CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study Talking about a literary work, we may begin
with the term literature itself to which
it is related. To start, we may raise to ask such a basic question as what literature is. In fact, there have been
various definitions of literature. Eagleton defines it as a kind of writing which
represents anorganized violence committed on ordinary speech (1983: 27). Additionally,
Cullerstates that literature is a speech
act or contextual event that elicits certainkinds of attention (1997: 27).
Literature is divided into three
forms; namely, prose, poetry, and drama.
Among of all these three kinds,
the novel, which isincluded in prose, is the most expanded one to analyze. Contrasting to the
short story, the novel has such a long and
more complicated plot than the short story does. According to William Kenney (1966: 105), the novel is decidedly not
meant to be read at a single setting.
Because of its length, the novel is particularly suited as the short story is not to deal with the effect on character of
the passage of time.
Furthermore, in a novel, the
reader can find such imaginative characters and moments’ portrayal, and may feel what the
character has experienced, as though he
involves in it. From these reasons above,the writer prefers to choose a novel and is interested in analyzing it.
There are a great number of
awesome novels and well-known authors in the annals history of literature. But the
writer would rather choose one of the nineteenth
century’s great American fiction literatures, which rooted from the period of Romanticism (1820-1860). During this
time, Herman Melville (1819-1891), one of the most famous American authors,
hadwritten many literary works in the
form of both short stories and novels. Moby Dick, which was firstly published in 1851, is regarded as Melville’s
masterpiece. In fact, after being published,
Moby Dickachieved a great success in the history of American literature.
Moby Dicktells about the
adventures of Ishmael, as the narrator, who sails on the whaling ship called Pequod, under
Captain Ahab’s command. At the first time,
Ishmael believes that he has signed onto a normal whaling vessel, but then he soon knows that Ahab is actually obsessed
with the murdering of a white whale that
maimed him rather than guiding the ship in thesimple pursuit of commerce.
He is seeking one specific whale
named Moby Dick, agreat white whale which is infamous for his giant size and his ability to
destroy the whalers who seek him.
Captain Ahab begins to dislike
and eventually loathe the white whale, when it costs Ahab his leg and his ship. Ahab’s
madness at the whale can only end with the
death of the whale. All crews of the Pequod dieexcept Ishmael who alone survives by using his friend’s coffin, and he
becomes the narrator of this story.
Moby Dickis considered to be
Melville’s own experience. As a matter of fact, after traveling to England, Herman
Melville seemed to grow in confidence of his writing abilities and began to compose
Moby Dick. This novel was written by using
his own knowledge of whaling. Indeed, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick hailed as a
unique and extraordinary American literary work. Furthermore, Melville is regarded as a highly successful
author for mixing a tragedy, a romance,
and a natural history with a great number of ideas of unique symbols.
Therefore, it can be viewed that there is no
room for doubt that Moby Dick is the production of a genius man, who is
unrivalled in his powers of language.
Thus, based on all of these facts
explained above, the writer chooses Herman Melville’s masterpiece Moby Dick.
In fact, Moby Dickis probably one
of the few characters from a fictional novel
that has been portrayed in a model of toys, movies, or children’s stories with a child friendly character. It is
recreated insuch a more accessible view for younger, but still it is a memorable story or
an animated classic. In addition, the character
of the whale is portrayed in a frightening character and it brings terror to the minds of the people who are at sea and
witness it. So, it is not surprising that Moby Dickbecomes the significant symbol of
strength, toughness, and power.
It is suggested that Herman
Melville’s Moby Dickmuch employs symbolism.
The most obvious one is the character of Moby Dick, which is also stated in its title. It is a clear proof that
the whale character is crucial and it will foreshadow the readers that the major theme
and a central part of the novel is talking
about the whale and whaling industry. The story entirely discusses about the relations between men and whales and
between men and nature. The crews of the
Peqoud wish to hunt whales. People think that whales are such stupid monsters and that they should be destroyed and
hunted. Many people seek whales for
special commerce; whale oil for the need of cosmetics, perfumes, and fuel of lamps; therefore, whales are almost in
extinction. The whalers are considered to be uneducated to respect and save the nature
of ourenvironment.
Furthermore, Melville, in this
novel, explores someideas about life, the existence of evil that leads to the
destructive obsession, and fate. He writes these things in a lovely poetic language, highly rich
symbols, and many types of religious
dictions. In general, Moby Dick is a biblical novel, since its story is mostly taken from the Bible stories; such as
the story of Jonah the prophet. In addition,
Moby Dickis a book of amazing story. It can be read and enjoyed by many generations from various levels; young
readers, historians, naturalists, and even
literary students. Looking on its surface, it is an adventure story taken place
on sea and talks about the whale.
However, deep inside the story, the readers may find a very complicated study and the
opposition ofboth good and evil, as well as the power of God and Devil from within. From
all ofthose reasons above, the writer
thinks that it can be very interesting to analyze this novel. Some scholars have been captivated to analyze it as well
before.
Ralph Dumain, in his journal
Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and the Contradictions
of Modernity, discusses about the modernity and the brilliant critique of it revealed by Herman Melville.
Whalingindustry, according to him, is one
of the effects of modernity and the result of bourgeois society. He states: I see Melville as one of the most profound and
prescient thinkers on the contradictions
of modernity…Melville the American
autodidact should be seen as one of the most prescient and brilliant theorists of
modernity…(Dumain, 2002).
Alan Champagne analyzes the
symbol of the whale itself, Moby Dick.
According to Champagne, the whale
becomes a crucialcreature, since it can destroy
the whalers and, thus, bring terror to them.
In his article, Symbolism in
Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, he argues: Moby
Dick became the icon of strength, massive size, and durability (Champagne, 2006).
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