《白鲸》中的象征主义与主题意义探析

毕业设计(论文)课题名称（英文）On the Symbolism and Thematic Significancein Moby Dick（中文）《白鲸》中的象征主义与主题意义探析学生姓名学号系、年级专业指导教师职称On the Symbolism and Thematic Significance of Moby DickAbstractHerman Melville is not only one of the most outstanding novelists that can stand for the later period of American romanticism, but also an influential figure in the world of letters. Moby Dick, which was published in 1815, is his masterpiece. Although the novel gained contemporary people’s more criticism than appreciation, it has now been considered as one of best American novels and a classical work in world literature. This paper makes an analysis of the relationships between man and man, man and nature in Moby Dick with the theory of symbolism to reveal its profound thematic significance. This paper is composed of three parts. The part of introduction gives a general survey of Herman Melville and his masterpiece Moby Dick as well as literary views about the novel at home and abroad, the basic framework of the article and the guiding significance of this theory to this paper. The main body includes three parts. The first part mainly introduces the American social background when Moby Dick was published and the definition and development of symbolism theory. The second part analyses the symbolic meaning of the relationships between man and man, man and nature. The third part excavates the theme of the author’s criticism to the oppression in the society and the man’s crazy plunder to nature according to theory of symbolism. The last part is the conclusion. It points out symbolism plays an important role in revealing the thematic significance of Moby Dick.Key Word:Herman Melville; Moby Dick; symbolism; thematic meaning《白鲸》中的象征主义和主题意义探析摘要赫尔曼·麦尔维尔不仅是美国后期浪漫主义的杰出代表，同时也是世界文坛颇具影响的人物。

出版于1851年的《白鲸》是麦尔维尔的代表作。

尽管同时代的人对它褒少贬多，但该书今天已被列为美国最佳小说之一，也被公认为世界文学宝库的经典之作。

本文运用象征主义理论探析《白鲸》中人与人、人与自然的关系以揭示其深刻的主题意义。

全文分为引言、正文和结论三部分：引言简要介绍作者的生平、《白鲸》一书的内容梗概和《白鲸》的国内外研究现状以及本文的主要内容和基本框架。

正文包括三部分：第一部分主要介绍《白鲸》出版时的社会背景和象征主义理论的定义和发展以及该理论对本文的指导意义。

第二部分运用象征主义理论分析作品中人与人、人与自然的关系的象征意义。

第三部分根据象征主义理论并结合小说文本揭示作者对社会中存在的压迫以及人类对大自然疯狂掠夺的批判的主题。

结论部分总结《白鲸》中象征主义在揭示主题意义中的重要作用。

关键词：赫尔曼·麦尔维尔；《白鲸》；象征主义；主题意义；ContentsAbstract (Ⅰ)中文摘要 (Ⅱ)Introduction (1)1. Brief Introduction of Times Background and Symbolism Theory (3)1.1Times Background of the Novel (3)1.2 The Definition and Development of Symbolism Theory. (4)2. The Symbolic Meanings of Relationships between Man and Man, Man and Nature in Moby Dick (6)2.1 The Symbolic Meaning of Relationship between Man and Man (6)2.2 The Symbolic Sense of Relationship between Man and Nature (8)3. The Thematic Significance of Moby Dick (9)3.1 The Criticism of Oppression in the Society (9)3.2 The Critique of Man’s Crazy Plunder to Nature (10)Conclusion (10)Bibliography (12)Acknowledgements (13)On the Symbolism and Thematic Significance of Moby DickWei WeicongGrade 2009, department of foreign studies, Shaoyang UniversitySupervised by Chen HongIntroductionAs we know, Moby Dick is one of the greatest novels in 19th American romanticism. It is not only the classic work about whaling industry but also considered as an encyclopedia of everything, history, philosophy, industry etc. This novel states a story about the endless hunting and the relentless massacre in the sea through a wandering young man named Ishmael. It presents typical image of Captain Ahab who bears enormous grudges against Moby Dick, living beings that shears off one of his legs on a pervious voyage in the sea, Captain Ahab chases it everywhere so as to revenge for him, but all crew and even Ahab except for the narrator all die. When it was published, criticism occupied the lion’s ration. Because of it, Herman Melville’s popularity gradually bottomed out. Melville was also neglect ed by the world at that time. However, as time went on, more and more people recognized its tremendous value. Sometimes we can take on it as a shining treasury to explore it.Herman Melville was born in a Calvinist family in New York City in 1819.He was the son of an importer who ran business about French textile. Whereas, his father later went bankrupt and finally died in the year of 1832. Since then he has lived agonizing lives and left school at the age of fifteen. He was a bank clerk, a salesman, a farm –hand on his uncle’s farm and a school teacher. In order to live better lives, he had to choose to go to sea as a cabin boy in 1839.It gave an abundant source material for the creation of fiction. In 1841, Melville went to the South Seas on a whaling ship, Acushnet, where he gained the first-hand information about whaling which he later used in Moby Dick. In Moby Dick, Melville through the mouth of Ishmael said: “a whale-ship was my Yale College and Harvard.”[1](p123)After he was back from the sea, betw een 1846 and 1852, which is considered as his prolific period, “books Poured forth like a torrent.”