Kelly Sooch
1/22/13
In
“The Humanism of Moby Dick,” Robert Rogers explains that the various elements
of life and humanism will evoke several responses in one’s life, including internal
and external conflicts, rebellion against religion, and lifelong companionships.
Rogers develops his argument by examining each of the characters in Moby Dick, especially Ishmael and Ahab.
He shows how Ahab and Ishmael develop over the course of the novel, questioning
religion and the meaning of life as they spend more time on the ship. Rogers
uses the term “religious rebellion” to describe Ishmael and Ahab’s feelings
toward God, including the many religious conflicts the two characters have.
Finally, Rogers examines the relationships in this novel to prove that no
individual can be free from their emotional relationships with others. Rogers
suggests that other critics have failed to recognize the importance of
Melville’s Moby Dick when it comes to
its representation of humanism.
Rogers
uses many specific examples from Melville’s Moby
Dick to demonstrate religious rebellion in the novel, and how the white
whale represents both God and the absence of God. This whiteness of the whale
is associated with religion: “the very veil of the Christian’s Diety,” but it
is also associated with the “visible absence of color,” which could be a
metaphor for the absence of God. Ishmael is appalled by the whiteness of the
whale because it is indefinite, dangerous, and a mystery. Furthermore, Rogers argues
that Ahab is the most rebellious character when it comes to religion, using the
scene where Ahab mock baptizes the whale barb, shouting, “Ego non
baptizo te in nomine patris, sed in nomine diaboli!" meaning, “I baptize
you not in the name of the father, but in the name of the devil!”. Rogers
argues that the doubts and frustration both Ahab and Ishmael have against God can
be parts of humanism. He points out the line in Moby Dick that states there are times “in this strange mixed affair
we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke,”
to explain that many men, at least once in their lives, share the same doubts
as Ahab and Ishmael.
Furthermore,
Rogers argues that it is also a part of life to develop relationships with
others, and that an “individual’s fate necessarily interlocks with the lives of
others.” Rogers points out that one of Ishmael’s biggest transformations in the
novel is when he bonds with Queequeg. He and Queequeg form a companionship and
an inseparable bond, which Rogers argues are necessary in life. Ishmael comes
to a realization that a human being is “a relational individual who lives in a
world with others—a world in which all of us are shipmates.” With this
realization, Ishmael gains a greater understanding of the world and the human
condition. He realizes that while
men are autonomous, they cannot be completely independent of others, especially
when it comes to their emotions.
In
conclusion, Rogers examines the human condition and uses Melville’s Moby Dick to discuss the elements of
humanism. This article gives a
good insight into the specific characters of Ahab and Ishmael and what drives
many of their actions and feelings. This article also helps readers understand
the religious aspects of the novel and how Ahab and Ishmael respond to
religion. From here, the reader can understand what Moby Dick represents and Melville’s
overall thoughts about the human condition.
Rogers,
Robert. "Down In The Whole World's Books: The Humanism Of Moby Dick."
Humanist 68.6 (2008): 33-37. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
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