Moby Dick

            East of Eden, Moby Dick, and Sophie's World are complicated novels but surprisingly, contain very simple messages. Although the novels may seem abstruse and esoteric at times, it is clear that their main ideas are revolved around the human struggle. Essentially Steinbeck, Melville, and Gaarder, although in different ways, depict the human struggle against man's mentalities such as evilness, stubbornness, and fate. If this is the case, we must ask the following questions: how can man triumph over their state of mind? Exactly what kinds of powers do man hold and what kinds of powers control man? Well I believe Steinbeck, Melville, and Gaarder attempt to answer these questions in their novels. Through the philosophy in their work, readers are able to comprehend the fact that fate can be altered, and that each person is capable of choosing his own moral path in life.
             Philosophy is very important in a sense that it holds the answers, as well as problems to life. Gaarder explains how philosophy is relevant to our everyday life in his novel, Sophie's World; as a matter of fact, without it we would not really be living. In one of his letters to Sophie, Alberto writes, "Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else-apart from that-which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are and why we are here (Gaarder, 12)." I believe that if we understand this, then we will truly understand life. Sophie is capable of comprehending these questions and thus, begins to study from various philosophers. Through her studies, she is able to escape Albert Kang's mind and starts to build her own identity. Melville's Moby Dick also discusses the relativity between philosophy and the human mind. Ishmael, the narrator, brings up the fact that the Pequod is balanced by the sperm and right whales" heads, representing Locke and Kant, respectively. Locke believed that everything in the human mind comes from our senses.