[2](p74) He has finished Typee (1846), followed by Omoo next year, then Marrdi(1849), Redburn(1849), White Jacket(1850), Moby Dick(1851) and Pierre(1852).[3](p73)At the same time, his acquaintance with Hawthorne has made a deep influence on Melville’s attitude towards his life in 1850. Especially，we all know that the United States was in the optimistic period of Transcendentalism when Melville wrote Moby Dick. As to most of American people, Hawthorne's pessimism was incomprehensible, but Melville seemed tounderstand it completely, so he determined to change the initial travel-tale mode of his masterpiece Moby Dick about one third of which he had finished and made it become an outstanding work which we read today. Although they lost their touches with each other, a position of tragic humanism that both of them represented in their works was unique. Ishmael the narrator has “a more restless and wide-ranging speculative intelligence and a much darker vision of human life.”[4](p313)Besides, there is another thing that we have got to mention in his life. The married life of Melville was just the same as that of Scott Fitzgerald. They all married the people whose status was above them. Therefore, both of them were harnessed by the money that they were forced to keep their extravagant wives. Melville married Elizabeth Shaw, the daughter of a wealthy judge, in the year of 1847. [3](p73) He had to spare no efforts to support his growing family although it was anguish for a devoted writer to write for money. What is more, it was very difficult to a person to making a living through writing. Because his life has never been smooth, it explained the mood of pessimism which was represented in his wok to a certain extent. He saw dark aspect of American society and the evil of human nature.There are various reviews about Moby Dick. At abroad, nowadays the famous scholar Richard H. Brodhead in his New Essays on Moby Dick makes views about Moby Dick on various aspects, for example, nature, the dramatic changes in social alienation, the challenge of religion, diversity of language of the novel. [5](p3) Besides, there is a book that we must to mention, that is, Herman Melville: Mariner and Mystic. It was written by Raymond Weaver and published in 1921. Melville’s reputation was again recognized by world because of it s publication. Raymond Weaver called Moby Dick“indisputably the greatest whaling novel.”[6](p105)In China, there are more and more relevant papers published. Some papers concentrate on complex, esoteric, multiple symbolic meaning in Moby Dick. Some papers focus on narrative, narrative time, biblical archetype and ecological culture. There are also scholars who discuss the two protagonists, especially the character of Ahab. His pride, madness, crankiness, alienation makes deep impression on all of us. Ishmael, the special character in novel, acts as both a narrator and a person involved in voyage. At the same time, some people study its social reality, religious meaning and the tragic ending of the epic.In the light of symbolism theory, this paper makes an analysis of the relationships between man and man, man and nature in Moby Dick to reveal its profound thematic significance. The main body includes three parts. The first part mainly introduces the American social background when Moby Dick is published and the definition and development of symbolism theory. The second part analyses symbolic meanings of the relationships between man and man, man and nature. The third part excavates the thematic significance of Moby Dick according to theory of symbolism. The last part is the conclusion.It points out symbolism plays an important role in revealing the thematic significance of Moby Dick.1. Brief Introduction of Social Background and Symbolism TheoryTo some extent, we can regard Moby Dick as the first American prose epic. America was in a special era when it came out in 1851. It was an age of optimistic transcendentalism. A great many citizens were optimistic to their future of their life and they did not understand Melville’s “bleak view of the world.”[3](p83) However, it was also an era of expansion, a lot of people left for the Great West after the gold rush in California in 1849, it led to sharp conflicts between nations. Besides, it was also a period of whaling industry, a great number of people chose to go to sea. These people were different nations. Some people were oppressed by others just the same as Westward Movement. At the same time, the author uses symbolism subtly to reveal the profound theme in this work. If we want to have an embedded knowledge of this work, we should some know symbolism.1.1 Social Background of the NovelAmerican people were in the state of special “American Spirit” in middle 19th century. They believed that “there were many opportunities open to them to gain rapid wealth.”