In the novel, there are some themes such as human and nature, revenge, imperialism and so on。 In recent years, scholars have studied Moby Dick from different perspectives and the research on its symbolism is continuing at home and abroad。 Some scholars think that from the point of nature Moby Dick means nature itself。 Some people view that the white whale hints various meaning and emphasized that it is the symbolism of the nature。 Moby Dick has become a research focus。 Having read some chapters from my textbook, the author was attracted by its symbolic meaning。 I want to know more symbolic meaning in Moby Dick。 This paper will give a detailed analysis of symbolic meaning in Moby Dick from two themes and two clues。

II。 Symbolism of the Themes

The novel Moby Dick is a very unique masterpiece in the history of American literature。 And it is considered as an accomplishment of symbolism。 Everything mentioned in it has its symbolic meaning。 Even though the style of the novel is changeable, the theme of it is clear。 The novel contains two themes: one is revenge, and the other is human and nature。 The following is detailed analysis of their symbolism。论文网

2。1 Symbolism of Revenge

Revenge is one of the most important themes in Moby Dick。 It tells the story of captain Ahab’s taking revenge to Moby Dick。 His obsessive revenge makes Moby Dick revenge back。 Finally, all the whalers on board Pequod died except Ishmael who is the survivor to tell the story。 Of course, there is not only this revenge in the novel。 The theme revenge has abstruse meaning。 This novel shows us two kinds of revenge: the revenge between human and white whale and the revenge among humans。 And different revenge has different symbolic meanings, but they have a common point: revenge results in tragedy。 

Ahab engages in whaling for over 40 years。 Unfortunately, Moby Dick bites off his leg when he is in a voyage。 He makes up his mind to take revenge。 He boards Pequod and begins his voyage under the motivation of revenge。 His desire for revenge leads to his tragedy—death。 In fact, he has other choices。 He can give up whaling and return to land to live a decent life。 Or he can choose to accept the fact that he is disabled peacefully and go on his whale fishery。 As we all know, the work on the sea is dangerous because it is hard to say what will take place all year around。 Many of whalers lost their lives。 To some degree, Ahab is luckier than others。 However, Ahab makes his decision to take revenge。 The revenge is subjective。 He makes his choice by himself。 His revenge is the symbolism of defiance to nature from human。 And his ending symbolizes the result that human revolts nature。

Compared with Ahab’s revenge, the revenge of Moby Dick is passive。 Thanks to hurt from human, it is essential for Moby Dick to revenge back。 If we go back to the root of hatred, human makes mistakes first and the white whale takes revenge back to human。 To a certain extent, human beings have no right to revenge。 The reason why Ahab lost his leg is that he hunts white whale wantonly。 In fact, his losing his leg is the symbolism of punishment from nature。 Due to more and more people going in for whaling, white whales become less and less。 The scale that people hunt whales becomes larger and larger, which means that more and more whales will be killed。 When human makes great progress and achieves victory on whaling, there are more whales getting killed。 From this point of view, human should not take revenge。

In fact, the hunting toward whales is beyond our imagination。 Ismael also noticed the fact。 The images he described that human dissect whales roughly。 Moby Dick has torn captain Ahab’s leg。 Ahab lost his leg; in return, so many whales got killed。 In order to take revenge, Ahab and his crew chase Moby Dick all the time。 At first, Moby Dick does not fight back just escapes and hides away。 However, Ahab spares no pains to chase and destroy it。 Facing this situation, Moby Dick has to do something to protect itself。 So it chooses to fight back。 In the end, Pequod is knocked down by Moby Dick。 The crew is buried in the sea。 Only Ishmael survived and became the narrator of the story。 Moby Dick’s revenge is the symbolism of self-defense of nature。 Finally human must pay the price of life。