ChapterOneIntroductionThischapternarratesadesiredoverviewofMelville'slife,achievements,andworks,aswellasabriefoverviewofthestorylineofMobyDick'snovel.1.1IntroductiontoAuthorHermanMelville(1819-1891)wasoneoftherepresentativewritersoftheAmericanRenaissanceinthe19thcentury.AsanimportantwriterinthehistoryofAmericanliteratureandHawthorne'sname,hedescribedtheAmericansocietyfullofdarkness,atonement,compassionandsadnesswithhisrebellionagainstthemainstreamliteratureatthattime.Melvilleisaclassicexampleofthisstory.Hebecamefamousforthepublicationofthe"Polynesia"trilogy,butwascriticizedbyreadersandcriticslaterinhiscreativecareer,andeventuallydiedinsilenceandregret.Itwasnotuntilonehundredyearsafterhisdeaththatpeoplebegantounderstandhisworksagain,andtherewasawaveofMelvilleresearch.ItiswellknownthatMobyDickisoneofthemostfamousnovelsin19thAmericanromanticism.Completedin1851,MobyDickisMelville'smasterpiece.Itisanovelofgreatsignificance,deepandstrongstrokes.Inthefirsthalfofthe19thcentury,whentheAmericanwhalingindustrywasbooming,thestorydescribestheexperienceofAhab,captainofthePequod,whohadbeenengagedinwhalingfor40years,beingkilledinafightwiththehugeandfiercewhitewhaleMobyDick,whichreflectstheauthor'sdoubtsandfearsaboutthegreatdevelopmentofcapitalismatthattime.Melvilleserved19yearsasaNewYorkCustomsAttorney.Later,hewrotemanypoems,andpublishedthemonhisown.Pierre,anovelbasedonhisownexperience,andaposthumousnovelbyBillyBudd,aremysteriousandtragic.Theseworkshavebeenneglectedforalongtime.Itwasn'tuntilthe1920sthatMelville'sworthwas"rediscovered"bytheAmericanliterarycommunity,andhetookhisrightfulplaceinAmericanliterature.AlthoughmostfamousforMobyDick,Melvillewasalsoafascinatingpoet.Thispointisseldommentionedintheliteraturefieldathomeandabroad.Infact,afterfailingtocatchonwithhisseriousnovels,heturnedtopoetryandwrotepoemsofhisown,FormerlyASlave,Gettysburg,FarOff-ShoreandMeditation,amongothers,demonstratedtherichnessofhislanguageandthedepthandcomplexityofhisthoughts,SomuchsothatsomeAmericancriticscomparedhimtothenineteenth-centurypoetsWaltWhitmanandEmilyDickinson.1.2TheBackgroundofMobyDickAround1851,therisingperiodofcapitalismintheUnitedStates,wasaneraofdevelopmentandmaterialprogress,andconquestandpossessionwerethemainthemesoftheeraaround1851.In1839,Melvillebeganhisseafaringlife,servingasawaiteronashipboundforLiverpool,England.Twoyearslater,hewenttoworkasasailoronawhalingshipandhuntedwhalesforhalfoftheSouthPacific.Aboutayearandahalflater,heandhisfriendranawayfromafishingboatandstayedatTabbyValleyandCannibalFernanforthreeweeks.,thenboardedawhalingboatfromSydney,becameinvolvedinarebelliononboard,andwasimprisonedinamakeshiftprison,whereMelvillemanagedtoescapefromprisonandliveforseveralmonthsonCalabuzaBeritaniIsland.

