In the end, I have learned that Moby-Dick was never about the whale at all. It was beyond that. The hidden meanings that we have all figured out. The political turmoil, the power structure, the whiteness, the ship acting as an operational system, the repeating cycle, and the characters we have met along the way are what truly matter. This novel truly exceeded my expectations, and Prof. Pressman did an amazing job guiding us through this journey. I would say I was completely clueless, diving straight into the novel, but being together as a class and hearing everyone’s different opinions and interpretations helped me understand the novel critically. At first, I was so shy and awkward around my classmates, but after weeks of being together, I feel so much more confident around others. Now I feel like my mind has opened up; I actually feel smarter for being able to do many interpretations throughout the chapters. But I am still…lazy. However, despite all the laziness, I enjoyed this course so much that I do not want it to end. I do hope more people will receive the chance to study this course because it truly is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
Moby-Dick
ECL 522: Fall 2025. Professor Pressman
Hi Mylo,
I like how you mention how lost and clueless you felt when we started reading this. I felt the same way at different points in the novel. One of the important things i have learned in this class is that it is absolutely okay if I read a passage multiple times and still feel like I don’t understand the material. We’re not meant to understand everything and it’s just as important and enriching to put in the effort to understand. Just because we do not always understand does not mean we are failing or on the wrong path. I’m also going to miss this class and I hope that we can all continue looking for spaces like these that generate so many ideas.