Tag Archives: week3

Week 5: Chapter 3

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What I found most interesting from the reading this week was the contents of chapter three. Ishmael’s borderline obsession with this ‘roommate’ seems to elude the rest of the contents of the novel. I haven’t read Moby Dick before, but the idea of obsession seems to be a common theme from what I’ve heard. Take, for instance, this line: “I was all eagerness to see his face, but he kept it averted for sometime” (p.23). Ishmael’s curiosity shines through on this page (or perhaps Melville’s), as the page takes on a run-on about this new character. His mind runs amuck, making assumptions about this new character and wanting to discover who he is. This type of mind-running is fairly normal, but this feels obsessive in the way it takes up a whole chapter, consuming Ishmael’s mind. What is he hoping for?

Another thing on my mind while reading this chapter was the letters from Melville to Hawthorne. That was good context to have before reading this. Many lines from this chapter felt very… suggestive. Ishmael’s fear of sharing a bed with this strange man could be interpreted as projection, or simply the social context of sharing a bed with a man. From page 23 as well, Melville writes “It’s only his outside; a man can be honest in any sort of skin.” Although this appears to be about honesty, I have my doubts. This seems to refer more to who someone is, as opposed to how they look, and put in the context of these men sharing a bed… just reminded me of the letters. This does go into what we talked about in class, as Moby Dick is often seen as the great American novel, masculine, man’s quest, etc but this beginning chapter seems to already delve into a psychological battle on many levels – obsession, sexuality, trust. 

Week 3: What Moby Dick Means to Me

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What I found interesting in the reading this week was from What Moby Dick Means To Me. The concept of it being whatever you want it to be opens the door for projection and transference, in my opinion. I started the book, and the introduction presents similar ideas of taking the book as you want it, and that it isn’t and shouldn’t be forced into a box. I think this is an interesting way of looking at literature, a way that isn’t traditionally taught in schools, especially middle/high school. In my experience, teachers invite you to look at the book with a critical viewpoint, but they keep the idea that there’s a certain motif or central theme in the book that should be recognized. Whereas Moby Dick seems to go against that and invites this personal transference. As a psychology major, I find this interesting. Projection has such negative connotations around it nowadays, yet it is such an insightful tool and can have a positive impact when used the right way. 

Another way to look at this idea of projection is how it might change over time. This article also mentioned the book being used as a religious item in a time of religious uncertainty. How can we use this book now, and will we only use it in what is lacking or can we learn to use it as a tool for overall growth? This also reminds me of a lot of constitutional debates, and how what was written hundreds of years ago should be applied and interpreted nowadays. I have discussed this topic in many classes, and there’s never a straight forward conclusion because of all the different interpretations with their biases. 

I am excited to see all the different emotions and memories that Moby Dick evokes for people in the class. I believe a big part of who we are is shaped by experience; and how we perceive art such as literary text is deeply influenced by these experiences. I also think that looking at this book with different perspectives from different people in the class will allow for more open-mindedness toward ideas and interpretations.