Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick is littered with satirical elements.
His humorous rants constantly deride many different institutions, especially
religious institutions, and invite the rebuke of critics everywhere.
The relationship between Ishmael and
Queequeg is a fine example of the irony Melville utilizes to mock Christianity
and those who are single-minded in their cultural studies. “Chapter 10: A Bosom
Friend” is one instance of many where the contrast between a pagan cannibal and
a white Christian is used to create controversy. Ishmael in this chapter uses a
series of questions and circular logic to arrive at the decision that it is
alright to worship Queequeg’s pagan idol. This blasphemous logic as the
footnote brings out, “stirred up the wrath of Presbyterians and other
evangelistic Protestants” (Melville, 57). It is interesting that Melville
included this symbolic belittlement most likely knowing full well how it would
be received by one of the most powerful corporations in the world, religion. The
footnote recognized that more than anything else the conflict with the
religious press is what tainted his writing career.
Even though it does not include the
relationship between Ishamel and Queequeg, “Chapter 32: Cetology” also contains
satirical humor that rejects the common scientific grounds for defining and
categorizing whales. He purposefully ignores the obvious characteristics of
whales and imagines up a categorical system that is similar to organizing
books. This attempt at humor is just another example of Melville making a crack
at an institution of the day.
The scene where Ishmael and Queequeg
first meet is very comical. The first interaction between the two is in bed
where Ishmael panics, being afraid that the cannibal would do him harm. He then
proceeds to say that it is “better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken
Christian” (Melville, 36). This is a fairly ironic thing to say as he is
contemplating getting back into bed with Queequeg and he himself claims to be a
Christian.
Besides Melville’s comment on
religion I find it particularly hilarious that he included such intimate
metaphors to describe the relationship between the odd pair. Queequeg and
Ishmael lay in bed together, “a cosy, loving pair” (Melville, 57). This also
might further taunt the Christian readers due to the fact that homosexuality
was strictly taboo in American culture and religion, more so in that time than
now.
As the friendship between them becomes
stronger, the critics seem to become a little more agitated with Melville’s
work. With only part of the book read, there seems to be a good chance that
Melville will choose to continue his ridicule of religion and other
institutions.
The irony of Melville's work is something I really appreciate because a lot of the time his writing seems overly introspective. It's interesting to note how he points out the hypocrisy of modern day elitists in such a subtle way, instead of just going all out and criticizing every inconsistent belief people held during his time. Sometimes I feel like Melville is trying too hard to make a point, and that is why I tend to shy away from literature like Moby-Dick. And yet, there really are times where I read a passage and realize the weight of its truth. I just wish he didn’t have to write in such a convoluted manner, although I understand some genres presented in the novel are inherently ambiguous in nature. Still, you would think Melville wants people to understand his craftsmanship… right?
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