Themes in Moby Dick

Flashcards covering the major themes and motifs in Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

Leadership

A key theme explored in Moby Dick, contrasting different leadership styles, particularly between Ahab and Bulkington.

Individualism

The concept that emphasizes individual conscience and self-reliance, particularly in American context during the Romantic movement.

Ishmael

The narrator of Moby Dick, who serves as a foil to Ahab and embodies the theme of open-mindedness versus single-minded focus.

Ahab

The captain of the Pequod, representing a dictatorial leadership style and a single-minded obsession.

Moby Dick

The white whale that symbolizes the principal of whiteness and the ultimate challenge in Ahab's quest.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws aimed at resolving disputes over slavery and territorial expansion in the U.S., which intensified sectional tensions.

Symbolic death

A thematic element in the novel, explored through characters and events that represent loss of identity or purpose.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character, specifically Ishmael's contrasting nature to Ahab's obsessive focus.

Messianic fervor

A passionate desire to influence or change society, as reflected in Melville's writing of Moby Dick as a call to address America’s moral failures.

American Allegory

Melville's portrayal of the ship of state as foundering, reflecting America's national identity and its challenges.