MelvillethentookaboattoHonolulu.Notlongafterwards,hewasenlistedontheUSSAmerica,sailinginthePacificOceanandreturningtoBostonin1844.ThesightsandadventuresofMelville'sseafaringcareerbecamethemainmaterialforhisearlyworks.1.3IntroductiontoMobyDickMobyDickisamasterpieceofAmericanromanticnovelistHermanMelville,knownasthefirstepicnovelintheUnitedStatesandthe"encyclopedia"ofthewhalingindustry.ThisnoveldescribesthetragicstoryofAhab,andcaptainoftheWhalingshippequod,whowasbittenbyMobyDickbythebelugawhale,andthenhunteddownandkilledthebelugawhale,andfinallydiedtogether.Thestorycreatesanatmospherethatmakespeoplesailatsea,encountervariousdangersandevendeathatanytime,andistheauthor'smasterpiece.ThemovieMobyDick,releasedonJune27,1956,isadaptedfromthisnovel.Ahab,skipperofthewhale-shipPequod,wasfullofvengeanceforhavinghisfootbittenoffbythecruelandcunningbeluga,MobyDick,duringawhalehunt.Intentonchasingthisbelugawhale,hebecomesirrationalandaself-determinedparanoidmadman.HisshipsailedalmostaroundtheworldandfinallymetMobyDick.Threedayslater,heharpoonedawhitewhale,butitbroke,andAhabfellintothesea.Theentireboatwentdown,andonlyIshmaelwassaved.ChapterTwoTheOverviewofSymbolismMobyDickisnowrecognizedasamasterpieceintheworldliterarycircle,hailedas"themirrorofthetimes"and"thegreatestexpressionoftheAmericanimagination",andanimportantreasonforitsreputationisitssymbolism.ThepopularityofMobyDickinrecentyearshasmademanyscholarsdevotethemselvestotheresearchofMobyDick.ThischapterfocusesonthedefinitionofsymbolismanditsroleinMobyDick.2.1TheconceptoftheSymbolismAgenreandliterarytrendinthehistoryofEnglishliterature.Appearedin1886.AgenreandliterarytrendinBritishliteraryhistory.Appearedin1886.JeanMoreas,ayoungpoet,publishedaliterarymanifestoinFigaro,advocatingtheterm"symbolist"torefertotheavant-gardepoetsofthetime.Thismanifestomarkedthebirthofthesymbolistgenre.SymbolistliteraturefirstappearedinFrance,andlaterdevelopedintoaliterarygenre,whichbecamepopularinEuropeandtheUnitedStates.Itsmainfeatureistouseordinaryandconcretethingstoconveythemainideaoftheworkandtheinneremotionsoftheauthor,whichisoftenfoundinpoetryanddrama.RepresentativeworksofsymbolismincludethepoetAtló'sTheWastelandandBaudelaire'sTheFlowerofEvil.Symbolismisdividedintopre-symbolism,andpost-symbolism.Pre-symbolism:apoeticgenrethataroseinFranceinthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury.Representativefiguresare:Baudelaire,Verlaine,RimbaudandMallarmé.Baudelaire'ssonnet"YingHe"wasthefirsttoproposethefamoussymbolisttheoryof"YingHe".Post-symbolismemergedasaworldwideliterarytrendafterWorldWarI,culminatinginthe20sanddrawingtotheendofthe40s,anditscreativeapproachcontinuedintovarioussubsequentwritings.Themainfeaturesare:tocreateamorbid"beauty",toexpressthe"highesttruth",tousesymbolicsuggestion,toconstructtheimageintheillusion,andincreasethemeditativeeffectwithmusicality.Symbolismcontainsadoublemeaning:first,thesymbolistliterarytrendthatoriginatedinFranceinthelate19thcentury;Thesecondreferstothesymbolistexpressioninliterarycreation.TheFrenchsymbolistpoetMallarmésaid,"Symbolismisthelittlebylittlehintsmadeupofvarioushintstoindicateastateofmind."MobyDickusessymbolismatalllevels,fromcharacterstothings.2.2ThefunctionofSymbolisminliteraryworksMobyDickiscomposedof135chapterswithanepilogue.Thefirstsectioniscomposedof42chapters,whicharemainlyabouttheexcitementofthewhalingvoyage,andthemysteriouspredictionofthewhalehunters;ThesecondsectioniscomposedofChapters43to106,whichtellsofarichlifeonawhalingship.Thethirdsection,whichiscomposedof107-135,depictsthetragicfateofCaptainAhabandhiswhale-ship"Peguyat".Theentirenovelhasaclearstructureandasimpleplot.ButasMelville'smasterpiece,MobyDickisn'tsosimple.Thesymbolismofthenovelisthatthebelugawhaleisasymbolofnature'sbrutalityandtheworld'sunrighteousnessandevil,andAhabsymbolizesawarrioragainstferociousandbrutalrule.Thenoveldepictsboththetragiclifeofawhalingsailorandthefactthatthecitiesthatthriveonwhalingarebuiltonthecorpsesofwhalers.Symbolismismadeupoftwoparts:meaningandexpression.Theyarecloselyrelated,expressionisexterior,meaningisinner,bothcoexistinharmony.InMobyDick,Melvilleemploysagreatdealofsymbolism,andusessymboliclanguagetoexpresshisoutlookonlife,worldoutlookandvalues.Notonlydoesthisworkcontaintherealperson,butthewriteralsogivesthemsomesymbolicmeaning,sothattheycanexpressthewriter'sthoughtsandideasthroughtheirmouths.ThesymbolismofMobyDickissimple:thecaptainandhiscrewsymbolizetheaspirationsofman;MobyDickisasymbolofthenatureandthepresentAmericansituation;Ishmaelisasymbolofharmonybetweenmanandnature:CaptainIshmael'sandIshmael'sdifferentfatesrepresenttwodifferentoutcomesinthestrugglebetweenmanandnature.Throughsymbolismandcontrast,thewriterappealstotheprotectionofnatureandtheharmoniouscoexistence.ChapterThreeTheSymbolismofthemainCharactersinMobyDickThischapterfocusesonthesymbolismofthemaincharacters,thebelugawhaleasasymbolofpurity,evil,andnature;CaptainAhabisasymbolofhumanevilandrebelliousheroes;ThewhalingshipPequodisthestageofhumanexistenceandthesymbolofAmericanspirituality,aswellasthesymbolismofthevoyageitself.3.1TheSymbolismofMobyDickMobyDickisAmerica'smostsymbolicwork.MobyDickisaverysignificantfigureinthenovel,ThenovelisnotonlycalledMobyDick,butalsoMobyDickassea.Thebeginning,theclimax,andtheconclusionareallcenteredonMobyDick,sowecansaythatMobyDickisthemostimportantpart.MobyDickisoneofthemosticonicfiguresinthenovel,andithasmultiplemeanings.Itissometimesasymbolof"purity",othertimesitrepresents"evil",andmoreoftenitisasymbolofbothgoodandevilnature.3.1.1SymbolofPurityForonething,thewhiteofMobyDick,whenunpolluted,ispure,innocent,andkind.ThewhitecolorofMobyDickstandsforpurity,innocenceandyouth.ThefirstlineofMobyDickis:"Regardlessofwhetheritisobjectiveorsubjective,thewholepictureofspermwhalesisnotfoundinanyliterature.""ThroughthecontrastbetweenMobyDickandotherwhales,itsetsoffthemysteryofMobyDick.WhenthemysteryofMobyDickcannotbeexplored,MobyDick'swhitecolorgivesthefirstfeelingofvisiontoacertainextent,andfromthispointMobyDicksymbolizespurityandgoodness.Asmentionedinonedetailinthenovel,MobyDickiscalmandsereneintheeyesofpagansailors.Foranotherthing,MobyDickspeaksinthevastsea,iscutofffromtheworld,hasnoquarrelwiththeworld,doesnotintendtohurtmankind,andspeaksinpeaceandcomfortinhisenvironment,acceptingallthegiftsofnature.Andintegratingwiththesurvivalringfieldverypeacefully.Fromthispointofview,thebelugawhaleisalsoasymbolofinnocence.3.1.2SymbolofEvilComparedwiththesymbolicexpressionofthebelugawhale'spurityandkindness,theauthorcanbesaidtobeunsparingindescribingtheevilandterrifyingsideofthebelugawhale.MobyDick,portrayedinthenovels,isaspermwhale,famous,extremelyintelligent,hasescapedfromcountlesswhalers,MobyDickisundead,extremelybrave,ithascreatedmanytragictragediesofshipwrecks,andisamonsterthateverysailormustget.MobyDickwasdestructiveinhisownright,havinginjuredmanysailorsandlosttheirlives.Inthisrespect,MobyDickisreallyademonintheocean.AndthesceneofthesailorsfightingwithMobyDickinthenovelisextremelyrealandterrifying,andthehorrorandhorrorofMobyDickarevividlydescribed.Forexample:"Butafterswimmingforawhile,MobyDickcameoutagain,hehaddevouredRadney,buthisteethstillhadfragmentsofhisredshirt."Inthesemeticulousdescriptions,MelvilleportraystheterribleevilofMobyDickverygraphically.NottomentionthehugedestructivepowerandmysteriouswhitecolorofMobyDickitself,eventheoceanofMobyDick'sworldisequallycoercivetohumans.Whentheoceaniscalm,likeagentleangel,whenangry,ademonisalive.Thenoveldescribesthehorroroftheseaasfollows:"Thewavesarelikeaticketclothmaker,bleachingtheshiplikeawalrusskeletonrushingtowardsthebeach.""Throughthetext,youcanfeelthehorroroftheocean,soterrifyingwaves,sothrilling,aslightcarelessness,theshipiswreckedandpeopledie.MobyDickisastrongandmysteriousbelugawhale.Duetoitssuper-destructivepower,itshatredforsailors,andthedangeritposestohumanity.Nodoubtithasbecomeanobjectofloathingandfearamongsailors.3.1.3SymbolofNatureMobyDickisasymbolofnature."MobyDick"saysthattheseaisavastsea.Butascapitalismdevelops,manismoreandmorelustful,ambitl,ustothepointthathewantstotakeovernatureanddestroyit.Intheend,itreceivedresistanceandretaliationfromnature.Inthiswork,thewhitewhaleistherepresentativeofnature,andAhab,astherepresentativeofthewhale-boat,isamanblindedbylust.AndthefateofthePequodatlast,andofAhab'sdeath,isastrongindicationthatmanoughtnottodestroynature.Ahabpursuedthewhaleandattemptedtokillit,destroyingthenaturalworld,buthedied.Therefore,onlyifwerespectthenatureandutilizethenaturalresourcesrationally,canwerealizetheharmoniouscoexistenceofhumanandnature.3.2TheSymbolismoftheCaptainAhabTheship'sCaptainAhabisextremelysymbolic,andhisnamecomesfromthebiblicalkingofIsrael.Hisnamesymbolizesevil,asymbolofviolenceandhatred.Heisselfishandarrogant,self-centered,ignoringthefeelingsofthecrew,insistingongoinghisownway,forciblyorderingthecrewtohuntdownandkillMobyDick,completelyputtingthecrew'slifeleaveouttheline,andinthissense,heisasymbolofselfishness,paranoiaandcold-bloodiness,violenceandevil.HisconflictwithMobyDicksymbolizesman'sconflictwithnature:hisrevengeonMobyDicksymbolizesman'sdestructionofnature;Mobyeventuallyrebelled,Ahabandallofhiscrewalmostdied,symbolizingnature'srevengeonhumans.WealsoseeanotherqualityinCaptainAhab,whoisatrueherowhoisresilient,darestoconfrontevil,darestochallengefate,anddarestofightagainstalldarkforces.IntheprocessoffightingMobyDick,heforgesaheadbravelyandfearlessly,butatthesametimefailsbecauseheignoresthelawsofnatureandbecomesavictimofnatureforce.Ahabisafigureofgoodandevil,beautyandugliness.3.2.1SymbolofHumanEvilThenameAhabappearsintheOldTestamentoftheBible,andheistheKingofIsrael,whothinkswhatGoddoesisevilandtakesrevengeonGod.Melvillewhonamedthecaptainwiththisname,visibletotheevilofAhab.Forthesakeofhisownselfishdesires,Ahabnotonlyignoredtheinterestsofothersailors,butalsoignoredthelivesofagroupofinnocentsailors,threatenedandluredthecrew,andfinallyledtoatragicoutcome.Here,MobyDickisjust,Ahabisevil,evilwillbedefeatedbyjustice,soatragedyisinevitable.Ahab'ssymbolismisverycomplicatedandhardtounderstand.Heisacontradictorypersonwithmultiplepersonalities,andhispersonalityistotallydifferent