Melville _ American Literature's Mad Genius

As stated in my last post, teachers ruin many books for students. My high school English teacher killed Moby Dick for me. I reached the point where I didn't care what the whale symbolized or what Ahab believed. I was glad when the whole boring ship sank and we were done with the book. Then, years later, on my Dad's recommendation, I reread it and was captivated.

Melville was a sailor and he did indeed work on a whaler. His first books Typee and Omoo were about the time he spent in the South Seas among the Native Islanders and Americas loved those romantic adventures in strange lands. Then he wrote Moby Dick and the response was, "Huh. What the hell is that?." Folks just couldn't get the book and Melville's star fell. He continued writing, even though many, his family included, thought him deranged.

Moby Dick is a strange tale. Yes, you can spend a lifetime contemplating its symbolism and meanings, and, if you are so inclined, great. If not, read the book for 2 reasons; the writing and the story.

The story is incredible, full of cannibals, and wild men, stern Quakers and pagan Farsis, down to earth seamen and jolly ramblers such as Ishmael, all watched over by one of Literatures great madmen, Ahab. Ahab is a brilliant man, educated, and a fine captain for a whaler. Or he would be, except for his need to seek vengeance on the whale that took off his leg, the infamous, white Moby Dick. The Pequod chases the whale through dead seas and typhoons to a climax that is stunning in its lunatic frenzy of violence.

The writing is in a style much different that writers use today. It is beautifully descriptive. Melville is a master, able to evoke the serenity of the sea as the whales frolic, the butchery of the whale hunt. He can probe the mind of Ahab in his brilliant insanity and he captures Ahab's manipulation of the crew and the power the man had, power enough to lead them to a sure doom. The writing requires patience since it is more elaborate than the style of modern authors but it is worth the patience. Just loose yourself and don't rush.

Moby Dick was shunned by the readers of Melville's days, not to be rediscovered and fully appreciated until the early 1900s. Melville continued writing. I have not read all of his works but I can recommend two. First, Billy Budd, a story of a conflict between innocent perfection and envy. It is a very strange story, disturbing. The second is The Confidence Man, about a conman on a riverboat who may be a bit more than what he initially seems. It is a funny story, both funny 'haha' and funny 'strange.'

But, if you read nothing else by Melville, read Moby Dick and when it is assigned to your kids by a teacher (I guess they still teach the book) tell them to play the teacher's game, then read it themselves for pleasure/ America's two greatest writers are Twain and Melville and I don't believe they will ever be topped.