Running Head: MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

Moby Dick and its Correlation to Modern Society

Bailey Farley
South Newton High School

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

Abstract
In this research paper the author discusses the many similarities and symbolic meanings
contained in the novel, Moby Dick, with modern day happenings. Moby Dick himself is
compared to a number of symbolic ideas. Ahab, the captain of the Pequod is also subject to the
comparisons and is deeply analyzed. The novel Moby Dick is incredibly controversial when it
comes to finding the true meaning behind Melvilles novel. This essay will help the reader
understand the correlation between the book and modern day society and open up many
possibilities when it comes to these ideas for the reader to decide and sift through on their own.

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

Moby Dick and its Correlation to Modern Society

The novel, Moby Dick, has always intrigued and astounded many people with its detailed
account of whalers at sea. The author of the novel, Herman Melville, had created a beautiful plot
line for this story and along with it a sort of hidden message. Many believe Melville had
created the novel and foreshadowed the society that is known today. There are many
controversies concerning this foreshadowing, and all are met with both positive and negative
thoughts concerning these beliefs. What is known about Melvilles novel though is that it
certainly foreshadowed something concerning the future, but what it exactly is, is unknown.
In the novel the white whale, also known as Moby Dick, is portrayed as incredibly
malicious. It is likely that Melville portrayed Moby Dick as the entity of a nefarious creature.
With all of the myths and attacks by the whale, it is certainly easy to view him this way. But,
though he may represent evil itself within the novel, he could also signal the onset of evil and
corruption to future society.
In Moby Dick, a captain known as Ahab is wrought with the thought of killing the whale
who had took his leg, Moby Dick. While chasing this said whale, he became blinded by his own
need for revenge and found himself put into the most dire of situations. With this in mind one
must also consider the fact that it often is said that with the modern man, chasing something
blindly for ones own benefit and without any concern for others is often considered taboo, and
to bring an onset of bad luck. Considering this, it is very plausible that Melville had maybe
foreseen mans future corruption, and inserted this knowledge symbolically into the book, to
foreshadow the future corruption and evil man may face as long as he chases his own selfish
thought and beliefs.

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

A branch of this idea also includes the assumption that Ahab may be struggling with his
own personal issues involving the white whale. With being blinded by revenge at the loss of one
of his most valuable extremities Ahab slowly seems to lose himself in the novel and becomes
inherently mad with a complete lack of empathy later on as he throws each of his own men at the
whale, knowing they would die. As George Cotkin states It is easy, tantalizingly simple, to find
affinities between Ahab and Kacynski-fanatics, madly wedded to their own grief and devoted to
revenge (Cotkin, 2012). Kacynski was a man known as the Unabomber who had killed 3
people and wounded twenty-three others by sending bombs concealed in mail (Cotkin, 2012).
Ahab relates to Kacynski as his undying thirst for the blood of the whale drives him mad and
reduces his own thoughts and feelings down to that of an animal; much like Kacynski in his love
for creating destruction and killing those around him (Cotkin, 2012).
With the thought of the mad captain Ahab in mind, another idea arises. Instead of Moby
Dick representing the oppressor within the novel, Ahab may very likely be one himself. The
author Steven Kinzer, states Ahab was a tyrant who combined his business finding oil with
the blind pursuit of personal vindication. Never was he able to see his plight from any
perspective other than his own. In this light, Ahab personifies the modern day rapid expansion
of industry. Today there is an ever-growing corporate industry, which seems to be at many times,
full of avarice. In the book Ahab has a dire obsession with pursuing whales and ultimately
finding Moby Dick. Ahab symbolically represents industry today in his lack of moral and
modesty as he finds himself thrown deeper and deeper into his greedy way of life. As the
revenge consumes him, he seems to grow a tunnel vision and begins to solely focus on
himself. In this way Ahab greatly resembles the corporations of today; making the idea that
Herman Melville may have based his book on todays corporate expansion a very plausible idea.

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

Melvilles novel includes an abundant amount of controversial subjects. One of the

