This text is more than a chronicle of Ahab’s quest for the great white whale; the novel offers insight into the whaling industry that shaped the New England seacoast in the 19th century. Melville himself spent time at sea and fashioned many of the details in Moby-Dick after his own experiences traveling aboard a whaling vessel in the South Pacific. Though seldom praised during Melville’s lifetime, Moby-Dick remains relevant today because it helps build our perceptions of America’s unique literary culture.
Reading: Literature
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