“Till, gaining that vital centre, the black bubble upward burst; and now, liberated by reason of its cunning spring, and, owing to its great buoyancy, rising with great force, the coffin life-buoy shot lengthwise from the sea, fell over, and floated by my side.” (427). In the vital moment, Ishmael was saved by Queequeg’s coffin, which served as a life-buoy and buoyed up Ishmael’s body. Does it kind of symbolize cruel competition in human being’s society?
Ishmael is the only survivor while all other Pequod’s shipmen die. In the end of Moby Dick, Melville depicts how Ishmael escapes dangers before he was saved by the Rachel. “Buoyed up by that coffin, for almost one whole day and night, i floated on a soft and dirge-like main. The unhorsing sharks, they glided by as if with padlocks on their mouths; the savage sea-hawks sailed with sheathed beaks.” (427)
How do these descriptions reflect the relationship between human being and nature?
Do you think the end of Moby Dick is ironic? What is Melville purpose?
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