seemingly most controversial subjects found in the book is that of religion. Back in the time of
Melville, religion played a huge role in society (Sproul, n.d.). This is a main reason behind the
idea that Melville had written his book in the name of God. The author used the color white for
the whale, which depicts the idea of purity and of what many people to be the picture of God
himself (Sproul, n.d.). While Ahab impulsively pursues the thing that holds such power over
him, he loses sight of himself and will only be truly reminded in the end as he experiences those
around him dying, and even experiencing death himself. This resembles much of todays society.
The modern day person seems to only realize his wrongdoing as he is met with the repercussions
of it. Many ideas concerning the message that Melville seemed to try and send in his novel stem
from the color of the famed White Whale. Moby Dick was the color of hope and all things
pure and was intensely chased and hunted by Ahab, but in the end Ahab had ultimately ended
himself as his blind chase came to an abrupt end.
Even though Moby Dick may have been depicted as a religious figure in the book, it is
quite possible that he may not have only represented God but may have also been represented
as the Devil. Many see this brutish animal as evil because it had inflicted great personal
damage on Ahab in an earlier encounter. Ahab lost his leg, which was replaced by the bone of a
lesser whale (Sproul, n.d.). Moby Dick creates a sort of other-worldly presence and hints to
having an incredible intellect. He tempts Ahab and creates an ominous aura that many people
warn Ahab to stay away from. Just as the Devil in modern society is said to tempt people,
Moby Dick tempts Ahab in a way that leads to his demise.
Many ideas about the foreshadowing Melville created in his novel stem from the idea of
the color of Moby Dick. Author Mariah Redden states Melvilles signifying intricacies in a

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

symbolic play of color, particularly the elusive nature of the color of white are examined, which
is suggested physically by the white whales flight, psychologically by Ahabs depreciating
sanity in chasing the white whale, and ultimately functions to suggest a diminishing sense of
spirituality within the borders of humanity. Melville establishes a basic symbolic structure
regarding color by drawing on the traditional and highly familiar binary dichotomy of black
signifying evil, death, and fear, contrasted with the colors opposite signifier, white, which
typically indicates purity, goodness, and godliness. The color of white, which does usually
represent hope and faith, is fleeting in Ahabs mind as he inches closer to insanity chasing the
whale, just as the whale is escaping him. Today, people chase hope and faith, and often times
seem to lose themselves in the name of faith. There are many extremists today who are
influenced by faith in their religion, and lose themselves and wind up hurting others just as Ahab
does in the end of the novel.
Another incredibly controversial subject concerning Melvilles Moby Dick and modern
society is the issue of race. There are some instances in the novel in which Melville relates race.
In todays society there is still an overabundance of racism, but there was even more so back in
the time of Melville. In his novel, Melville repeatedly brings up instances in which the two races
are similiar. But, Melville seems to actually consider the two races equal in some ways, which
was very rare back in those times. On his broad back, flaxen-haired Flask seemed a snow-flake.
The bearer looked nobler than the rider. In this single image, Melville has managed to illustrate
what he calls elsewhere the divine equality of humanity even as he provides a scathing critique
of slavery. Flask may out-rank Daggoo, but it is the African harpooneer who literally carries the
third mate (Philbrick, 2011). Here, Melville compares the two and states that they support each
other. In saying this, it seems very plausible that Melville is foreshadowing the need for change

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

in the views on slavery of his time, or what the future may hold involving race. Melville seems
to realize the doltish idea that because the skin tone one has is dissimilar to that of another does
not indicate that the other is less of a human being.
Melville also assimilates this idea in other subtle parts of the novel as well. In the scene
involving Ishmael (the narrator of the book) and Queepeg, an attraction is apparent. Ishmael
finds himself sharing a room with brutish Queepeg, who is an African harpooner who had just
returned from a recent voyage as a whaler. At first, Ishmael is weary of Queepeg, but soon finds
himself heavily interested and accepting of the harpooner. This could also represent the idea that
Melville had been foreshadowing the symbolic change of society to become more accepting of
race as time goes on and more time has been spent with one another. But, this idea could also
foreshadow a different approach to what Melville could have meant.
In Moby Dick, Ahab shows an incredible inability to control the happenings going on
around him, such as the violent storms, and the white whale that sabotages him in the end. In
todays society, man seems to be rapidly losing control of Mother Nature as he creates even more
destruction in the pursuit of his own selfish need. Recently, there has been an obvious negligence
of health of the environment as more and more oil spills become apparent in the oceans
surrounding the United States. In April of 2010 the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and
contaminated the area of the Gulf of Mexico, and was the largest oil spill in the world at that
time (Kennedy, 2010). As critically acclaimed author Randy Kennedy states In the weeks since
the rig explosion, parallels between that disaster and the proto-Modernist one imagined by
Melville more than a century and a half ago have sometimes been striking and painfully
illuminating as the spill becomes a daily reminder of the limitations, even now, of mans ability
to harness nature for his needs.

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

Herman Melville gives a vast allowance for imagination to take hold and delve deeply
into the symbolic foreshadowing he offers in the novel Moby Dick. Melville has not specified
his true reason for his novel, but it seems as though the legendary author truly looked to inspire
those who read the book to look at themselves, and the future to reflect upon our actions now.
He wanted his readers to investigate the actions and the happenings of today and consider them
for the destiny of the world. Herman Melville saw the corruption of his time and of the future,
and wants to restrain the people of today from future corruption.

