Microcosm On The Pequod Essay, Research Paper

The Microcosm on the Pequod

The novel Moby Dick was written by Herman Melville. A microcosm, or small world, exists on the Pequod and is an example of the actions and events of the whole world. This microcosm is evident through the power and authority of Ahab, religion, friendship, and good and evil. The Pequod represents the thoughts, actions, events, and the many different types of people of the world.

The power and authority of Ahab is probably the most obvious evidence of the microcosm. He evokes fear and obedience out of the shipmates. One example of how he controls the members of the ship is when he persuades them to participate in his quest to catch Moby Dick. He promises the person who first sees Moby Dick the doubloon. He uses the doubloon to coax them into helping him with his vengeance. By nailing the doubloon to the mast he makes them remember what their prize will be when they see Moby Dick. Another example of Ahab’s power and authority is when he commands Starbuck to stay on board the Pequod during the chase of Moby Dick.

“?stay on board, on board!-lower not when I do; when branded Ahab gives chase to Moby Dick. That hazard shall not be thine.” (492)

Good and evil is a strong representation of what occurs in a macrocosm and also occurs on the Pequod. Starbuck is a very moral and religious character. He does not want to follow Ahab, but he must obey Ahab’s wishes. He sees evil in Ahab and wants to be good, but knows he has to follow Ahab.

“I think I see his impious end; but feel that I must help him to it. I plainly see my miserable office, -to obey, rebelling?” (161)

Ahab is a symbol of evil in the novel. He is described as a “grand, ungodly, god-like man (82).” He is only god-like because of his power to control the workers of the Pequod. He is ungodly because of his vengeance and extreme hate for the whale. His soul is consumed with hate for the whale and occupies his every thought. He describes himself as mad and is demoniac. “They think me mad-Starbuck does; but I’m demoniac, I am madness maddened (160).”

Relationships constantly develop among people in the world and they developed on the Pequod. Some of the mates developed friendships, others developed a bond. Queequeg and Ishmael develop a strong friendship on the voyage. In the Mat-Maker chapter Queequeg and Ishmael weave a mat together which shows how they must cooperate and work with each other to finish the mat. It takes understanding and dependability to complete the task. In the Monkey-Rope chapter the two depend upon each other for their life. They are tied together and Ishmael is positioned to keep Queequeg out of the water. Queequeg depends on Ishmael for his life. This shows how close they are and that they trust each other with their lives. Fedallah and Ahab also have a bond to each other. They are bonded together with Ahab’s vengeance for Moby Dick. Fedallah is always by Ahab’s side and is present to help fulfill Ahab’s revenge. Their souls are bounded together by hate. “And Ahab chanced so to stand, that the Parsee occupied his shadow; while, if the Parsee’s shadow was there at all it seemed only to blend with, and lengthen Ahab’s (306).” This symbolizes how Ahab and Fedallah share the same evilness in their souls.

Religion is an important aspect in society and is present on the Pequod. Starbuck is a representation of religion because of his goodness and morality. He is the pious man of the ship. He realizes the evil of Ahab and does not fall prey to Ahab’s control. Another example of religion are the actions of Peleg and Bildad. They show hypocrisy in religion.

“Quick, I say, you Bildad, and get the ship’s papers. We must have Hedgehog there, I mean Quohog, in one of our boats.” (90)

The two proprietors were not going to let Queequeg board because he was a cannibal and did not believe in Christianity. When they saw how precise he was in throwing the harpoon they quickly changed their minds.

The situations and people of the Pequod represent the world as a whole. The boat was their little world for three years, and can be compared to the entire world. In both “worlds” hypocrisies and dictatorships exist. There are characters that are Christian and those that are pagan. The shipmates are diverse just as people are in the world. The characters develop friendships and bonds. All of the aspects of the ship can be compared to the aspects of the world.

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