[7](p4) At that time, gold rush which was flourished from California led to a solid of people honeycombing into the west of America Thousands of Americans headed into the new territory of the west to find a fortune. “As a matter of fact, the founding of the United States was a process of westward movement.”[8](p306) Lai Anfang said. Westward movement promoted American economic development to some extent. But the newcomers also brought about enormous evils. During this time, Anglo-American people passed over Appalachian Mountains to the west part of Mississippi River. These people and their societies expanded from the Atlantic Coast to Pacific Coast. At the same time, there were also a lot of southern slave owners and northern land speculators. Besides, many hunters, miners, pastoralists and farmers made up early setters in western area. However, these immigrants not only gave an impetus to prosperity of west but massacred a large number of native Indians. This expansion resulted in great suffering, destruction, and cultural loss for the Native Americans of west, leaving behind numerous tears of native Indians and notorious crimes. The movement just had happened before American Civil War. The cause of Civil War was the conflicts between races. This kind of clash between nations also exists in whaling-ship.In addition to going west, there were many people going to sea. On entering 19th century ,western civilization, after the Renaissance, the Religious Reform, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment and Industrial revolution set foot into a new age. Industrial revolution provided advanced whaling facilities for whaler. The great development has beentaken place in whaling industry. “American prosperity, especially the prosperity of eastern cities, was fished from ocean by harpoons to some extent.”[9](p97) At that time, more and more people devoted their life to whaling on the purpose of meeting their pecuniary need from whale oil and other products made from whales, including Herman Melville. Particularly, the sperm whale is a very precious assortment due to its spermaceti, a kind of waxy oil which is used to make candles which are smokeless and odorless. Hundreds of thousands of ships set out from ports to track down treasury hidden in sea. Then whaling has become of great importance to America's early growth and wealth and the whaling industry thrived for decades. In Moby Dick，almost all the sailors except captain Ahab, Queequeg, Ishmael are drew to throw their harpoon to whales so as to get the blubber and bone to get benefits from them. Moreover, any race can join the team as seamen in a whaling ship to split the proceeds because all men of diverse races are welcomed by whaling captain and they have to risk their lives for whaling. For instance, there are varieties of races in Pequod including blacks, American Indian (Tashtego), African American giant (Daggoo), Polynesian (Queequeg), Asians etc. But there is a strict hierarchy and Captain Ahab is the ruler in Pequod. Pagans, savages, cannibal, oriental who are in the lowest degree are governed by the upper class. Such as, captain, the owner of ship, and even the three mates. Pequod is a microcosm of the temporary American society. The lower class is oppressed by upper class. Even though they must work all day and all night under tough circumstances and make greatest contribution in ship, their income is still not enough to meet the basic needs of their own life. The lions’s share of profits they make is possessed by ruling class. The fist mate who knows that it is just a kind of suicide if they fight with white whale has to submit to the order of Captain Ahab. This is just the reflection of Westward Movement. Melville expresses his criticism to racial oppression through Moby Dic k. On the contrary, Melville speaks highly of the friendships among lower class. They get well along with each other. Melville directs bitter attacks on so-called “civilized people” by means of fierce contrast and expresses the expectation of the harmony among nations.1.2 The Definition and Development of Symbolism TheorySymbolism is the first modern school of literature and art, makes great contribution to the development of modern, and last for a long time. At the same time, it is the herald of the turn from the imitation of the real life to the expression of the subjective word. Now we should know the concept of symbolism.As to the definition of symbolism, Rene Wellek tried to define symbolism among the four concentric circles in “Symbolism in Literary History”in Discriminations: Further Concepts of Criticism as follows:“At its narrowest, Symbolism refers to the French group which called itself symbo list in1886 or those who are called symbolists by Jean Moreas. And in a wider sense Symbolism is better to be thought as the broad movement in France from Nerval and Baudelaire to Claudel and Valery. Then on the third wider circle of abstraction the term can be applied to the whole from 1885 to 1914 on an international scale, and considered as an international movement which spread to many other countries and meanwhile brought up some great writers with French as the center. Finally, there is the highest abstraction, the wide largest circle: the use of S ymbolism in all literature, of all ages.”