Moby Dick

Chapter 82, entitled The Honor and Glory of Whaling, is chock-full of both cultural and literary allusions. In this chapter, Melville recounts the stories of biblical and mythological figures who have killed or triumphed over whales. The chapter begins as Ishmael remarks,

The more I dive into this matter of whaling, and push my researches up to the very spring-head of it, so much the more am I impressed with its great honorableness and antiquity and especially when I find so many great demi-gods and heroes, prophets of all sorts, who one way or other have shed distinction upon it, I am transported with the reflection that I myself belong, though but subordinately, to so emblazoned a fraternity. (Melville 395)

This passage and the chapter in general serve a dual purpose. It gives Melville another chance to display his knowledge of history, mythology, and scriptures, but it primarily functions as way for Melville to demonstrate to his readers that whales have been depicted as dangerous beasts throughout history, and sailors who willingly hunt these Leviathans are elevated into a heroic and almost god-like “fraternity.”

Melville’s first literary allusion describes the story of Perseus, who Melville defines as the “first whaleman.” Perseus was a hero from Greek mythology who saved the princess Andromeda from a “Leviathan” or whale. Melville writes,

The gallant Perseus, a son of Jupiter, was the first whaleman; and to the eternal honor of our calling be it said, that the first whale attacked by our brotherhood was not killed with any sordid intent. Those were the knightly days of our profession, when we only bore arms to succor the distressed, and not to fill men’s lampfeeders. (395)

This passage is a curious juxtaposition to the last one; in the first, Melville honors whalers by putting them in the same class as “demi-gods” and “heroes.” But, in this passage he implies that killing whales “to fill men’s lampfeeders” is a “sordid intent.” I get the feeling that Melville is conflicted by whaling; while he is incredibly impressed with the courageousness it takes to attack a giant and powerful animal, he also feels that hunting whales for the sole purpose of oil is not so honorable and heroic.

Despite this not so subtle political commentary, Melville goes on and adds St. George (religious saint), Hercules (demi-god), Jonah (prophet), and Vishnoo (Hindu god) to the “emblazoned fraternity.” Although Melville was a politically-minded individual, it seems his principal goal in this chapter is to establish whalers as a brave and fearless group, despite the immoral aspects of their job.

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