MOBY DICK AND ITS CORRELATION TO MODERN SOCIETY

References
Cotkin, G. (2012). Dive deeper: Journeys with Moby-Dick. New York, New York: Oxford
University Press.
In this book, the author, a man known as George Cotkin is a History professor at Cal Poly
in San Luis. The man seems to have a firm grasp on history and has thoroughly read and
analyzed the book Moby Dick as well as the history behind the author, Herman Melville
himself. The book written by Mr. Cotkin can be found on Google Books and also be read
there. Cotkins main audience seems to be any and all people who have any certain
interest in the inner-workings of the novel Moby Dick. In his book Cotkin analyzes the
link between morality and history and subsequently uses real-world issues compared with
happenings in both the novel and the life of the late Herman Melville to compare the
relationship between moral and history.
Cotkin differs greatly on his views as he takes many examples from today, and realates
them with Ahab, otherwise known as the captain in the book, Moby Dick. For example,
Cotkin compares Ahab with the more modern day Ted Kacynzki, otherwise known as
the Unabomber and how their lust for revenge creates a lack of feeling and
subsequently destroys empathy. I believe that while being a History professor, the author
takes some very abstract views on the novel, and yet makes some very strong
comparisons. He explores the idea of moral instead of doing what many History-bugs do,
which is base much of his thoughts and ideas on pure fact. The author does base a lot of
his information on facts from the novel and modern day life, but he also refers to moral
and character throughout much of his book. By using this technique the author gives
information by using logos, and also pathos.
The author readily gives us information that may lead the reader to their own ideas and
connections. Cotkin offers up the general idea that people as consumed by revenge as
Ahab is lack morality or lose all morals when faced with such a dilemma as Ahab did
with losing his leg. This is a very deep and intellectual thought on Ahabs general feelings
compared to that of average people, and could very readily be compared to modern day
society, such as in my paper.
Kennedy, R. (2010, June 12). The Ahab Parallax: Moby Dick and the Spill. The New York
Times. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/weekinreview/13kennedy.html?_r=0

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In this periodical the author Randy Kennedy compares recent spills of oil rigs in the
United State and Ahabs inability to control the happenings of nature. Randy Kennedy is
a well-renown author for the New York Times and frequently observes corporate giants
such as BP. The man is obviously well equipped to write his article as he goes on to
explain the minute details and comparisons between huge corporate oil spills to the
uncontrollable actions of nature beheld in Moby Dick. He discusses the immaculate
similarity between man frequently being overcome by nature the more he tries to control
it, and Captain Ahabs downfall as he attempted to do the very same. Kennedys main
proposed audience seems to be basically anyone willing to read (as it was published in
The New York Times.) Kennedy claims that the more man tries to control nature, the
more nature will rebel, and supports this claim with the idea that the more oil is
transferred, the more oil spills, and the harder Ahab tried to beat the whale, the more
misfortune seemed to weight on the crew.
Kennedy shows a unique stance on the subject of Moby Dick and modern society as he
compares it to that of an oil spill. This concept is a very good idea and can be easily
understood but is rarely, if ever actually thought about when looking at the correlation
between Moby Dick and modern society. I believe that by the author being influenced by
corporations himself, he has a better understanding of the determination and the
stubbornness of them himself. With as many oil spills that have happened within recent
years the authors argument is incredibly valid with a strong use of logos in his support.
The idea that Ahabs lust for revenge against mother nature in itself being compared to
modern day oil spills is one that had never even seemed like a possibility. The creative
thinking on Kennedys part allows for a broader range of thinking and could open doors
conceptually that may have not been thought of before for an essay. The oil rigs of today
and Moby Dicks Captain Ahab is an incredibly delightful comparison, as there are an
infinite number of ways that these two ideas could be compared with each other.
Kinzer, S. (2008, December 8). Call Me Bush. Retrieved November 13, 2015, from
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/dec/08/moby-dicknational-book
Stephen Kinzer is a nationally acclaimed journalist who had mainly been a foreign writer.
Kinzer had extensive knowledge with traveling across the sea, and has extensive
knowledge when it came to the affairs of both the economies of the United States and
many other countries. Kinzer believes that Moby Dick is an incredibly strong indicator of
vapid corporations and public leaders. The author has a holds a strong idea on the many
governments around the world, as well as strong public figures and the incredibly

