Chapter 42, The Whiteness of the Whale, of Moby Dick is possibly the most important chapter in the entire novel. Melville’s writing throughout the book is so extremely intentional, yet the writing within this chapter is arguably the most purposeful and meaningful. Within this chapter, Ishmael speaks to the audience and tries to explain how his biggest fear when it comes to the titular whale is the whiteness of it. He ends his lamentation about the concept of whiteness with the quote “Or is it, that as an essence whiteness is not as much a color as the visible absence of color, and at the same time the concrete of all colors, is it for these reasons that there is such a dumb blankness, dull of meaning, in a wide landscape of snows – a colorless, all-color of atheism from which we shrink?” (Melville, page 212) Ishmael’s direct communication of his thoughts with the readers results in the readers themselves questioning what they may think they know about the world, allowing us to truly look at the whole journey within the story of Moby Dick from a broader, more real world perspective rather than it just being a fictional fantasy.

Breaking down this passage, the first part “Or is it, that as an essence whiteness is not as much a color as the visible absence of color, and at the same time the concrete of all colors” is a truly poignant and thought provoking sentiment. Ishmael presents the concept of whiteness in general as something that is unexplainable, that is incomprehensible. The color white on the surface seems to be just a complete void, something that contains nothing, not even color. Ishmael presents this as one of the main terrors of whiteness. He is provoking the readers to think about how something that is not a thing that exists, but rather is the complete lack of existence whatsoever is not something that should be worshiped or admired. He then adds on to that, immediately introducing the idea that at the same time, whiteness can also be the amalgamation of all color at once. This may seem like a counteraction, but it is intentional. He is presenting us with the fact that this concept of whiteness is something that is so devoid of any possible reasoning or explanation. He is purposefully being confusing because he is trying to emphasize just how terrifying this concept is when people blindly chase after it. There is a true terror in looking up to and worshiping something that is just incomprehensible.

The next section, “is it for these reasons that there is such a dumb blankness, dull of meaning, in a wide landscape of snows – a colorless, all-color of atheism from which we shrink?” Ishamel poses the question about how the inexplicable nature of the idea of whiteness could be the reason so much of what we see is simply devoid of any particular meaning. He impactfully includes the imagery of a “wide landscape of snows” to put in perspective to the readers how truly enormous this concept can be. The vision of  just a complete white out of snow just stretching forever really can put that terror into perspective. It truly shows just how vast and unknown that landscape is. The complete blindness that comes in that situation is what makes it terrifying, all you can see is the white of the snow, completely oblivious and ignorant to whatever else may be happening. This is extremely reflective in those who worship whiteness as a concept. They are so blinded by the color, or lack thereof, that they are rendered ignorant to anything else. Ishmael is utilizing this imagery to really emphasize to the readers just how the terror that exists with whiteness is because so often people associate it with the complete opposite. He compares this concept of whiteness to “a colorless, all-color of atheism”. This comparison may seem like just an off handed comment surrounded by more meaningful ones, but he uses it intentionally. Atheism is the lack of belief or faith in regards to religion or the existence of a god. Ishmael amounts these concepts to one another because the concept of whiteness, in which he argues, is essentially the same thing. A complete devoidness of the existence of anything. He is attempting to instill this understanding in the audience about how whiteness does not mean anything because it does not have any definitive purpose or explanation, just as atheism does not present itself with any definitive belief or faith. The concept of the color white is so often associated with faith and religion and purity, that by Ishmael providing it in the context of the complete opposite thing, atheism, he impactfully juxtaposes that association. He challenges the way in which we think. He also utilizes this comparison because of the fear it brings. He explicitly states within this section that when it comes to the idea and concept of atheism, it is something that everyone shrinks away from. Just the idea brings about an inherent fear to those who hold a faith. Faith and religion are things that are so important and essential to people’s lives and is also an essential concept within the novel. With introducing the concept of atheism by utilizing it as a vessel of comparison to the concept of whiteness, it puts this terror that Ishmael is trying to emphasize in a different context. One that a broader audience might understand. 

This passage is one of the most important in the entire novel. Ishmael presents to the readers a concept so devoid of meaning that it ends up being more meaningful than any other. He argues throughout this that truly nothing else matters if we cannot understand just how absurd it is to chase after and worship a concept that does not even exist itself. Melville, through the voice of Ishamel, is so intentional with every single word he writes. His use of comparison, imagery, and juxtaposition in this passage truly emphasizes the point he is trying to get across to the broadest audience possible. The white whale and Ishmael’s fear of it serves truly as a symbol for the audience and without this section, this symbol would not hold the same understanding or meaning.