Who wants to talk about Moby Dick?

romanigypsyeyes · 10-23-2009, 01:08 AM

So for those of you who have read Moby Dick, I was wondering if you could do me a favor for a project. Tell me how you interpret the whale, what you think the whale means to the story, or to Ahab. Basically, analyze the whale. It can be really short or really long, just tell me your honest opinion.

No mods, this is NOT a homework help thread. The thoughts are going into an anonymous collage for a creative piece. I just need a lot of diverse opinions.

You can post here or PM me. Please don't derail this thread, it is for a major part of my grade lol.

member2008 · 10-23-2009, 01:15 AM

moby-dick=projection of Ahab onto whale, his obsession, scapegoat for personal failures, etc etc

Montegut · 10-23-2009, 01:18 AM

I love Moby Dick. Been a long time since I read it, but wanted to give you a tip.

Watch Star Trek II's Wrath of Khan.

Khan quotes Moby Dick when speaking of Kirk.

Khan's quest for Kirk was very much like Ahab's search for Moby Dick.

Maybe in your collage, you can put a picture from Wrath of Khan. If your teacher is a Trek fan, you'll get some bonus points, I bet.

Another movie reference which ties back to Moby Dick is Jaws. Quint's pursuit of the shark was very much like Ahab's pursuit of Moby Dick.

Another movie picture reference.

Besides the old Moby Dick movie, Patrick Stewart did star in a Hallmark channel production that was on TV. You can perhaps rent it at the library. I think both are available on DVD.

Good luck and enjoy the project!

romanigypsyeyes · 10-23-2009, 01:21 AM

^ Hah, funny you should mention that because he teaches a science fiction class next semester! Thanks for the tip. I grew up in a huge Star Trek household but I never really drew that connection.

whoswithwhatnow · 10-23-2009, 01:47 AM

does anyone know what time you are?

ThisCouldBeHeavn · 10-23-2009, 02:07 AM

The whale is some kind of doppelganger and other symbollocks. It's important to the story because their quest for it relates to the plot, unlike the other 70% of the book.

I guess the way the whale is always there or close by but never within reach is also important. The whale also is the main thing that disrupts Ishmael's otherwise idle voyage.

noimagination · 10-23-2009, 07:27 PM

I hate that book so much. The Whiteness of The Whale is the worst chapter in the book, but it has much of what you need: Moby Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville - Chapter 42 - The Whiteness of The Whale :: American Literature, Classic Books and Short Stories

math+sci=asian · 10-23-2009, 09:08 PM

Um, sorry, but...

*teehee*

*Runs away*