The Literature Network - Works of Herman Melville: Character Analyses

Works of Herman Melville: Character Analyses

Content courtesy of

From: Monarch Notes
Date: 19630101
Author:Melville, Herman

Melville, Herman
Monarch Notes
01-01-1963
Character Analyses

Ahab:

Ahab is basically a noble and intelligent man whose balance has been
disturbed by the blind and purposeless fury of the whale that eventually
destroys him. He is a man capable of love, but love by no means predominates
in him. He shows "his humanities" a few times, notably at the end of the book:
when he pities Pip and takes him under his care; when, with Starbuck, he
reflects upon his past life; when he orders Starbuck to stay with the ship
rather than risk his life battling Moby Dick. But his pride dominates his
love. For ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Herman Melville

Herman Melville

Melville's last, grave joke?(Herman Melville)

ALA 2002: Why is Melville a good poet?(Herman Melville)(Brief Article)

Abolition, compromise and "the everlasting elusiveness of truth" in Melville's 'Pierre.' (Herman Melville)(Fictions of Reform)

Melville's Pacific and the Pacific's Melville.(Herman Melville)(Critical Essay)

Giles Gunn, ed.: A Historical Guide to Herman Melville.(Book review)

Melville and the Lyric of History.(Herman Melville)(Critical Essay)

Melville at Sea.(Herman Melville, A Biography, Volume 2, 1851-1891)

A companion to Herman Melville.(Brief Article)(Book Review)

Blurred distinctions: the parable of the sower and Melville's one-legged man. (Herman Melville's 'The Confidence Man: His Masquerade')

Find More Articles

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.