Question

Herman Melville’s MobyDick is an American classic filled with symbolic meaning. One of the most important symbols in the story is the white whale MobyDick. There are various interpretations of what the whale represents. Based on the following excerpt, what is one interpretation of MobyDick as a symbol in the novel?
And now, while both elastic gunwales were springing in and out, as the whale dallied with the doomed craft in this devilish way; and from his body being submerged beneath the boat, he could not be darted at from the bows, for the bows were almost inside of him, as it were; and while the other boats involuntarily paused, as before a quick crisis impossible to withstand, then it was that monomaniac Ahab, furious with this tantalizing vicinity of his foe, which placed him all alive and helpless in the very jaws he hated; frenzied with all this, he seized the long bone with his naked hands, and wildly strove to wrench it from its gripe. As now he thus vainly strove, the jaw slipped from him; the frail gunwales bent in, collapsed, and snapped, as both jaws, like an enormous shears, sliding further aft, bit the craft completely in twain, and locked themselves fast again in the sea, midway between the two floating wrecks. These floated aside, the broken ends drooping, the crew at the stern-wreck clinging to the gunwales, and striving to hold fast to the oars to lash them across.

A) the desperation of a trapped animal

B) the uncontrollable power of nature

C) the difference between mankind and wildlife

D) the conquering impulse of mankind

Answer 1

Based on the excerpt above, one interpretation of Moby D as a symbol in the novel is the uncontrollable power of nature (B). Overall, Moby D is a novel about the relationship between humans and nature.  

EXPLANATION

In the story, it was told that Captain Ahab and his crew try to defeat nature. They want to catch a giant whale. This caused Ahab loses his legs, the excerpt above shows how the whale managed to destroy Captain Ahab's ship. Actually, this shows that humans should be wise using natural resources, in order to maintain a natural balance, not doing exploitation or trying to conquer nature for pride.

“MobyD”; or, “The Whale” is a novel released in 1851 by American writer Herman Melville.  

The novel tells the story of a sailor named Ismael who is in obsessive whaling with Captain Ahab. The captain takes revenge on a whale, which on a previous voyage, a giant white sprm whale bit Ahab's knee.

What inspired the writing of this novel was the Melville whaling trip in 1841. The novel also refers to whaling literature, other literary works such as Shakespeare and the Bible. The white whale is modeled on the famous albino (Mocha D) whale that is difficult to catch. The final part of the book is based on the story of the sinking of Essx in 1820.

In general, this novel tells the story of whaling for its oil. Of course, tell the details of life on a whaling boat with a crew that has a variety of cultures, classes and social status, good and evil nature, and the faith of God. In addition to using narrative prose, Melville uses literary styles and tools ranging from poetry, song, and to Shakespeare's stage writing style.

LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

• In Herman Melville’s MobyD, what happened to Ahab in his previous encounter with MobyD? brainly.com/question/10391496

KEYWORD: Herman Melville, Ahab, literature, Moby D  

Subject: English

Class: 10-12

Subchapter: MobyD

Answer 2

The correct answer is B. the uncontrollable power of nature.

Moby D.ick is a symbol of nature - how powerful it is over humans and how humans will never be able to control it. Ahab tried to control it - he tried to defeat the whale, but the only thing he managed to do was lose his leg in the process, as well as his life later on. Nature cannot be controlled by mere humans - which is obvious if you read the excerpt above and how the whale managed to completely destroy the ship on its own.