Narrative Structure of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick

Abstract

            Herman Melville is one of the greatest authors of American literature. His best known book is Moby-Dick. In this article I have tried to provide a brief overview of the narrative strategy used by Melville to create such a great masterpiece. It is focused on Melville’s style which is close to the modernist and post- modernist writings. Melville is ahead of the time he lived. The first phrase of Moby-Dick – “Call me Ismael” – may be considered as a one of the iconic lines in American Literature. The reader follows Ismael from Manhattan to Nantucket through the narration which is full of mysticism. The dark streets and Souter-Inn, crowded with the people of different origin, belief and skin color prepares the reader for a dangerous adventure. Moby-Dick shares also its style with Shakespearean tragedies, for example, King Lear. Both, Captain Ahab and King Lear, represent accursed, obstinate characters who decided to fight against the fate. Melville, using his experience as a member of the crew of whale ship, gives circumstantial description of sailors’ lifestyle and provides characterization of different kinds of whales. It makes this book a very interesting and completed encyclopedia about the whales and the life in the sea in general. Moby-Dick’s narrative structure moves and “floats” like “Pequod” in the deep, endless ocean. Melville’s writing style seems to be quite complex and intricate which captures the reader from the very first sentence and captivates their minds forever.