“The Town-Ho’s Story” from Moby-Dick (1851) Herman Melville (1819-1891) was
one of the greatest American writers. His experiences on a whaler
(1841-42) and ashore in the South Sea islands led to the writing of Typee
(1846), Omoo
(1847), and other widely popular romances. Melville's masterpiece, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851), tells
the tale of a whaling captain's obsessive search for the white whale
that had bitten off his leg. It is at once an exciting sea story, a
heavily symbolic inquiry into good and evil, and one of the greatest
novels ever written. Both Moby-Dick
and the psychological novel Pierre; or, The
Ambiguities (1852) were misunderstood at the time of their
publication and badly received. Although disheartened by his
failure to win an audience, by ill health, and by debts, Melville
continued to produce such important works as The
Piazza Tales (1856), a collection including the stories
"Benito Cereno" and
"Bartleby the Scrivener," The Confidence Man (1857),
and the novella Billy Budd (1924). After holding the position of
customs inspector in New York City for 19 years, Melville died in
poverty and obscurity. Neglected for many years, his work was
rediscovered c.1920. Vocabulary:
Study Questions p. 1
Moby-Dick was
originally published in serialized form. It’s
reading audience was the rapidly expanding bourgeoisie in New York
City. How does Melville use the form of an adventurous sea tale to
address the political concerns of Americans in the 1850’s? Think about how this story
can be interpreted as an allegory of social relations between the rich
and the working class during the 1850’s. p. 1
Think about why Melville chooses to use such an
elaborate frame for his story: Ishmael spins his tale for a group of
rich Spanish cavaliers in an inn in Lima, Peru, a town reputed to be
the most corrupt in the western hemisphere. p. 1
Notice how Ishmael learns the story of the Town-Ho
when he overheard the dream mutterings
of a Polynesian harpooner named Tashtego.
Why does Melville choose such an interesting origin for the tale Ishmael is about to relate? p. 1
What is the situation aboard ‘The Town-Ho’? Why are
the hands forced to man the water pumps day and night? p. 2
From what part of the United States does the seaman Steelkilt hale? What aspects of
a wholly American hero does Steelkilt
possess? List adjectives Melville uses to describe the Lakemen. In
contrast, what sailing town does the first mate Radney
call home? p. 2
How is Steelkilt
a natural leader? How does he allay the tension of his shipmates while
they are manning the pumps? Why does this lead to problems with Radney? p. 3
How does Melville present Steelkilt’s
natural resentment of authority in positive terms? p. 3
How does Radley
insult Steelkilt in a
way that leads to open insubordination? p. 4
When Steelkilt
‘stoves in’ Radley’s
jaw, how has he also broken an inflexible law aboard sailing ships? p. 5
Which sailors fly to Steelkilt’s
defense? What part of the country are they from? How does Melville
characterize the ‘Canallers’? pp. 6-7
Into what part of the boat are
the mutineers driven? Why do Steelkilt’s
accomplices desert him? What is Melville’s point about the possible
hopes of open rebellion aboard the ship “America” in the mid 1850’s? p.9
How has Radley
crossed the boundary of no return when he volunteers to flog Steelkilt? pp.9-10
How is Steelkilt
planning to take his revenge? What does the chance intercession of
Moby-Dick himself tell us about Melville’s vision of the political
situation in America in the 1850’s? p. 10
What metaphors does Melville use to describe the
great white whale? What symbolic point is he making? p. 11
How does Radley
meet his proper demise? p. 12
How does Steelkilt
escape from ‘The Town-Ho’? p. 12
What is the purpose behind Melville’s interesting
depiction of the conclusion, as Ishmael swears on a Bible to the truth
of his story before the group of incredulous Spanish cavaliers? Write a thesis statement about
Melville’s allegorical purpose in this eventful sea yarn: |