[10] (p112-120)From this definition, we can just know the definition of symbolism. However, if we wanted to know the symbolism deeply, we ought to know the meaning of symbol. The original meaning of “symbol” is an incomplete thing which needs to be replenished by other thing and the other half of itself. Nowadays, “symbol is a specific and expressive device in the artistic creation in any time and any nation to be applied to express the abstract meaning and formal meaning by using a specific and objective image,”[11](p16) which makes it possible for the reader and the write to seek the potential thought in the specific context.The development of symbol also should be mentioned. In the primitive time, people had just the simple intuition perception of world. Therefore, there was not the symbolic category, but there was the symbolic thought. Then in the Greek time, symbol was still at the age of burgeon, but a great changes have been taken place. The meaning of symbol meant each symbol and real thing was not just a sign and it was also a suggestion of an essential, abstract and deep thing. Then symbol became a medium which was a bridge to associate the phenomena with the essence. Symbol became an indispensable tool for Christianity in Middle Ages. Symbol was applied as a figure of speech in Bible. For instance, light or herder is referred to God.Symbolism is a concept that relates closely to symbol. As we know, people usually apply something outer world to referring to their inner world and use some apparent phenomena to discovering implied things, that is to say, they are interested in analogy. Symbolism is a creative method which is based on symbol.As we know, many scholars have discusses the biblical archetype in Moby Dick. It is able to be regarded as a kind of symbolism. They disclose some typical instances in the book. The property and destiny of the characters in the book often is derived from or partially derived from those of their biblical namesakes. For example, the captain is named “Ahab” whose name alludes to the king of Israel who is a tyrant. [12](p82) The character of the captain is just like that of Ahab in Bible. Both of them die at last. Another example is Ishmael, who is a wander just like in Bible. [12](p82)He suffers from immensely mental agony before he goes to the sea, but he is the only survivor in Pequod. The destiny of biblical Ishmael is similar to that of the captain in Pequod. It is a well suddenly appearing as the order of God that saves him.At the same time, it is also of great significance for us to know that symbolism it usually opposes to imitating reality or expressing their emotion directly. Moreover, symbolism brings the ugliness and absurdness into the literature field, which is beyond the traditional literature. For example，Ishmael makes a choice to go to the sea so as to escape form the futile life in the mainland to search for the meaning of the life in Moby Dick. The sense of the men’s despair is just the destination of the symbolism. Besides, Melville makes great efforts to expose the ugliness of the highly civilized west world, which totally alienates form the temporary transcendentalism’s optimism that Whitman and Emerson advocated in the middle era of 19th century. Transcendentalism stresses a kind of posi tive “American Spirit”, but Melville use s the death of sailors in Pequod to prove the absurdness of the radical individualism. Melville uses the tact of symbolism in his work.In short, symbol is often referred to the thing that expresses the abstract meaning by using the specific or objective image and symbolism is a concept based on it. At the same time, symbolism is also a creative method associated with world view to disclose the meaninglessness, futileness and absurdness of the society and life in the modern time and men’s loneliness, disappointment in the highly civilized society. Now this paper is making an analysis of the relationships between man and man, man and nature in Moby Dick with the theory of symbolism.2. The Symbolic Meanings of Relationships between Man and Man,Man and Nature in Moby DickMelville not only represents a great panorama of whaling but also depicts a microcosm of capitalism society. He discloses the profound symbolic meaning in Moby Dick. The relationships between man and man, man and nature are not just presented in a superficial level. It contains deep implied meaning. This