Moby_Dick

Moby Dick Biblical and Mythological Allusions in Moby Dick An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Writers often use biblical and mythological allusions to which their readers are familiar. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville frequently uses biblical and mythological allusions. With these allusions the reader begins to understand the topic of discussion and is also exposed to the wisdom and knowledge Melville possess. The first allusion appears in the first line of the novel. “Call me Ishmael.” (Melville1). Ishmael was the biblical son of Abraham and his servant Hagar. He was disowned in favor of Isaac, Abraham’s son with his wife Sarah. An angel prophesied to Hagar. “his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.” (Genesis 16:12). The name “Ishmael” has since become used commonly for an outcast, which is appropriate since he is inexperienced when it comes to whaling and is viewed as AN outcast to the other sailors upon the Pequod. Another biblical allusion is of the prophet Elijah moby, dick, melville, allusions, ishmael, biblical, mythological, elijah, allusion, ahab, reader, queequeg, pequod, dogs, whaling, shall, labyrinth, kings, cretan, work, wife, voyage, son, since, says, place, outcast, novel, names, life, jezebel, hand, hagar, go, first