An Analysis of Herman Melville's
Moby Dick

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The Honor and Glory of Whaling

An Analysis of Chapter 82

Tone

Reverential And Illustrative, With A Tone Of Grandeur And Pride About The Profession Of Whaling.

Basic Stats

Intensity Clarity Conflict Resolution Pacing
Relaxed - (2) Crystal-clear - (5) Peaceful - (1) None - (1) Moderate - (3)

Basically...

The narrator reflects on whaling's nobility, invoking its ancient, heroic roots by recounting tales of mythic figures like Perseus and St. George who dealt with whales.

In more detail...

Chapter 82 celebrates whaling as a storied and honorable pursuit, much like the traditions of great heroes and gods of mythology. The narrator dives into its history and exalts the antiquity of whaling, comparing whalemen to legendary figures such as Perseus, St. George, and even the Hindu god Vishnoo. He recounts various myths, suggesting that the beasts they battled were in fact whales, not dragons or monsters. This association with divine and heroic acts elevates the profession, giving it a grand and dignified backdrop. The narrator also explores the connections between these stories and biblical tales, tying them all to the noble lineage of whaling.
Characters
  • Perseus
    • About - Perseus is referenced as the first whaleman, who used his skills to save Andromeda from a whale, lauding the glory of the whalemen by taking inspiration from mythology.
    • Personality Traits - Not described in the chapter.
    • Physical Characteristics - Not described in the chapter.
  • St. George
    • About - St. George is cited as a figure akin to Perseus; the dragon he slew is argued to be a whale, drawing parallels between the acts of saints and the whalemen.
    • Personality Traits - Not described in the chapter.
    • Physical Characteristics - Not described in the chapter.
  • Hercules
    • About - Hercules is debated upon as potentially being a whaleman due to being swallowed by a whale, again tying into the narrative of glorifying the profession through mythic comparisons.
    • Personality Traits - Described as 'brawny,' symbolizing strength.
    • Physical Characteristics - Not described in the chapter.
  • Vishnoo
    • About - Vishnoo, from Hindu mythology, is deemed the tutelary guardian of whalers for his act of retrieving sacred texts from the depths as a whale, exemplifying the divine endorsement of whaling.
    • Personality Traits - Described as divine and god-like, associated with creation and protection.
    • Physical Characteristics - Not described in the chapter.
  • Jonah
    • About - Jonah is indirectly referenced through the connection to the story of Perseus and the suggestion that his biblical experience with the whale ties into the larger tradition of whaling.
    • Personality Traits - Not described in the chapter.
    • Physical Characteristics - Not described in the chapter.