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.
Just as many people fear God they also feared Moby Dick. Moby Dick possesses an array of symbolic meanings for a variety of individuals. ... Melville shows that Moby Dick is capable of great violence. ... Moby Dick is symbolic of nature. ... It is evident that Moby Dick holds a great deal of power. ...
Biblical and Mythological Allusions in Moby Dick An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. ... In Moby Dick, Herman Melville frequently uses biblical and mythological allusions. ... Melville not only used a number of biblical allusions in Moby Dick, but he also used many mythological allusions. ... Another mythological allusion Melville used in Moby Dick is mentioned of the Fares. ... The allusions in Moby Dick are to commonly known people and conflicts. ...
This being the case, it makes sense for Moby Dick to be white. ... He's lucky Moby Dick didn't kill him outright! ... Moby Dick was an exceptionally intelligent whale. ... While Moby Dick went out of his way to avoid hurting a human again, Ahab went insane hunting down Moby Dick to avenge himself. ... He joined the Parsee in his watery grave trailing Moby Dick. ...
Furthermore, while on their journey to find Moby-Dick, the phenomenon of St. ... Lastly, Ahab's treatment of Moby-Dick is very brutal. ... He talked of killing Moby-Dick in all his waking hours. ... In this book, Moby-Dick is portrayed as being godlike. ... Ahab is closely linked with evil in Moby-Dick. ...
The Redeeming value of Moby Dick Moby Dick was, in the physical, written to tell a story of the ever-allusive white whale. ... Moby Dick, in all actuality represents the idea of Christianity and purity. It could even be said that Moby Dick represents the figure of Christ. ... Ahab's main objective was to discredit and destroy Moby Dick. ... This is the redeeming value of Moby Dick....
The underlying themes to Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, are far-reaching and studied in many academic areas. ... When this idea is brought to Moby Dick, many interpretations can be made. ... I see the ways of Moby Dick, like those of a god, as being unknowable to man. ... In reality it can be true, and in Moby Dick it is certainly true. ... Ahab exploits the crew to have them share his idea of their fate, to find and destroy Moby Dick. ...
The American Classic ~Moby Dick~ The story of Moby Dick is truly an American literary classic. ... Moby Dick was first published in 1851 and to this day is still being studied by many scholars. There is much to be learned from the theme of this novel, as in any book, there is a message or a "moral of the story" type lesson you can learn from Moby Dick that keeps not only the new age scholars interested, but the average reader as well. "Moby Dick is not a dream but a work of imaginative art, and this means that it is the product of a complex creative process- (Arvin; 278). ... So in concl...
Moby Dick Synopsis Melville's novel Moby Dick tells us a strange journey of an ordinary seaman named Ishmael, who decided to go on a whaling voyage in Massachusetts during the 1840s. ... As the ship was destroyed by the Moby Dick, it sinks. ... Individualism in Moby Dick. ... Shulman indicates that in Melville's novel Moby Dick, he questions traditional answers about where evil comes from. ... Moby Dick is a great example of nature's destructive way. ...
Annotated Bibliography The Shining and Moby Dick LoBrutto, Vincent. ... In Search of Moby Dick, Great Britain, Abacus, 2000. ... His record of this adventure was read by Melville, and incorporated into the greater story of Moby Dick. ... In the "Introduction" to the Oxford World Classics edition of Moby Dick, 1988. ... By using such analysis of The Shining as a type of voyage, this may offer another line of comparison to Moby Dick. ...
Moby Dick, a Man's Obsession Herman Melville's idea of human obsession as demonstrated in Moby Dick is clearly a sign that it shall be man's downfall. ... Throughout the years many have studied Moby Dick is hopes to find the true meaning, or just deep literary value the book provides. ... Which of course was the captains fault for being obsessed Moby Dick. ... He has two sides to him, and the darker one was released whenever Moby Dick was mentioned. ... Melville must have sensed this too, because not long after he wrote Moby Dick he wrote Moby Dick, or the whale, which is pret...
