Herman Melville Herman Melville Moby DickMoby Dick

If you can get nothing better out of the If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at world, get a good dinner out of it, at

least. least.

First Journal: First Journal: ObsessionObsession

•Have you ever been obsessed Have you ever been obsessed about something?about something?

•Then define what obsession is to Then define what obsession is to you or the difference between you or the difference between obsession and compulsion?obsession and compulsion?

South Dakota Gem StoneSouth Dakota Gem Stonethe Fairburn Agatethe Fairburn Agate

Herman MelvilleHerman Melville (August 1, 1819 (August 1, 1819

– September 28, 1891)– September 28, 1891) • The third of eight children of Allan and Maria The third of eight children of Allan and Maria

Gansevoort MelvilleGansevoort Melville

• His father died when Herman was 12 leaving the His father died when Herman was 12 leaving the family in financial hardshipfamily in financial hardship

• He worked as a surveyor for the Eerie canal and He worked as a surveyor for the Eerie canal and as a school teacher before becoming a cabin boy as a school teacher before becoming a cabin boy

in 1939 and joining the whaler in 1939 and joining the whaler AcushnetAcushnet on on January 3, 1841 in New Bedford Mass.January 3, 1841 in New Bedford Mass.

• His years at sea are the basis for the novels: His years at sea are the basis for the novels: TypeeTypee, , OmooOmoo, and , and Moby Dick.Moby Dick.

Melville…Melville…• In 1847 Melville married Elisabeth Shaw, daughter In 1847 Melville married Elisabeth Shaw, daughter

of the chief justice of Massachusetts. of the chief justice of Massachusetts.

• After three years in New York, he bought a farm, After three years in New York, he bought a farm, "Arrowhead", near Nathaniel Hawthorne's home at "Arrowhead", near Nathaniel Hawthorne's home at Pittsfield, Massachusetts Pittsfield, Massachusetts

• One of Melville's sources was an article by Jeremiah One of Melville's sources was an article by Jeremiah N. Reynolds, entitled 'Mocha Dick: Or, the White N. Reynolds, entitled 'Mocha Dick: Or, the White Whale of the Pacific' (1839). It told about an albino Whale of the Pacific' (1839). It told about an albino sperm whale, which was said to have sunk ships, sperm whale, which was said to have sunk ships, drowned men, and harpooned many times.drowned men, and harpooned many times.

• Hawthorne encouraged him to change Hawthorne encouraged him to change Moby DickMoby Dick from a story full of details about whaling, into an from a story full of details about whaling, into an allegorical novel. allegorical novel.

Melville…Melville…

• Melville's Melville's Moby DickMoby Dick was largely misunderstood was largely misunderstood and it sold only some 3,000 copies during his and it sold only some 3,000 copies during his lifetime. Its original title was lifetime. Its original title was The WhaleThe Whale, when it , when it was published in London in October 1851was published in London in October 1851

• In 1891, Melville died never gaining the monetary In 1891, Melville died never gaining the monetary or literary fame he thought he deserved or literary fame he thought he deserved

• In the 1920’s, Melville’s writing is re-discovered In the 1920’s, Melville’s writing is re-discovered by literary scholars and he is finally recognized as by literary scholars and he is finally recognized as one of America’s finest writers one of America’s finest writers

Examples of Conflict in Examples of Conflict in Moby Moby DickDick

• Man vs. NatureMan vs. Nature

• Land vs. SeaLand vs. Sea

• Man vs. Man Man vs. Man

• Man vs. HimselfMan vs. Himself

• Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society

• Man vs. God Man vs. God

The Science of ConflictThe Science of Conflict

• Hegelian Dialectic: Euripides and Olympus Hegelian Dialectic: Euripides and Olympus vs. Humanityvs. Humanity

• Science: matter vs. anti-matter proton vs. Science: matter vs. anti-matter proton vs. electronelectron

• Math: positive and negative integers Math: positive and negative integers

• Philosophy: Ying and Yang Philosophy: Ying and Yang

• Society: proletariat vs. bourgeois Society: proletariat vs. bourgeois

• Monetarily: hard currency vs. fiat currencyMonetarily: hard currency vs. fiat currency

• Literary: protagonist vs. antagonist Literary: protagonist vs. antagonist

Ergo…Final Journal QuestionErgo…Final Journal Question

• In our reading, Captain Ahab gives a impassioned In our reading, Captain Ahab gives a impassioned speech about the whale and convinces the crew speech about the whale and convinces the crew to follow him on this mad quest for revenge, why to follow him on this mad quest for revenge, why do they go along?do they go along?

• Why do rational people follow irrational leaders?Why do rational people follow irrational leaders?

Work CitiedWork Citied

• http://www.melville.org/hmquotes.htmhttp://www.melville.org/hmquotes.htm

• http://kirjasto.sci.fi/melville.htmhttp://kirjasto.sci.fi/melville.htm

• http://www.online-literature.comhttp://www.online-literature.com

• http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/greatbooks-mobydick/programs/greatbooks-mobydick/