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Repugnance or Admiration?

            Moby Dick is an ionic novel about a young sailor named Ishmael and his journey on the whaling ship, Pequod. Herman Melville is widely recognized as the author and creator of Moby Dick. The novel is cropped full of underlining themes and motifs involving whaling, whaling crew relations and Shakespearean references. One theme that is present throughout the whole novel is Christianity.  Melville’s novel gives a clear picture of what he thinks about the ‘saving’ religion called Christianity. Herman Melville holds an underlying resentment for the religion of Christianity and expresses these views in his work Moby Dick.

            The novel Moby Dick was published in 1851, a time period where younger generations were not focusing on the strict rules and regulations previously required of religious worship. Instead, the United States and similar countries were starting to embark on the path of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is based on the properties of skepticism and logical thinking. Followers include but don’t limit Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreu and Margaret Fuller. These ionic authors believed very similarly to Melville in the regard that they thought religion was not all about terrifying sermons and long hours inside stuffy churches. Rather these young innovators thought that a connection to God could be obtained through nature and personal reflection. Understanding the time period in which novels were written is pivotal to understanding the authors’ perspective. Herman Melville did not so much hate the idea of a higher power, he might have believed very strongly in one. Melville dislikes the mental boundaries and persecution that the institution of a church established.

            An example of Melville’s agreement with Transcendentalism appears in the chapter The Chapel.  Ishmael is making his way around the streets when he comes to notice multiple tablets bought in the memory of men who had died on sea. He states, “Yes, there is a death in this business of whaling- a speechlessly quick chaotic bundling of a man into Eternity. But what then? Methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of Life and Death. Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air.” (45).  This quote is especially insightful because not only does Melville reference religious belief he also interprets nature into the quote. The fact that Ishmael is reflecting on the reality that he has misunderstood what occurs after life is proof that there is some doubt about the credibility of religion in Melville’s mind.  The after life is a commonly and widely spread belief for most Christians. In fact, it is hard to be a true Christian without the agreement that there is an afterlife. Melville focuses rather on the fact that his body and his current self on earth is his true being. That while he is on earth, he is at his prime. Most Christians think that when the body dies and the soul is released to heaven that is when one is the happiest and most pure.

            Throughout the entirety of the novel the character Queequeq is referenced as a cannibal. Queequq follows his native religion and is constantly judged and discriminated against, not only for his religion but his skin color and general appearance as well. The fact that the main character Ishmael is most attached to a dark skinned non-Christian is a subtle mockery of Christianity as a whole. Queequeq is one of the more compassionate and logical characters in the book. He displays all the tenants of Christianity, even though he is not. After Queequeq steps up and saves a man overboard Melville describes Queequeq’s thoughts by saying, “It’s a mutual, joint-stock world, in all meridians. We cannibals must help these Christians.” (64).  This is a very important quote because not only does it show that the ‘cannibal’ has a better sense of morals and ‘Christian’ actions but it also is a mockery. Melville uses this subtle example to show that although Christians say they are the most caring and best religion, when it comes down to it, its exactly the opposite. Only fourteen chapters into the book, Melville already establishes that he not only disagrees with the idea of organized religion, such as churches and large groups of individuals worshipping. He also establishes that he disagrees with the idea of Christianity because of its contradictions that he constantly observes.

            Ishmael was raised in the Presbyterian church, coming from a religious background it is especially important to note his disregard for organized religion. He states, “But what is worship? thought I. Do you suppose now, Ishmael, that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth-pagans and all included- can possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood?  Impossible! But what is worship? –to do the will of God- that is worship. And what is the will of God? –to do my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me- that is the will of God. Now, Queequeq is my fellow man.” (57).  In this Melville describes how he believes that the tenants of a healthy and good life is not kneeling for hours but rather treating those around us with respect, the way we want to be treated. Although this is present in the Bible and the majority of Christian denominations, it is also a common belief among many religions and people alike. The previous passage was so controversial at the time that it is regarded as the reason that Herman Melville never was a popular author in his lifetime.

            Herman Melville takes special care to include many references about how Christianity is lacking in some of the very morals that they preach. He disagrees with not only with the idea about it but believes so strongly that he is willing to put his career on the line by letting his views be known to his readers and critics alike. Although it is almost impossible to know exactly what Melville thought about a higher power without clearly asking him, it is obvious through his writing of Moby Dick that he does not agree with the tenants of organized religion.  

WORK CITED:

Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. London: W.W Norton & Company,

1851. Book.