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Not What You Meant?  There are 35 definitions for Leviathan.  Also try: The Whale.


Moby-Dick Study Guide

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by Herman Melville
About 138 pages (41,459 words)
Moby-Dick Summary

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Significant Topics

Individual vs. Nature

The voyage of the Pequod is no straightforward, commercially inspired whaling voyage. The reader knows this as soon as Ishmael registers as a member of the crew and receives, at secondhand, warnings of the captain's state of mind. Ahab, intent on seeking revenge on the whale who has maimed him, is presented as a daring and creative individual, pitted against the full forces of nature. In developing the theme of the individual (Ahab) versus Nature (symbolized by Moby-Dick), Melville explores the attributes of natural forces. Are they ruled by chance, neutral occurrences that affect human characters arbitrarily? Or do they possess some form of elementary will that makes them capable of using whatever power is at their disposal?

God and Religion

The conflict between the individual and nature brings.....

This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 1,148 words. This study guide contains 41,459 words (approx. 138 pages at 300 words per page).

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Moby-Dick from BookRags and Gale's For Students Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.



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