Microcosm On The Pequod Essay
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The Microcosm on the Pequod
The novel Moby Dick was written by Herman Melville. A microcosm, or small world, exists on the Pequod and is an example of the actions and events of the whole world. This microcosm is evident through the power and authority of Ahab, religion, friendship, and good and evil. The Pequod represents the thoughts, actions, events, and the many different types of people of the world.
The power and authority of Ahab is probably the most obvious evidence of the microcosm. He evokes fear and obedience out of the shipmates. One example of how he controls the members of the ship is when he persuades them to participate in his quest to catch Moby Dick. He promises the person who first sees Moby Dick the doubloon. He uses the doubloon to coax them into helping him with his vengeance. By nailing the doubloon to the mast he makes them remember what their prize will be when they see Moby Dick. Another example of Ahab's power and authority is when he commands Starbuck to stay on board the Pequod during the chase of Moby Dick.
"…stay on board, on board!-lower not when I do; when branded Ahab gives chase to Moby Dick. That hazard shall not be thine." (492)
Good and evil is a strong representation of what occurs in a macrocosm and also occurs on the Pequod. Starbuck is a very moral and religious character. He does not want to follow Ahab, but he must obey Ahab's wishes. He sees evil in Ahab and wants to be good, but knows he has to follow Ahab.
"I think I see his impious end; but feel that I must help him to it. I plainly see my miserable office, -to obey, rebelling…" (161)
Ahab is a symbol of evil in the novel. He is described as a "grand, ungodly, god-like man (82)." He is only god-like because of his power to control the workers of the Pequod. He is ungodly because of his vengeance and extreme hate for the whale. His soul is consumed with hate for the whale and occupies his every thought. He describes himself as mad and is demoniac. "They think me mad-Starbuck does; but I'm demoniac, I am madness maddened (160)."
Relationships constantly develop among people in the world and they developed on the...
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