Ashley Sims Archives - Moby-DickMoby-Dick

Melville continues to blatantly critique religion as we move through the exposition and finally on to the Pequod. Melville is not against religion but clearly sees a fundamental problem in the way it is practiced, the absolutism. There is so much religion to unpack, I don’t think I can narrow it down to a specific quote. What I have noticed is that Ishmael’s/Melville’s view on religion meanders in and out of Melville’s other messages outlined in Moby Dick. Melville critiques the absolute hero. Numerous celebrated classic novels depict heroes who possess a strong moral compass and are essentially unquestioned*. We are led to believe in an absolute preeminence in these protagonists. Like he does with religion, Melville teaches us to question this absolutism: “all mortal greatness is but disease.” (82) he claims as he explains the peculiarity of the Quaker whalers of Nantucket. Greatness is tied to morbidness because traditionally to become a great hero requires bloodshed. And to shed blood requires a moral compass with more directions for an arrow to point than just good vs evil. Religion is wrapped up in this lesson because it is the peaceful, practicing Quakers who are the most sanguinary whalers, “a man’s religion is one thing, and this practical world quite another.” (83) In our muddled society absolutism is not practical. One cannot fully heed religion when monetary gains are essential for survival. This is a modern concept for humanity in a newly industrialized world. Humans can no longer peacefully farm, trade, worship, repeat. They need money, they need land, and they need whale oil.

Queequeg as whale, as hero, as protagonist, as shepherd of the ocean embodies the questionable hero. Melville presents a hero who is not esteemed for religion, upbringing, or social class, but for the contents of his character, his heart and the skillset he demonstrates.

*This leads me to believe this is the reason The Sermon includes the retelling of Jonah being questioned as he attempts to ship. And then again on page 79 Ishmael is questioned by Peleg and it is very reminiscent of the Sermon chapter.

*It also makes sense why Frankenstein and Moby Dick are compared to each other. It is not just the vivid imagery, the adventure, or the monstrosity but the grayness of morality that each of these novels lay out for us.

I am an English and Comparative Literature major starting my junior year. I just transferred in from Mesa College. Although it is my first year since transferring, it is not my first year at SDSU. Years ago (longer than I care to admit) I attended SDSU fresh out of high school. I dreamed of being a writer. But a lack of self-confidence, combined with the pessimistic attitude of an 18-year-old led me to drop out. Now, after five years of chipping away at an AA in English, I have returned with a sense of optimism and a true desire to learn. In other words, I am SO excited to be here, but we’ll see how I feel in the middle of the semester.

Anyways, a little bit about the non-academic side of my journey, I was born and raised in San Diego. Specifically, the Pacific Beach community. I grew up surfing, playing tons of sports, and just always at the beach. My upbringing has made the ocean like a second home to me, sometimes even a first, and I am tremendously grateful for that. I have recently discovered a passion for doing triathlons, which may be evolving into a love for open water swimming. My last class at Mesa was a Marine Biology class. I wrote a short paper on sperm whales and have become fascinated with them. My dream is to free dive with sperm whales in Dominica. Overall, I am existing in a realm of self-discovery right now and absolutely loving it. Oh, for work, I’m in the restaurant industry. Bartender, server, barista, you name it, I’ve even worked the line. If you’re ever in PB you can usually find me at Kono’s Coffee cart. I’ll make you a pretty good coffee.