convenient symbols to his theme (bird stealing and dropping Ahab’s hat, the many true prophecies, lightning striking the harpoon, Fedallah’s body strapped to Moby Dick, the bird being dragged down with the sinking ship, etc.), finding deeper connections between characters that perhaps were not there but added layers of emotion to his story (Ahab with Pip, Ahab and Starbuck at the end), and of course all his wildly embellished facts. It then felt to me as though we were meant to be like Ishmael at the start, listening to raving Elijah.
I loved this, because there was no reason to doubt Ishmael’s reliability (except now that I know, I realize his first line should have been a clue), but the further and further you get into the book, the more and more you start to suspect his accuracy. And then when he mentions being stranded overboard, it all comes together. So like Pip, he’s probably fallen into ‘madness’. Or alternatively, like Pip, acquired the ability to see deeper truths than the average man. But in that case he would have to had interpreted things retrospectively, making it, I think, less likely. But either way, his account cannot be trusted. Especially when it wasn’t simply being lost overboard, but firstly witnessing the death of everyone.
Now I did a shallow dive but haven’t come across anything that supports this yet, past acknowledging Ishmael to be unreliable, which led to me to worry my interpretation is off. So if anyone knows of any analyses on the topic of Ishmael’s sanity they could recommend me, I would be very grateful. And any analyses you particularly enjoyed too. Also hearing your own analyses too, please. I really enjoyed this book and am excited to dive deeper!
#entertainment
source
I finished reading Moby Dick for the first time (I read an abridged version when I was 12, but I don’t think that counts). I loved it! I have a lot to consider about it now, though.
Especially: Is Ishmael “mad”?
I know he’s said to be an unreliable narrator, but what is the reason for this? As I was reading it, I found him to be a very romantic, poetic character and so perhaps embellished things with the intent to add flair, being unreliable on the way. This was especially reinforced when he said he had whale dimensions tattooed on his arm (I loved that part, it was so unexpected). A few things, like the tattoo, seemed so unlikely but merely led me to think he was making things up to support his story. Also, his narrating of conversations he wasn’t present for also made it clear that he must be adding context as he sees fit.
But then, after documenting Pip’s shock into “madness” due to being stranded overboard, he mentions he was also later stranded in the ocean and then this was confirmed at the end, which is when I realized his exaggerations may not be flair but him being disconnected from the events of reality due to this trauma.
This then made sense as to why he spoke of many conversations or feelings he did not witness, narrated the other characters in his own philosophical voice (especially Ahab’s increasing insights), identifying so many convenient symbols to his theme (bird stealing and dropping Ahab’s hat, the many true prophecies, lightning striking the harpoon, Fedallah’s body strapped to Moby Dick, the bird being dragged down with the sinking ship, etc.), finding deeper connections between characters that perhaps were not there but added layers of emotion to his story (Ahab with Pip, Ahab and Starbuck at the end), and of course all his wildly embellished facts. It then felt to me as though we were meant to be like Ishmael at the start, listening to raving Elijah.
I loved this, because there was no reason to doubt Ishmael’s reliability (except now that I know, I realize his first line should have been a clue), but the further and further you get into the book, the more and more you start to suspect his accuracy. And then when he mentions being stranded overboard, it all comes together. So like Pip, he’s probably fallen into ‘madness’. Or alternatively, like Pip, acquired the ability to see deeper truths than the average man. But in that case he would have to had interpreted things retrospectively, making it, I think, less likely. But either way, his account cannot be trusted. Especially when it wasn’t simply being lost overboard, but firstly witnessing the death of everyone.
Now I did a shallow dive but haven’t come across anything that supports this yet, past acknowledging Ishmael to be unreliable, which led to me to worry my interpretation is off. So if anyone knows of any analyses on the topic of Ishmael’s sanity they could recommend me, I would be very grateful. And any analyses you particularly enjoyed too. Also hearing your own analyses too, please. I really enjoyed this book and am excited to dive deeper!
#entertainment
source
| 15,000 mlx | |
| 16 | |
| 0 |