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1. In what sense is Melville classified as a romantic novelist? He was born in a prestigious family in New York City and has the ability to receive a good education. Grandfather participated in the War of Independence. He was a general and knew the cruelty of the war from childhood. When he was 12 years old, his family suffered great changes, and he was forced to drop out of school to work. He deeply understood the hardship and cruelty of each profession. The misfortune of the family and the sudden change of the environment made Melville feel abandoned by life, forming a complex and profound character. 2. Why does Ahab want to kill Moby-Dick? The beluga whale bit off a leg of Ahab, which caused Ahab to retaliate. 3. Read the selection carefully and describe the character of Melville’s hero, Captain Ahab. Ahab is a person who scorns the "civilized" society and has strong individualistic and anarchist rebellious enthusiasm. They often struggle for personal freedom, love and happiness. They are proud and independent, and their whereabouts are mysterious. They are divorced from the society and the masses. There is no clear prospect for their struggle, and they finally suffer from failure or death. 4. Melville is generally considered to be a master of philosophical allegory. Discuss the allegorical meanings in Moby-Dick. First of all, beluga whale is the embodiment of all "evils" in the world. Secondly, from the perspective of the social environment at that time, Beluga Whale symbolized the power that stood opposite to producers in the huge capitalist production process, and it was the opposite of human contradiction. Finally, the beluga whale also symbolizes the mysterious and unconquerable power in nature. The beluga whale is so powerful that it can control people's lives at will. The white of the beluga whale is also symbolic. It symbolizes the purity of human nature and nature. To fight the beluga whale is to fight against nature and fate, and the result will be doomed. People are small in front of nature, and they can never defeat the power of nature. Captain Ahab is a symbol of selfishness, bigotry, cold-blooded, violence and evil. His conflict with the beluga whale symbolizes the conflict between human beings and nature; His revenge on the beluga whale symbolizes the destruction of human nature; The beluga whale finally revolted, and the death of Ahab and its crew almost symbolized the revenge of nature on human beings. Secondly, he is tough, dare to fight against evil, dare to challenge fate, and dare to fight against all dark forces. The voyage of the Peggod symbolized the long journey of mankind. The Peggod whaling ship is actually a microcosm of the world. |
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