Student+Notes-Feminism

Herman Melville uses __Moby Dick__ to explore feminism and a highly androcentric society in America during the nineteenth century. Melville uses the white wale, Moby Dick, and Captain Ahab to illustrate the battles of life and the strive for women rights in society. Through the relationship of Ahab and Moby Dick you witness a male attempt to control the supposed "weaker" female species. The woman stands the fight of time and in the end has her way and achieves those rights of freedom. Moby Dick fought off the Pequod, a ship of men, in order to recieve her freedom and finally penetrate the masculine society.
 * __Arguement__**

Melville explores the direction of the United States in the nineteenth century through the use of a closed, highly androcentric society and the successes and failures of the inhabitants within it. He comments on the issues of the abolition of slavery and the co-issue of feminist rights through the relationship of Ishmael and Queequeg, the voracity and single-mindedness of the very masculine crew, and the final destruction of the pinnacle of masculinity, the Pequod itself and the survival of the character that exudes the most feminine traits. "How it is I know not; but there is no place like a bed for confidential disclosures between friends. Man and wife, they say, there open the very bottom of their souls to each other; and some old couples often lie and chat over old times till nearly morning. Thus, then, in our hearts' honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg - a cosy, loving pair." Ch. 10, pg. 52 "How different the loud little King-Post. 'Sing out and say something, my hearties. Roar and pull, my thunderbolts! Beach me, beach me on their black backs, boys; only do that for me, and I'll sign over to you my Martha's Vineyard plantation, boys; including wife and children, boys. Lay me on -- lay me on! O Lord, Lord! but I shall go stark, staring mad: See! see that white water!' And so shouting, he pulled his hat from his head, and stamped up and down on it; then picking it up, flirted it far off upon the sea; and finally fell to rearing and plunging in the boat's stern like a crazed colt from the prairie." Ch. 48, pg. 221
 * 9. Argument**
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 * Quote/ Scene 2:**

4. Romanticism is an artistic and academic movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a keen interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, different approach from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. A 'feminist' approach to Romantic studies meant little more than identifying forgotten women writers, and as valuable and necessary as that enterprise was (and still is), it often lacked a theoretical base, an informed understanding of what women wrote, individually rather than as types. 5. 1) Ishmael: Represents feminine characteristics and the weak learning and becoming more intelligent. QueeQueg: Represents the mother who watches over young. Ahab: Dictatorials man who rules family. 2) Plot shows how the masculinity is destroyed through the ship. 3) Peequod: Represents masculinity and its destruction as predominant sex. 4) Theme: The tale of revenge proves how masculinity can not survive since it leads to chaos. 6. The female and male roles are played out through various characters overtly and subtly. For instance, Captain Ahab portrays a masculine role since he acts as the dictator of his ship controlling those around him in a harsh and masculine way. He could be portrayed as the leading male stereotype with something to prove. Queequeg has feminine qualities since he cares for Ishmael and shows affection towards him. Queequeg could convey the stereotype of the caring mother, who watches over his friends. With these two stereotypes, it could be assumed that at the time the gender roles consisted of the leaders and workers as the male and the care takers as the females. 7. If one thought about this question and did not try to stereotype the male and female role, it could be difficult to determine how the outcome would turn out since the question could only be answered by the personalities of the characters if their roles were switched. If the stereotype of the time the book was written was considered, the gender roles would switch in certain areas. Ahab would not be so dictatorial and Queequeg would be more manly. Ishmael might not have made a friend if Queequeg was more masculine, and Ahab might have dictated his crew more kindly and might have killed Moby Dick since his emotions would be more controlled. 8. If the author was of the other gender, the book might change by showing men act according to women’s perspective. The piece would differ since the Hawthorne as a women would not be able to portray the men as men but portray them to the limits of what women know about men. Hawthorne could not think as a man. Therefore, she could not truly portray men.