part focuses on analyzing the symbolic meaning from these two aspects.2.1 The Symbolic Meaning of the Relationships between Man and ManWith the growth of capitalism, expansion and colonial activities, most social wealth gradually flowed towards the pockets of a few people. Capitalist became the ruling class of society. Labors relied on salary that capitalists paid off to meet basic need of their life so labors had got to yield to capitalists’ order. Although laborers got more freedom than before, the nature that capitalist exploited and oppressed workers did not have any changes. Reversely, the savage including the black, American Indian, pagan even cannibals, still kept fair relationships.Pequod is an epitome of capitalism society as well as a floating factory. There is not real democracy. The scale between the upper class and the lower class is unbalanced. To someextent, the relationship between man and man in the ship is the symbol of American society. Melville thinks democracy and freedom in American society is just a part democracy .The most profits which are extracted from oil are occupied by the owner because crew is usually recruited form the weak. Due to their different family background, their incomes are radically different. The top officers of Pequod are almost descendants of European immigrants, on the contrary, “true enough, but then whalemen themselves are poor devils, they have no good blood in their veins.”[1](p122)Captain Ahab is the king in this ship. Everyone must yield to his willing. He despises the stupid carpenter, and he roars at Stubb, the second mate [13] (p10)“Down, dog and kennel.”[1](p118) The unequal status among people who have different ranks in ship is just a kind of symbol of American society. Melville gives a vivid account to us about the rigid social ranks in Pequod in chapter 34 “The Cabin-Table”.“In his own proper turn, each officer waited to be served. They wer e as little children before Ahab; and yet, in Ahab, there seemed not to lurk the smallest social arrogance. With one mind, their intent eyes all fastened upon the old man’s knife, as he carved the chief dish before him. I do suppose that for the world they would have profaned that moment with the slightest observation, even upon so neutral topic as the weather”. [1](p163)At the dinner time, they do not dare do anything but to wait to be served. They have to act carefully for fear that they arouse Ahab’s an ger. They are just like children in the face of Ahab and afraid of offending Ahab. To some extent, the imparity among these people reflects inequality among different people who have different status in American society. We can also know oppression which exists between the white and the black from the 64 chapter “Stubb’s Supper”: “Cook, give me cutlets for supper tomorrow night in the mid-watch, D,y hear? Away you sail, then.-A vast heaving again! Whale-balls for breakfast- don’t forget.”[1](p331) The cook （Fleece）is the old black. Stubb rebukes cook because he is unsatisfied with the whale-steak, he thinks it is t oo tough. What’s more, he laughs at cook with some tart remarks. He asks cook to give him a vast heaving and put forward his demand for steak when cook is ready to leave even though cook is older than him. We are able to know that the white treats the black as their slaves even if the black spare no efforts to meet their requirement. The Stubb’s discrimination to Fleece symbolizes the discrimination among nations in American society at that time.The relationships among sailors are totally very well. As we all knew, Melville spent a happy childhood, but he underwent hardships of life after his father dies. He was often tormented by tribulation. His experience of navigation made him know brutality of ruling class. At the same time, he also knew the pure friendship among the lower class. They were often said to be savages. Melville created a merry world in Moby Dick. Although they are always having not sufficient food to eat and suffer from the threat from nature, we can alsotake a look at their harmonious relationship among them. We may compare their dinner time with that of the ruling class. Melville wrote following scene:“In strange contrast to the hardly tolerable constraint and nameless invisible domineering of the captain table, was the entire care-free license and ease, the almost frantic democracy of those inferior fellows, the harpooners. While their masters, the mates, seemed afraid of the sound of the hinges of their own jaws, the harpooners chewed their food with such relish that there was a report to it. They dine like lords: they filled the bellied like Indian ships all day loading with spices.” [1](p165)The difference between the table of sailors and the table of captain is obvious.Especially author speaks highly of the friendships between Ishmael and Queequeg.We can know the intimate relationship from chapter 72 “The Monkey-Rope”. “Queequeg was my own inseparable twin brother, nor could I any way get rid of the dangerous liabilities which the hempen bond entailed.”