Final+Product,+Round+Two

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With Music =__Argument__= Melville uses Ishmael as an omniscient narrator to weave all the backgrounds, histories, and other stories in addition to the main plot to tie them to the idea that all of these function in a community where all of them are equally significant to each other. In the beginning of the novel, Ishmael is not portrayed as an omniscent narrator. This can be seen in the fact that when he first views Queequeg he sees him as a savage instead of the kind individual that he is. However as soon as Ishmael steps onto the //Pequod//, he is able to see into everyones thoughts and feelings. It is as if there are two extremely different Ishmael's, the one who is a normal man, and the one who is on the ship but seems to never exist.

**__Analysis__**
Melville uses narrative structure in collaboration with digression to convey ideas of transcendentalism within the simple plot of //Moby Dick.// It follows a man who decides to go whaling for the first time aboard //The Pequod.// The ship’s captain, Ahab, leads the crew on a journey to capture the great white whale, Moby Dick, who claimed his leg on the last voyage. The ship and its crew ultimately meet their demise in a final encounter with the whale. Many scenes and chapters take the reader away from the seemingly insignificant plotline to what appear to be pointless journeys into outwardly non-related subjects. Melville subtly uses these subjects, narrated by Ishmael, to relate the simple story of a whaling ship to something much bigger.

The opening of the novel introduces the reader to the main narrator, Ishmael. "Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world." This is the only information given of this character and that periodically he likes to go to sea, typically as a merchant, but this time sets to as a sailor. Other than this, the reader only comes to find that Ishmael is an analytical and intelligent man. With this introduction, the reader finds that Ishmael is as new, and therefore uncompromised to the occupation of whaling, as the reader is. Melville uses this as part of the structure of the narration to help direct the focus from Ishmael, and place it on the crew members that appear later in the novel. Ishmael’s uncompromised view of whaling also helps him identify with the readers and give a reason for the later analysis and description of subjects that arise throughout the novel.
 * Chapters 1 and 2: Loomings/The Carpet Bag**

Ishmael attends a whaler’s church and Father Mapple tells the journey of Jonah in his sermon. '"Shipmates, this book, containing only four chapters - four yarns - is one of the smallest strands in the mighty cable of the Scriptures. Yet what depths of the soul does Jonah's deep sealine sound! what a pregnant lesson to us is this prophet!'" Though discovered later in the novel, Melville uses this digression to allude to Captain Ahab and what he might've learned from the story of Jonah, as their (Jonah’s and Ahab’s) are parallels of one another. In the chapter, “The Prophet,” Ishmael states that these two figures are similar and they depict transcendentalism at its worst. Both figures try to overcome nature and take more than needed, which upsets the balance of community, so valued by transcendentalists. This digression of the sermon, as narrated by Ishmael, suggest this underlying theme.
 * Chapters 7-9: The Chapel/The Pulpit/The Sermon**

Ishmael gives in depth descriptions of the three mates of the //Pequod:// Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask. "They it was who by universal prescription commanded three of the //Pequod's// boats as headsmen. In that grand order of battle in which Captain Ahab would probably marshal his forces to descend on the whales, these three headsmen were as captains of companies. Or, being armed with their long keen whaling spears, they were as a picked trio of lancers; even as the harpooneers were flingers of javelins." Though unknown to the reader, Ishmael gives an account of how each mate is relevant to the plot and events on the //Pequod.// This also conveys how Ishmael is an omniscient narrator. He gives these descriptions of other characters, but fails to do so for himself. Starbuck is able to cope with nature, but unable to do so with people for the common good, as is in dire need with Ahab. Stubb is fearless, helping him follow Ahab, as is Flask’s determination to hunt the infamous whale. This digression allows to plot to be explained better, but aids in Ishmael’s omniscient role as the main narrator.
 * Chapter 26 and 27: Knights and Squires**

Melvilles helps give the white whale a role in the novel, helping the reader to understand how Ahab sees the creature. Ishmael learns of its background and reputation for violence and intelligence. "But even stripped of these supernatural surmisings, there was enough in the earthly make and incontestable character of the monster to strike the imagination with unwonted power." Ishmael views the whale as a part of nature, merely acting on instinct, therefore seeing no reason to jeopardize his life. Ahab, conversely knows he is partly insane, but his desire for vengeance drives him to continue the hunt. Ahab and Ishmael are seen to depict two extremely polar sides of transcendentalism at this point. Ahab, on one hand, represents how transcendentalism may not work with his attempt at being an omnipotent individual. In this attempt, Ahab causes the balance that transcendentalism holds so dear, to be disrupted. Ishmael on the other hand, represents all of the ideals of transcendentalism. He believes in balance and equality between nature and all else.
 * Chapters 40 and 41: Moby Dick and Midnight, Forecastle**

This is one of the most eventful portions of the novel, and it also serves as the climax. It is highly evident as Ishmael is able to describe in detail, the events on the last day of the //Pequod’s// voyage. Ahab makes his final surge at Moby Dick, which leads to his destruction at the hands of nature, represented by Moby Dick. In this, the final stages of transcendentalism are communicated in the novel as we see that nature overpowers man if the desired balance projected by this idea is upset.
 * Chapter 135: The Chase/The 3rd Day**

Ishmael is the only member to survive Moby Dick’s destruction. Nature does not overcome him, as he believes in the balance and equality of man and nature. He also tells this as a reflection to show how he has learned from this experience. "...I was he whom the Fates ordained to take the place of Ahab's bowsman, when that bowsman assumed the vacant post; the same, who, when on the last day the three men were tossed from out the rocking boat, was dropped astern....The unharming sharks, they glided by as if with padlocks on their mouths; the savage sea-hawks sailed with sheathed beaks."
 * Epilogue**

The same reasoning may be used in other chapters to convey the ideas and concerns of transcendentalism. Melville uses Ishmael as an omniscient narrator to tie all the backgrounds and other stories involved in the main plot and connect them to the idea that all of these function in a community where all is equally significant to each other. With tying this to trascendentalism, Melville refutes the idea that it is possible, due to the natural tendencies of people to assume power and act selfishly (as Ahab did).
 * Conclusion**

__Narrative Structure and Digression in Moby Dick__