Herman Melville

Moby-Dick

Captain Ahab obsessively pursues the white whale, Moby-Dick, symbolizing fate and the destructive nature of obsession. Ishmael narrates the story, introducing philosophical digressions on the nature of existence.

Billy Budd

Focuses on the sailor Billy Budd, whose innocence leads to tragic consequences after he accidentally kills the evil Claggart. Themes include law vs. morality and the loss of innocence.

Bartleby, the Scrivener

"I would prefer not to" is Bartleby’s famous line, as he gradually withdraws from society in this short story about alienation and the dehumanization of labor.

Typee

Melville's first novel, based on his time among cannibals on the Marquesas Islands, mixes adventure with criticism of colonialism and exoticism.

Benito Cereno

Explores themes of slavery, rebellion, and deception through the story of Captain Delano's encounter with the enslaved people aboard a Spanish ship. Cereno is haunted by the weight of his role.