Moby Dick: an American epic

“Call me Ishmael. . . .”
When first published in 1851, Moby-Dick, or The Whale, was a critical and commercial failure that effectively ended Herman Melville’s professional writing career. A century and a half later, Moby Dick ranks as one of the greatest works in the English language. Its three famous opening words, and the image of the one-legged Ahab in mad pursuit of the great White Whale, have risen to the level of cultural icons. This grand—and occasionally grandiose—adventure tale unites the many voices of Herman Melville in a mongrel mix of epic poetry, Shakespearean tragedy, encyclopedic cataloguing, biblical oratory—and not a small dose of comedy. With Moby Dick, Melville presents us an insightful study of obsession, madness and charismatic leadership also anticipates many of our contemporary conversations of democracy, cosmopolitanism, capitalism and environmentalism.

“"The helmsman who steered by that tiller in a tempest, felt like the Tartar, when he holds back the fiery steed by clutching its jaw. A noble craft, but somehow a most melancholy! All noble things are touched with that."--Moby Dick, p. 70

Through close consideration of the text, reading aloud and sharing our responses, insights and questions, we will work towards an understanding of the story and Melville’s craft while situating the text in its historic and cultural context.