Allegory in Moby-Dick

Allegory is like symbolism--but better 

The power of allegory in Moby-Dick is the fact that Melville uses allegory on many different levels, sometimes simultaneously.  Here are a few examples:

Specific Allegory

The journey of the Pequod mirrors the journey of the United states in the pre-Civil War era

This is an example of fairly specific, contemporary (during Melville's time period) allegory.  Animal Farm would be an example of this use of allegory

    -Politically, racially, socially, and economically, Melville comments on the country he sees in 1851.  He creates characters to represent 

    large ideas.  (Pay attention to the "Knights and Squires" chapter for this.)

    -Specific leaders from the 19th century seem to be reflected in the book, especially in Ahab.  (Hickory harpoon...old hickory)

      -John C. Calhoun, Andrew Jackson religious leaders, abolitionists, secessionists  

    -Moby-Dick, the object of the ship's obsession, has been connected to many different American pursuits int he 19th century.

Moral Allegory

The novel, in some ways, has moral messages and connections that has nothing to do with America, and has everything to do with being a human being and living in a moral way

This is an example of more general, more timeless, allegory which tries to impart a moral message. Aesop's Fable's would be an example of this kind of allegory.

    -The book resembles a moral, religious fable, such as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah or other "Jeremiads." 

    -The central conflict between Ahab and the whale represents the conflict all men have with God

Portentous Allegory

Moby-Dick seems to predict the political actions and the rise and fall of specific leaders, making it a more specific allegory that transcends time and space.  

    -Captain Ahab has been read as figures separated by hundreds of years and thousands of miles.  

        -Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin

        -Huey Long (Former Governor of Louisiana quoted as saying, "Of course we'll have fascism in America, but we will call it 

        democracy!"

        -George Bush

    -The more you look for Captain Ahab, the more he seems to appear, especially in American culture