美国文学课件Herman_Melville_and_Moby_____dick

1、Herman Melville (1819-1891) WorksWorks 1. Redburn 1849 2. Typee 1846 3. Omoo 1874 4. Moby Dick 1851 5. Mardi 1849 6. White Jacket 1850 7. Pierre 1852 8. Billy Budd 1924 LifeLife Melville was born in New York City. Both his parents came from well-to-do families, but later their family business failed

2、. Melvilles childhood was happy to the age of 11, when his father died in debt.n Melville was born into a slightly eccentric, established New England family. nHis father Alan imported clothes and other goods from France, providing Herman with a comfortable and happy childhood in New York. nAfter Her

3、mans father died in 1832, the family relied on financial assistance from his mothers wealthy family and Herman left school to go to work. nHerman educated himself while working a variety of jobs throughout teens. nIn 1839, Melville began his affair with sea when he joined the crew of the St. Lawrenc

4、e and set sail for Liverpool England. nIn 1840, Melville set sail aboard the Acushnet, a whaling ship headed for the South Pacific. The rough conditions of the sea toughened the romantic New Englander and he took such a liking to sea life that he sailed around the globe four years aboard various shi

5、ps. n Melville was welcomed home by his family who was entertained by his tales of the high seas and encouraged him to write them down. Herman wrote Typee quickly in 1845, and published it the next year. Typee became a critical and financial success nin 1847, Melville married Elizabeth Shaw, daughte

6、r of the Chief Justice of Massachusetts. nTo make himself more financially stable for his impending marriage, Melville sought a position with the U.S. Treasury and took on extra work writing book reviews. nMoby Dick published in November 1851, received poor reviews and did not sell. nDespite this co

7、ntinued output and the fact his earlier novels continued to be reprinted and sold fairly well, Melvilles literary reputation was in rapid decline. nHis death from a heart attack on September 28, 1891 went entirely unheeded by the general public. nMelvilles literary reputation remained in decline unt

8、il he was rediscovered in the 1920s, when a generation, disillusioned by the Great War began to appreciate the depth of Melvilles spiritual struggles and the modern experimental style of his stories. nType of work: symbolic novelnFirst publication: 1851nSetting :Most of the book takes place on vario

9、us oceans, such as the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific, in the early to mid 1800s. However, a good deal of the first part of the novel takes place in New England inside and around Nantucket. Moby DickPrincipal CharactersPrincipal Characters :nIshmael schoolteacher and part-time sailor; schoolt

10、eacher and part-time sailor; a Presbyterian, like Melville, he a Presbyterian, like Melville, he projects Calvinistic thinking projects Calvinistic thinking tempered by his background in tempered by his background in literature and philosophy. He literature and philosophy. He discusses such issues a

11、s free will, discusses such issues as free will, predestination, necessity, and predestination, necessity, and damnation. He is the sole survivor damnation. He is the sole survivor of the of the PequodPequod. . nCaptain Ahab A man who is obsessed with the killing of a white whale that has maimed him

12、. He has a scar which extends from his head to his leg.n Starbuck The first mate, is bold enough to criticize Ahabs vengeance, considers mutiny but fails. n Stubb The second mate who is carefree, indifferent, and fatalistic. nMoby Dick It is the White Whale; the worlds largest creature. It is powerf

13、ul, legendary image of nature. It swims peacefully in the sea until disturbed by humans, then shows a terrible fury and anger. For Ahab, Moby Dick is the symbol of evil.捕鲸是当时的一项大生意，白鲸中所描写的捕鲸船皮廓德（Pequod）号的船长阿哈（Ahab）就是南塔开特人，也是个捕鲸老手。 Themes of Moby Dick Search for truth：The story deals with the human p

14、ursuit of truth and the meaning of existence. Conflict between Good and Evil. Conflict between Man and Nature. Isolation between man and man; man and nature; man and society. Solipsism（唯我论）.SymbolsSymbols n The PequodThe Pequod The Pequod is a symbol of doom. It is painted a gloomy black and covered

15、 in whale teeth and bones, literally bristling with the mementos of violent death. It is, in fact, marked for death. Adorned like a primitive coffin, the Pequod becomes one. . SymbolsSymbols Moby Dick Moby Dick possesses various symbolic meanings for various individuals. 1) Symbol of nature for huma

16、n beings, because it is mysterious, powerful, unknown. 2) Symbol of evil for the Captain Ahab. 3) Symbol of good and purity because of its whiteness. SymbolsSymbols Voyage of the Pequod Symbol of the pursuit of ideals, adventure, and the hunt in the vast wilderness. Ahab Symbol of solipsism, revenge

17、 and then evil. SymbolsSymbols Starbuck大副大副 Symbol of good and noble. the Doubloon Symbol of the lure of evil and enticements to greed. Sea Symbol of vastness, loneliness, and isolation.EvaluationEvaluationnMoby Dick is, critics have agreed, one of the worlds greatest masterpieces. To get to know the 19th century American mind and