In Moby Dick, Melville presents a complicated rumination on life and America in the form of a novel about whaling and the chase of a great whale. My purpose is to explore Melville’s use of circles and circle related language as he uses it in the novel, and will be writing regular 6-8 page essay on the topic. My aim is to capture the overarching message of the novel, which seems to point to the cyclical nature of existence, a reality that is both comforting and terrifying.
Thesis statement: Throughout Moby Dick, Melville makes use of the concept of circles in his diction, imagery, and as a structural aspect in the overall narrative.
This remains a good idea, but I do not yet see you pishing your insight towards a debatable argument. “Melville makes use of the concept of circles in his diction, imagery, and as a structural aspect in the overall narrative” is your insight– that is true and part of the content and form of the novel. But what is the “structural aspect” that you want to explore and what does it do, show, illuminate? What does a focus on that element do/show/expose?
Some research might assist…