[1](p354) Although they are so different that Ishmael does not understand Queequeg’s behavior at all at the beginning, they become good friend. Queequeg is a cannibal, but his pure soul is rare. Moreover, at the end of book, Ishmael escapes from death on Queequeg’s coffin. The friendship among these sailors symbolize s harmonious interpersonal relationships.2.2 The Symbolic Meaning between Man and NatureAt first, the relationship between Ahab and nature will be discussed. In this novel, we can say that the white whale is the embodiment of nature. Ahab makes determination to plunder the white whale in order to revenge for his leg. We can know that he bore enormous grudges against white whale from chapter 36 “The Quarter-Deck”.“I’ll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition’s flames before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! to chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out.”[1](p179)lHe swears to all sailors that he will never come back unless he kills the white whale. He chases the white whale for three times. “The white whale is also enraged by Ahab and charges the boats instead of waiting to be attacked.”[7](p22) Ahab is bent on his plan regardless of Starbuck’s protest. At last, when Ahab is to kill the white whale, Starbuck begs him to give up. “Oh, my captain, my captain - noble heart- go not- go not! see, it’s brave man that weeps; how great the agony of the persuasion then!”[1](p622)This stubborn never takes others’ advice. Finally, as soon as Ahab darts his harpoon into the whale, death comes. The relationship between Aha b and the white whale is the symbol of man’s hostility to nature.To sum up, the relationship between Ahab and three mates symbolizes the upper class’ oppression to the lower class while the relationship between Stub and the cook symbolizes thediscrimination which exists among the white and the black. Oppositely, the relationship among the minor is symbol of harmony among people. The Ahab’s attitude towards the white whale is symbol of man’s hostility to nature. Melville tries to disclose the profound thematic significance which is based on this.3. The Thematic Significance of Moby DickThis part focuses on the thematic significance of Moby Dick from social and natural points of view according to Symbolism. The author tries to express his criticism to oppression in the socity which exists in American society at that time by means of discovering the symbolic meaning of relationship between man and man. At the same time, with the development of capitalism, more and more living beings are killed because men want to gain more fortune. Melville uses the death of crew to put forward his critique.3.1 The Criticism of Oppression in the SocietyMoby Dick was published in the 1850s that is a special period before the Civil War. The ugliness, brutality and ruthlessness of slaveholders exasperate the slaves. The black people are ready to fight against the white’s brutal maltreatment. The conflict among nations constantly deepens.The miserable destiny of the black and minority people are exposed in following narration: “Yes; and many is the time, when, after the severest uninterrupted labors, which know no night; continuing straight through for ninety-six hours; when from the boat, where they have swelled their wrists with all day rowing on the Line,- they only step to the deck to carry vast chains, and heavy windless, and cut and slash, yea.”[1](p473) Back slaves and those “uncivilized” people are forced to work all the day by the ruling class. However, there are no standard about the sailors’ wages. The harder work one does, the less salary he gains. The “civilized”people are able to obtain the majority of profits while they do very little work. Besides, with the Industrial Revolution, more and more factories were built in 19th century. Workers do not have the mean of production and had to exchange a mere pittance with hard work. However, most property that workers create flows into the pockets of capitalist. [14](p105) Melville shows his deep sympathy for the disadvantaged and expresses his angry and irritation to the oppression in the society through uncovering the symbolic meaning of relationship between man and man.Whereas, the author describes the harmony among harpooners, blacksmith, sailors, carpenters and so on. These people do not have enough receipts. They never look down upon anyone. When the little Negro Pippin falls into the sea, Queequeg jumps into water to save him without any hesitation when others count the ripple. Although he is a pagan, he is the representative of kind-hearted people. The strong comparison between the indifference and。