Comparing the Creatures and Crew in Moby Dick :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Similarities Between Creatures and Crew in Moby Dick When looking at the cycle of life one sees that creatures usually hunt others that are opposited from themselves. The kind between cat and mouse is the apotheosis ot this idea, a classic case of one preying on the other where the two are looked upon as complete opposites. In Herman Melvilles Moby Dick the whalers are hunting down the white whale. So according to my statement above this should make the crew members of the Pequod the absolute negation of Moby Dick. At first glance, perchance it seems this way, but in actuality the two are very similar. From the moment the crew members choose to embark on their voyage they last more(prenominal) like creatures of the ocean than land dwellers. As the story evolves, the reader begins to uncover more and more similarities between the creatures on board the vessel, and those of the ocean. On top of this, as the characters progress and become more similar to their fellow ocean dweller s, they begin to actually show character traits similar to that of Moby Dick himself. Before affiliating the crew aboard the ship with Moby Dick, thither are some comparisons to be made between them and ocean inhabitants in general. While living in the ocean environment the men begin to prepare the same survival techniques as some of the organisms in the ocean. The manner in which the whalers go about slaughtering the whales is much like the way that the sharks react to the whale system being held stagnate in the water. ....because such incalculable hosts of sharks gather round the moored carcass, that were he left so for six hours, say, on a stretch, little more that the skeleton would be visible by mornong(Melville 328). These sharks are savages in the face of sustenance. In most cases the sheer size of the whale prohibits it from being captured and consumed by the sharks. The just now chance that they have at these huge beasts is when they are slung along side the whaling shi ps. Once they have their opening to this plethora of meat it becomes a barbaric ply frenzy. These actions of the sharks reflect the actions of the whalers when taking part in the slaying of a whale. Soon ranging up by his flank, Stubb, firmly planting his knee in the clumsy cleat, scooted dart after dart into the flying gish.