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wealthy in them. Kinzer argues that Melville wrote his book to hint at the idea that the
future governments may become corrupt as he already saw the progressive indoctrination
of many people believing they could control the world and all its inhabitants. Kinzer also
claims that Ahabs undying need to conquer the whale is much like most entrepreneurs in
modern day society and brings up the many times in which we as people have gone too
far in trying to conquer those around us.
This writers stance on Melvilles novel is very similar to that of many other writers. But,
Kinzer holds a better understanding of this idea as he has experienced it himself first
hand. The information given is incredibly accurate, and can be seen by anyone who is
willing to pay attention. The author uses logos strongly as he supports his ideas with
modern day happenings.
Kinzer holds a very strong view on Melvilles novel and seems to have a very good grasp
on what Melville may have been hinting to in Moby Dick. The idea that Melville may
have already been able to see the fate of the world is incredibly enthralling and
interesting. The idea in itself also receives a substantial amount of support from the book
as well. This concept of the novel is almost undeniable when thoroughly investigated.
Philbrick, N. (2011, October 20). The Road to Melville. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/11/moby-dick-201111
The author of this excerpt, Nathaniel Philbrick is a critically acclaimed American author
and somewhat famous for his book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the
Whaleship Essex. Philbrick had a fascination for Moby Dick at a young age and loved to
read the book from cover to cover. Philbrick was incredibly prepared to write the excerpt,
as he had already written his critically acclaimed book, and had thoroughly prepared for
that novel as well as rereading Moby Dick itself a number of times. The authors main
audience seems to be indiscriminate as its open to the entire world and seems to just
readily given information out to readers who are willing to take in what Philbrick has to
say. In the excerpt Philbrick discusses the idea of race in the novel Moby Dick. He
believes that Melville wrote the book in the viewpoint that both African Americans and
Whites were equal in at least one way or another. The author uses evidence from the
book, such as when Flask (a small white sailor) climbs atop the large African American
harpooner Daggoo. Melville observes the two intensely and concludes that both have a
sort of equality as Daggoo literally carries Flask both literally and symbolically.
This writer believes what many other writers seem to also believe about Melville and his
novel. But, this author takes the time to analyze small situations like that listed above in
the book, making it unqiue and unlike some other critques of Moby Dick. Philbricks
experience in writing and observation when reading has obviously allowed him to more

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easily observe and recount minute details within the novel. Philbrick seems to argue that
Melville does believe that both the African American and White race are in some ways
equal. Philbrick heavily relies on logos in this excerpt as he relies on both the happenings
in the novel, and the current events that had been going on at the time to evaluate
Melvilles stance on the subject of race within Moby Dick.
The stance the writer takes on his view of how Melville saw African Americans at the
time is one shared by many other critiques of the novel. But, Philbrick is very unique in
his observation skills, and opens many doors that other writers may not as they overlook
the ideas that are so subtle within the book. The idea that Melville is not in fact a racist,
and did believe in equality at the time is certainly a huge topic to be expanded upon
within a paper and could closely relate to modern day society.
Sproul, R. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/unholy-pursuit-god-moby-dick/
In this excerpt by R.C. Sproul, Moby Dick is critically analyzed. Sproul was a student
under one of five of the leading Melville scholars at the time and quickly learned and
analyzed much of the novel while he had been tutored under the scholar. Sproul offers up
the idea that Moby Dick, the whale itself is the reincarnation of evil, but Sproul reiterates
only to conclude that while many believe Moby Dick is the reincarnation of evil, he does
not believe it to be so. Sproul believes that Moby Dick may actually be an entity of God
with his color representing purity, ghostly substance, and wonder. By offering up an
opposition the author seems to clearly understand the idea at hand. Sproul also seems to
be aiming towards those who are more spiritually inclined as well as he examines the
likeliness of Moby Dick being either purely evil, or purely good. While Sproul does in
fact belive Moby Dick to be an apparition of God himself he also provides examples of
why Moby Dick may be seen as an apparition of evil in all its power. He uses evidence
stating that in the book, Ahab seeks him out, looking to destroy what he does not
understand, much like individuals today. Also, Sproul elaborates on the fact that the color
of Moby Dick is white, but is ghastly and fearful, yet pure.
Sproul has a very different way of viewing the whale in Moby Dick. Many other writers
see the whale as evil due to the fact that he has taken a leg from Ahab and seemingly
torments the man, but Sproul sees the whale as the complete opposite. The scholar that
Sproul had been mentored under had also shared the same idea which may lead one to
believe that Sproul may have been heavily influenced by this idea and taken what he
knew from this scholar and simply put it into his own words. Sproul also uses mainly
pathos as his argument is strictly spiritual.

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Sproul does bring substantial information to the table which could be readily used as a
basic idea in an essay. But, it seems to be hard to believe that the whale that caused so
much grief could be a symbol of something so entirely good. The issue with religion
inside the novel and religion in modern society are very closely related. They are still as
controversial and argumentative as they were back in the time of Melville, so it could be
incredibly useful to use in a research paper.
APA formatting by BibMe.org.

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