.Therefore,itishardtotellifheisagoodpersonoradevil.Oh,helosthislegfightingMobyDick,whichwasmadebypolishingthejawboneofa"spermwhale".Thedescriptionofthisdetail,isnotexactlyadirectembodimentofAhab'sdeephatredforMobyDick?Usingthejawboneofaspermwhaleasaprosthesisisthecourageandresentment.ThecommonwordusedbyAhabis"paranoia.”Togetrevengeforhimself,Ahabencouragedhiscrew,eventhreatenedandenticedthecrew,disregardingtheinterestsoftheothersailors,andwasbrainwashedbyhate,disregardingthesafetyofhiscrew.Andfinally,allthecrewwereburiedatsea.Fromthispointofview,Ahabcompletelyignoresthelifeanddeathofothersforself-satisfaction.Heisreallyaselfishandcoldkiller,withoutanyhumanwarmth,atruetyrant,asymboloftheevildemonking,andalsoasymbolofevilanddarknessinthehumanconsciousness.Ahab'smosthatedobjectisMobyDick,butthehorribleAhabtodestroyMobyDickmoreprecisely,hishatehasspreadallthespermwhale,thewhalekills.Forthisistheonlywaytodestroythepast,andwehaveabetterchanceofcatchingMobyDick.Thisattitude,completelyblindedbyhatred,ignoreseverythingforhatred,anddestroyingeverythingisitselfparanoid,terrible,evil.3.2.2SymboloftheHeroofRebellionMobyDick'ssymbolicmeaningiscomplicatedandcontradictory,asisitssymbolicmeaning.Asthesayinggoes,"ancientanddeatharedependentondeath,andbeautyanduglinessareancient".WhenMobyDickisarepresentativeofevilcapitalism,Ehaberisabraveandbravefighter.Ahabisaverybraveperson,daretodefythecommoncustoms,thecaptainoftheindomitable.Hisheartwasbigandsimple,andhisspiritwashigh;hefoughtagainstthedreadfulsea.AhabwastheleaderofthebattleofMobyDick.Hewasbraveandgood,hewassmartandaggressive,hehadaleadershipspirit,andhewasbrokenbuttough.Astheauthordescribesinhisnovel,"Inhisstaring,fearless,straightaheadeyes,thereisakindofunwaveringperseverance,andakindofindomitablewill."Ahahasastrongwill,isworthyofadmirationandlearning.Ahababandonshiscomfortablelandlifetoexploretheisolated,treacherousanddangerousoceanforaprotractedbattlewithhim,withthedirectaimofavengehisbrokenleg.Butfromthedeepsense,heismoretofindhisoriginalself,seekingspiritualpeaceandfreedom.Manyoftheothersailors,amongthem,wantedtoescapefromtheboredomandfindtherealpurposeoflife,whethertosurviveortoescape.AlthoughAhaisadevil,heisakindperson.Ahabisboththeoffenderandthevictim,andyoucannotjudgehisrightorwrong.Butingeneral,hispersonalityischangeableandprofound,andhissymbolicsignificanceisverycomplicated.3.3TheSymbolismoftheWhalingShipPequodThePequodwasatribeofNativeAmericansintheeastofConnecticutintheUnitedStates.AndMelvillenamedhisboatforatribesoendangered,ontheonehand,toevokethememoryofthistribethatwasconstantlyslaughteredbywhites,andontheotherhand,toforeshadowthefateofthefinaldestructionofthewhalingship.3.3.1TheArenaofHumanExistenceThePequodisasymbolofevil,foritcarriesacrewofmenwhowishtoconquernature,destroybelugawhales,andassistthemintheirquesttoachievetheirgoals.Thiswhalerisfullofcrazyhateanddesperatemurder.It'slikethestageofman'slife,filledwithinnumerableevils.Ifyoulookcloselyatthenovel,youwilldiscoverthatitisacalmseaoraroaringsea,allofwhichAhabandhiscompanionshaveseenonboardthewhaler.Whalingvessels,asanimportantmeansoftransport,providethemwithaplacetolive,andanenvironmenttosurvive.Thewhalerwastheonlyporttheyhadwhentheysailedacrossthesea,anditwasliketheirhomeandtheirprison.EverythingthatAhabandhiscrewhaddoneonboardwasnotmerelyaphysicaljourney,butaspiritualone.Theyusewhalingvesselsascarrierstopursuetheirdeepestdreams,andtoshoulderthedisastersoftheseatogether.Thewhalernotonlywentthroughtheslaughter,butalsoexperiencedthewarmthofhumanaffection.ThesailorssupportAhab,andthesailorshateAhab.InthefightagainstMobyDick,theyworktogether,fightbravely,gothroughthickandthin.Thisshowstheloveandfriendshipamongsailors.Allinall,thePequodisasymboloftheperiodofhumanexistence,anditisaperiodofrichandvariedlife.3.3.2SymboloftheAmericanSpiritTheshipisloadedwithallsortsofsailors,theyhaveexperiencedmanythingsontheboat,includingallkindsofhumanemotions.Althoughtheyunitedtohuntandkillwhitewhale,theyhadtheirownideasandgrievancesagainsteachother.Forexample,thereisaplotinthenovel,inwhichsomeoneisformoney,inordertoachievethepursuitofthewhitewhale,crueltoabandonthesailorsstrugglinginthesea.Notcaringabouttheircompanions'lives,veryselfishandcold.Inthenovel,therearealotofsimilardetails,whichfullyrevealtheevilnatureofhumanity.Everythingthathappenedonthewhalingship,incloseview,isamicrocosmofAmericansociety.IntheearlypartoftheSaxonpeople,inthemiddleofthe19thcentury,theybecamemoreandmorefanatical.TheUnitedStatesbecameanimperialpoweronparwiththatofEurope.ThePequod'svoyagewas,toacertaindegree,anextensionofthespiritofexpansionabroad.Ahabandothersabandonedthestablelifeontheland,thelongsailingadventurewithouthesitation,thisisaverybraveandheroicmovie.Theysharewealandwoe,togethervowedtoeliminateMobyDick,intheprocessofsailing,experiencedcountlesssetbacksanddifficulties,badseaenvironment,MobyDick'ssuddenattack.Ahaandothershavethespiritofexploringthenature,whichisadmirable.ThePequodisasymbolofAmerica'sexplorationofthemysteriesofnature.Thisspiritdidnotcomeintobeingforthetimebeing,butitplayedaveryimportantroleinAmericansociety,anditsdevelopmentinspiredmillionsofreaders.Thejourneyitselfisasymbolofasearchanddiscovery,asearchfortheultimatetruthofhumanlife.Thestory'snarrator,Ishmali,isaprimeexample.HehadfledhiscircumstancesandenteredtheRecordinthehopeoffindingareallifethatwouldbringhimhappinessandfulfillment.Hefledfromtherealityofthesociety,forhefoundlifesohollow,lifeless,andmeaningless.Heisconstantlycontrolledbyasenseoflonelinessandalienation,aseparationbetweenpeople,fromnature,fromthesoul,andthisisoneofthethemesofthenovel,andtheauthorbelievesthat19th-centuryAmericawascontrolledbythisloneliness.SoIshmalitookAmericansinsearchofthetruthoflife.ThedreamofseekinganewvalueboardedtheRecord.ThisvoyagesymbolizesIshmali'squestforknowledgeandthevalueoflife.Inthecourseofhisvoyage,hegraduallyrealizedthevalueofloveandfriendship,whichhelearnedtoaccept,whichtheauthorbelievesistheguaranteeofhumansurvival.ThiscanbeseeninhisshiftinperceptionofQuequig,ablacksailor.Quequegwasthefirstsailorhemet.Assoonashegotontheboat,hewasputinbedwithQuequegue.Hewassoterrifiedthathedecidedthatthenegroeswerecannibals.ButashegotintouchwithQueequeg,hebecameincreasinglyawareofhowlovelythisrawfanwas.ThischangeinhisunderstandingofQuequigbeganwithappearanceandappearance,andhewasdeeplytouchedbyQuiquig'ssteadinessanddeepattitude.AndQuiqueg'srepeatedfeatofdesperateeffortstorescuesailorseventuallyestablishedhisheroicimageinIshmali'sheart,transforminghisviewofhumanityandlife,andseeingthevalueoflife.Therefore,thisvoyagesymbolizesIshmali'spursuitofknowledgeandlifevalue.Andit'salsothepursuitofasimplelifeforAmericans.ThisshiprepresentsthesoulofAmericans,andthedestructionoftheshipreflectsthewriter'spessimisticoutlookonlifeandtheworld.ChapterFourTheSignificanceofSymbolicUsageThethemeofMobyDickhasmultipleandprofoundimplications,dependingonhowweinterpretMobyDickandAhab.Ifthewhitewhaleisasymbolofevil,thenAhabisahumanhero.Hispursuitofthewhaleisachallengetoman'sevil,andheisnotwillingtocompromise.AndAhab'sundyingsurrenderisalsoareflectionofhumanity'sindomitablefightingspirit.Ifthebelugaisasymbolofnature,andAhabisablackcapitalist,thenAhab'spursuitofthebelugawhaleisaprocessofman'sunbridledexploitationofnature.Andtheultimatedeathforhimandhiscrewisthevengeanceofnature.Althoughpeoplecanobservetheworldoraffectittosomeextent,theycan'taffectorcontrolthenature.Untiloneacceptshisowndanger,naturewillhappilyleavehimalone.4.1AppealingPeopletoResistRevengeRevengeisabasichumanconsciousnessthatstemsfromnatureandisaccompaniedbyawiderangeofsocialfactors.Itnotonlyrepresentstheprotagonist'slove-hateintertwinedpersonalresentment,butalsorevealstheauthor'sspiritualjourneyofexploringsociety."MobyDick"showsustheprocessofCaptainAhabchasingawhitewhaleandleadingthewhalingshipPequodanditsboatmentodestructionforrevenge,describingcrazyandcruelhatredandkilling.Inthenovel,thefeelingofrevengerunsthroughout.CaptainAhabisbraveandstrong,stubbornandhard,butalsoverycold.Hehasfoughttheseaandwhalesfor40years.Duringoneofhistripstosea,oneofAhab'slegswasbittenoffbyMobyDick,abelugawhale,whichnotonlyharmedhisbody,butmoreimportantly,damagedhishonorandself-esteem,andwasaspiritualhumiliationtohim.Soit'snothardtounderstandwhyAhabhasabitterhatredforbelugawhales.Thatbrokenlegallowedhimtoseeafierceforceeveryday,andheburnedtheflameofrevengeinhisheartallthetime,andvowedtogototheendsoftheearthtohuntdownMobyDick.Afterthat,hemadeithislife'sworktohuntdownMobyDick,andcommandedthePequodtotrackitaround.Oncethechoiceofrevengeismade,sanityislost.RevengeonMobyDickeventuallyledtothedestructionofthePequodanditscrew,andevenAhabhimselfwasnotspared.ThewhaleforkthrownbyAhabplungeddeepintoMobyDick'sbody,butthehempropethatflewoutwrappedaroundhisneck,draggedhimintothesea,andstrangledhimonthespot.ThebitterhatredofthegreatwhitewhalecausedAhabtotrackdownthebelugawhaleeverywhere,buteventuallygavehisownlife,andthebelugawhaleeventuallytookrevengeforbeinghurtandhunteddown.MobyDickisnotonlyAhab'sphysicalenemy,butalsoAhab'sspiritualenemy,soAhabregardsrevengeasabelief,fullofthoughtsofrevenge,thewholepersonbecomesparanoidandviolent,andseveralsicksoulscannolongerbesaved,andAhab'stragedymainlystemsfromthesinfulnatureofrevenge.Beingunabletoextricateoneselfduetothefeelingofrevengeleadstoextremeself-expansion,whichisalsoapsychologicalphenomenonthatpeoplehavehadsinceancienttimes.Ifthisvengefulmentalityisallowedtoexpandunchecked,itwillleadpeopletoamiserablesituationofmadnessandevendeath.ThetragedyofAhabprovesthis.Soweshouldavidrevengingandreturngoodforevil.4.2AppealingHumantoProtectNatureHumanandnatureareinterdependentand