Jan 31 2010
Phrenology and GW
Melville, who was not a scientist, frequently utilizes scientific justifications and explanations in the first few chapters. Reading this today, it’s interesting to see what was considered acceptable or at least normal culturally in terms of scientific thought. For instance, during one of Ishmael’s Queequeg observation sessions, he comments that Queequeg’s “head was phrenologically an excellent one.” (44) Ishmael then compares busts of George Washington to Queequeg, which adds to his preexisting positive impression since Washington evokes images of new hope, national glory, and victory! Of course we know today that Phrenology is a form of scientific racism with no grounding whatsoever, but it’s interesting to hear Ishmael, who probably doesn’t know much about science or pseudoscience, mention this.
The type of thought process Ishmael uses here to describe Queequeg depicts the protagonist as someone with great judgment who will seek the silver lining even if it takes some effort. Although Ishmael spends plenty of time discussing the more “barbaric” features of Queequeg as well, he does so in a tone that emphasizes hope and positivity:
“Through all his unearthly tattooings, I thought I saw the traces of a simple honest heart; and in his large, deep eyes, fiery black and bold, there seemed tokens of a spirit that would dare a thousand devils. And besides all this, there was a certain lofty bearing about the Pagan, which even his uncouthness could not altogether maim. He looked like a man who had never cringed and never had a creditor. Whether it was, too, that his head being shaved, his forehead was drawn out in freer and brighter relief, and looked more expansive than it otherwise would, this I will not venture to decide; but certain it was his head was phrenologically an excellent one. It may seem ridiculous, but it reminded me of General Washington’s head, as seen in the popular busts of him… Queequeg was George Washington cannibalistically developed.” (44)
Ishmael describes Queequeg in a whimsically philosophical tone here with metaphors that, based on prior and later descriptions of the amazing Queequeg, all seem completely reasonable and consistent with his character and intentions.
Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2008.
One Response to “Phrenology and GW”
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Matt, a very nice way of handling the “Science/Cetology” category, since there isn’t too much of it yet in the opening chapters. But I like how you latched on to the issue of phrenology, which was a popular thing that 19th century Americans and Europeans were fond of — whether as racist indulgence or parlor game. Your argument that Ishmael is exposing his ignorance by referring to phrenology is good, and shows us two things: 1) that Ishmael himself is still possessed of a pseudo-scientifically based racism that will, as the novel progresses, change, and 2) that Melville was satirizing and poking fun of people who believe in phrenology. Although Melville was not a scientist, he WAS a skeptic in the best sense, and he thought, as many sensible people did, that phrenology was a bunch of hooey. His narration is clever hear, revealing Ishmael’s ignorance while underscoring his own skepticism about 19th century forms of group-think.