论《白鲸》中白鲸的象征意义论文修改后

/GraduationThesisofUniversityofScienceandTechnology,LiaoningZhaoiOnSymbolismoftheWhiteWhaleinMobyDickZhaoCuiting赵萃婷AcknowledgementsIwouldliketotakethischancetoexpressmysinceregratitudetomysupervisor,ShuJingwei,whoisthelecturerintheForeignLanguagesandLiteratureDepartmentforherkindlyassistanceandvaluablesuggestionsduringtheprocessofmythesiswriting.Hiswillingnesstogivehistimesogenerouslyhasbeenverymuchappreciated.Mygratitudealsoextendstoalltheteacherswhotaughtmeduringmyundergraduateyearsfortheirkindencouragementandpatientinstructions.Lastbutnottheleast;Iwouldliketooffermyparticularthankstomyfriendsandfamily,fortheirencouragementandsupportforthecompletionofthisthesis.Firstandforemost,Iappreciatemycountrywhogivesmeacomfortablelearningatmosphere.Second,Iwouldliketoshowmydeepestgratitudetomysupervisor,ShuJingwei,whohaswalkedmethroughallthestagesofthewritingofthisthesis.Withouthisilluminatinginstructionandpatience,thisthesiscouldnothavereacheditspresentform.Iamalsogreatlyindebtedtoallmyteacherswhohavehelpedmetodevelopthefundamentalandessentialacademiccompetence.Mysincereappreciationalsogoestoallmyclassmates,whoaremyproudofmylife.Lastbutnotleast,Iwanttothankallmyfriends,especiallymythreelovelyroommates,fortheirencouragementandsupport.Thewhitewhalelikesasymbolofthelabyrinth.Fromthepeople,macrofeatures,smallstationaryobjectsalmostalwayshavemultiplelayersofsymbolism.ThispaperbeginswithabriefintroductiontothelifeofMelvilleandhiswritingstyleandcontentofthewhitewhale,pavethewayforthein-depthanalysisofthecontext.Thesecondpart,thewriterfocusonsymbolismfromageneralangleandnarrowangleanalysis,andproposedatheoryofsymbolism,revealingthefunctionofsymbolisminliterature.Thenextthreepartsthewriterhasanin-depthanalysisofthesymbolismofthewhitewhale:Belugaincarnationofevil,all-powerfulall-knowingGodandnottoresistnature.Finally,thearticlehasoncestressedtheimportanceoftheapplicationofsymbolismContentsAbstract<English>iAbstract<Chinese>iiIntroduction1A.IntroductiontoHermanMelville<1819-1891>31.Hisgreatsuccessasawritercanbeattributedtomanyfactors.32.NathanielHawthorneexertsaprofoundinfluenceonhim.33.Hiswritingisconsciouslyliterary.44.Hisstyleishighlysymbolicandmetaphorical.4B.IntroductiontoMobyDick51.SymbolismmakesMobyDickagreatsuccess52.HermanMelvillewasthecelebratedauthorofseveralbig19th-centurynovelsaboutthesea.5Ⅱ.ExtendedmeaningofMobyDick6A.Symbolism61.Symbol62.Symbolism63.FunctionsofSymbolism7B.SymbolismofEvil71.TranscendentalismandAnti-transcendentalism72.TheNatureofEvil73.SymbolsofEvil8II.SymbolismofGod8A.ViewofGodinAnti-transcendentalism8B.TheSymbolofGod9III.SymbolismofNature9A.ViewofNature9B.symbolofnature9Conclusion10Bibliography11AbstractHermanMelvillehasbeenconsideredasoneofthegreatestwritersinAmericanliteratureofthe19thcentury.Thesuccessofthismasterpieceislargelyattributedtoitsadoptionofsymbolism.Inlightofthis,itisbothpenetratingandcomprehensivetostudysymbolismandtoexplorethesymbolicelementsinMobyDicksoastobringaboutadeeperunderstandingoftheauthor'spenetrationintohumanityandliberalism.Atthebeginningofthethesis,abriefintroductiontotheauthor,HermanMelvilleandMobyDickispresentedsoastopavethewayforfurtherexploration.Inthefollowingpart,thefocusisputontheanalysisofsymbolisminbothbroadsenseandnarrowsense.Itbeginswiththeanalysisofsymbol,whichisanimportantmeansofsymbolism.Furthermore,theoriesconcerningsymbolismareputforward,andintheend,thefunctionsofsymbolisminliteraturearedisplayedtofull.ThenextthreepartsbringthethesistohighlightbyprobingintothesymbolismofMobyDick,thewhitewhale,whostandsforevil,Godandnaturefromdifferentperspectives.ThethesisendswithreiteratingthesignificanceofsymbolismadoptedinMobyDick.Thewhitewhalelikesasymbolofthelabyrinth.Fromthepeople,macrofeatures,smallstationaryobjectsalmostalwayshavemultiplelayersofsymbolism.ThispaperbeginswithabriefintroductiontothelifeofMelvilleandhiswritingstyleandcontentofthewhitewhale,pavethewayforthein-depthanalysisofthecontext.Thesecondpart,thewriterfocusonsymbolismfromageneralangleandnarrowangleanalysis,andproposedatheoryofsymbolism,revealingthefunctionofsymbolisminliterature.Thenextthreepartsthewriterhasain-depthanalysisofthesymbolismofthewhitewhale:Belugaincarnationofevil,all-powerfulall-knowingGodandnottoresistnature.Finally,thearticlehasoncestressedtheimportanceoftheapplicationofsymbolismKeywords:MobyDicksymbolismevilGodnature摘要《白鲸》作者赫尔曼·尔维麦尔被公认为19世纪美国最伟大的作家之一.《白鲸》这部杰作的成功在很大程度上归功于象征主义手法的应用。鉴于此.笔者认为剖析《白鲸》中的象征主义元素.意义深远.有助于我们更加深入的解读麦尔维尔对于人性和自由主义的理解。《白鲸》真的给了我很多的启示.你对待他人怎样.他人就会对待你怎样。你不去招惹别人.别人更不会冒犯你的。对待什么事物.可以不要过分的认真.当然我是指一些无意义的认真.也许就是那些你所认为的执着会害了你自己。《白鲸》是一部融戏剧、冒险、哲理、研究于一体的鸿篇巨制。依托美国资本主义上升时期工业发达、物质进步的时代背景,作者将艺术视角伸向了艰辛险阻、财源丰厚的捕鲸业,以沉郁瑰奇的笔触讲述了亚哈船长指挥下的"裴廓德号"捕鲸船远航追杀白鲸最后与之同归于尽的海洋历险故事。在与现实生活的相互映照中,作者寓事于理,寄托深意,或讲历史,谈宗教,或赞自然,论哲学,闲聊中透射深刻哲理,平叙中揭示人生真谛,不但为航海、鲸鱼、捕鲸业的科学研究提供了丰富的材料,而且展现了作家对人类文明和命运的独特反思。难怪这部表面看似杂乱无章、结构松散的皇皇巨著被冠以各种形式的名字:游记、航海故事、寓言、捕鲸传说、有关鲸鱼与捕鲸业的百科全书、美国史诗、莎士比亚式的悲剧、抒情散文长诗、塞万提斯式的浪漫体小说……它就像一座深邃神奇的艺术迷宫,呈现出异彩纷繁的多维性、开放性和衍生性,具有开掘不尽的恒久艺术价值。《白鲸》像一座象征主义的迷宫。这里大到典型人物、宏观景物,小到静止的物体几乎都具有多层次的象征意义。本文首先简要介绍了麦尔维尔的生平和他的创作风格以及《白鲸》的相关内容.为下文的深入分析铺平道路。第二部分.笔者着重从广义角度和狭义角度分析了象征主义.并提出了象征主义的相关理论.揭示象征主义在文学创作方面的作用。接下来三部分笔者深入剖析白鲸的象征意义：白鲸邪恶的化身、全能全知的上帝及不可反抗的自然。最后.本文再次强调了象征主义手法的应用的重要性。关键词：白鲸象征主义邪恶上帝自然OnSymbolismoftheWhiteWhaleinMobyDickIntroductionIamthenarrator,announceshisintenttoshipaboardawhalingvessel.Hehasmadeseveralvoyagesasasailorbutnoneasawhaler.HetravelstoNewBedford,Massachusetts,wherehestaysinawhalers’inn.Sincetheinnisratherfull,hehastoshareabedwithaharpoonerfromtheSouthPacificnamedQueequeg.AtfirstrepulsedbyQueequeg’sstrangehabitsandshockingappearance<Queequegiscoveredwithtattoos>,Ishmaeleventuallycomestoappreciatetheman’sgenerosityandkindspirit,andthetwodecidetoseekworkonawhalingvesseltogether.TheytakeaferrytoThePequodleavesNantucketonacoldChristmasDaywithacrewmadeupofmenfrommanydifferentcountriesandraces.Soontheshipisinwarmerwaters,andAhabmakeshisfirstappearanceondeck,balancinggingerlyonhisfalseleg,whichismadefromaspermwhale’sjaw.HeannounceshisdesiretopursueandkillMobyDick,thelegendarygreatwhitewhalewhotookhisleg,becauseheseesthiswhaleastheembodimentofevil.Ahabnailsagolddoubloontothemastanddeclaresthatitwillbetheprizeforthefirstmantosightthewhale.AsthePequodsailstowardthesoutherntipofAfrica,whalesaresightedandunsuccessfullyhunted.Duringthehunt,agroupofmen,noneofwhomanyoneontheship’screwhasseenbeforeonthevoyage,emergesfromthehold.Themen’sleaderisanexotic-lookingmannamedFedallah.ThesemenconstituteAhab’sprivateharpooncrew,smuggledaboardindefianceofBildadandPeleg.AhabhopesthattheirskillsandFedallah’spropheticabilitieswillhelphiminhishuntforMobyDick.ThePequodroundsAfricaandenterstheIndianOcean.Afewwhalesaresuccessfullycaughtandprocessedfortheiroil.Fromtimetotime,theshipencountersotherwhalingvessels.AhabalwaysdemandsinformationaboutMobyDickfromtheircaptains.Oneoftheships,theJeroboam,carriesGabriel,acrazedprophetwhopredictsdoomforanyonewhothreatensMobyDick.Hispredictionsseemtocarrysomeweight,asthoseaboardhisshipwhohavehuntedthewhalehavemetdisaster.Whiletryingtodraintheoilfromtheheadofacapturedspermwhale,Tashtego,oneofthePequod’sharpooners,fallsintothewhale’svoluminoushead,whichthenripsfreeoftheshipandbeginstosink.QueequegsavesTashtegobydivingintotheoceanandcuttingintotheslowlysinkinghead.Duringanotherwhalehunt,Pip,thePequod’sblackcabinboy,jumpsfromawhaleboatandisleftbehindinthemiddleoftheocean.Hegoesinsaneastheresultoftheexperienceandbecomesacrazybutpropheticjesterfortheship.Soonafter,thePequodmeetstheSamuelEnderby,whalingshipwhoseskipper,CaptainBoomer,haslostanarminanencounterwithMobyDick.Thetwocaptainsdiscussthewhale;Boomer,happysimplytohavesurvivedhisencounter,cannotunderstandAhab’slustforvengeance.Notlongafter,Queequegfallsillandhastheship’scarpentermakehimacoffininanticipationofhisdeath.Herecovers,however,andthecoffineventuallybecomesthePequod’sreplacementlifebuoy.AhabordersaharpoonforgedintheexpectationthathewillsoonencounterMobyDick.HebaptizestheharpoonwiththebloodofthePequod’sthreeharpooners.ThePequodkillsseveralmorewhales.IssuingaprophecyaboutAhab’sdeath,FedallahdeclaresthatAhabwillfirstseetwohearses,thesecondofwhichwillbemadeonlyfromAmericanwood,andthathewillbekilledbyhemprope.Ahabinterpretsthesewordstomeanthathewillnotdieatsea,wheretherearenohearsesandnohangings.AtyphoonhitsthePequod,illuminatingitwithelectricalfire.Ahabtakesthisoccurrenceasasignofimminentconfrontationandsuccess,butStarbuck,theship’sfirstmate,takesitasabadomenandconsiderskillingAhabtoendthemadquest.Afterthestormends,oneofthesailorsfallsfromtheship’smastheadanddrowns—agrimforeshadowingofwhatliesahead.Ahab’sferventdesiretofindanddestroyMobyDickcontinuestointensify,andthemadPipisnowhisconstantcompanion.ThePequodapproachestheequator,whereAhabexpectstofindthegreatwhale.Theshipencounterstwomorewhalingships,theRachelandtheDelight,bothofwhichhaverecentlyhadfatalencounterswiththewhale.AhabfinallysightsMobyDick.Theharpoonboatsarelaunched,andMobyDickattacksAhab’sharpoonboat,destroyingit.Thenextday,MobyDickissightedagain,andtheboatsareloweredoncemore.Thewhaleisharpooned,butMobyDickagainattacksAhab’sboat.Fedallah,trappedintheharpoonline,isdraggedoverboardtohisdeath.StarbuckmustmaneuverthePequodbetweenAhabandtheangrywhale.A.IntroductiontoHermanMelville<1819-1891>字体对吗BorninNewYorkin1819,HermanMelvilleisfamousforhisgreatworkMobyDick,whichearnshimaneverlastingreputation.1.Hisgreatsuccessasawritercanbeattributedtomanyfactors.Tobeginwith,itssuccesshassomethingtodowithhisrichlifeexperiences,whichprovidehimwithendlessliteraryconceits.Hewasborntoaprosperousfamilyengagedinimportofforeigngoods.However,familybusinessfailedattheendofthe1820sdespitehisgreateffortstoreviveit.Runningoutoffortuneonland,Melvillestaredhisfirstseavoyageatnineteen,asamerchantsailoronashipboundforLiverpool,England.Later,hecommittedtoawhalingvoyageofindefinitedestinationandscaleonAcushnet,fromwhichhedrawslotsofinspirationtohisworks,suchasaseriesofnovelsaboutadventuresandhisphilosophyoflife.Itisthosenovelsthatpavethewayforthegreatestwork2.NathanielHawthorneexertsaprofoundinfluenceonhim.HavingadmiredHawthorne'spsychologicaldepthforlong,MelvillededicatesMobyDicktoHawthorne,sinceinhiseyes,Hawthornebelongstoanew,distinctivelyAmericanliterature.3.Hiswritingisconsciouslyliterary.Hisrichrhythmicalproseandpoeticpowershowhishighcraftsmanship.Hemademanyreferencestoformerauthorsintheirworks,theBibleandShakespeareinparticular.InMobyDick,forexample,therearemanyallusionstoclassicalmyths.Therefore,MobyDickisregardedasthefirstAmericanproseepic,aShakespeareantragedyofmanfightingagainstoverwhelmingoddsinanindifferentandevenhostileworld.TheliteraryqualityofMelville’sstylemakeshimextremelydifficulttounderstand.Ontheonehand,muchofthetalkinthenovelissailortalk;ontheotherhand,hewroteinanoldstyle.Someofhislanguageisold-fashionedmanifestingElizabethaninfluence.Hedidsopurposelytoraisetheimportanceofthesubjectthathewasdiscussing.Andthereisathreefoldqualityinhiswriting:thestyleoffact,thestyleoforatorycelebratingthefact,andthestyleofmeditation.MelvillewasinfluencedbypopularAmericanoratory,knownastheLyceummovementinthe1830s,1840s,and1850s.Melvillehimselfgavesuchpubliclecturessometimes.Therefore,hewroteasifheweregivingapublicspeech.4.Hisstyleishighlysymbolicandmetaphorical.InthisrespecthewaslikeNathanielHawthorne.MobyDickisatragicepic,aromanceofmoralinquiryaboutthenatureofgoodandevil,andaboutthepowerofwilltodefyfate.Itisanaturalisticstoryofwhale-hunting,yetmetaphoricalandsymbolic.Theshipontheoceanisasymbolofthewholeworldwithpeopleofeverylandsailingacrossthewatersoflifeinquestofitsmystery.Thevoyageisametaphorforsearchanddiscovery.TheshipisoneoftheAmericansoul.TheshipisalsoamicrocosmofAmericansociety.Itcontainsrepresentativesofmostsocialandethnicgroups,andtheirvariousreactionstothechase.MobyDickitselfrepresentsthemysteryoftheuniverse.Thishookhasmanynon-narrativechapters,andthisishowMelvillechangedanadventurestoryintoaphilosophicalnovel.Manychaptersinthehookhavenothingtodowith"thesearchforthewhale;rather,thesechaptersgivefactualbackgroundinformationaboutwhatgoesonaboardtheshiponaroutineday.Itcontainsalloflife.Heusedthetechniqueofmultipleviewstoachievetheeffectofambiguity.B.IntroductiontoMobyDickMoby-Dickisasymbolicwork,butalsoveryinteresting,becauseitalsotothenaturalhistoryandotherproblems.Othertopicsincludedelusions,religion,idealismandpragmatism,revenge,racialdiscrimination,hierarchy,andpoliticsMoby-DickbyHermanMelville,publishedin1851,isregardedastheembodimentofAmericanRomanticism,foritis"notonlyaverybigbook;itisalsoapeculiarlyfullandrichone,andfromtheveryopeningitconveysasenseofabundance,ofhighcreativepower,thatexhilaratesandenlargestheimagination."<RichardChaseP39>Inalargesense,MobyDickhassecuredMelville'splaceinAmericanliteraryhistory.1.SymbolismmakesMobyDickagreatsuccessThestorydepictstheadventuresofthewanderingsailorIshmaelandhisvoyageonthewhaleshipPequod,whichisinthechargeofCaptainAhab.IshmaelsoonlearnsthatAhabintendstotakerevengeonMobyDick,awhitewhaleoftremendoussizeandferocity.Withthedevelopmentoftheplot,Ahab'sferventdesiretofindanddestroyMobyDickhasbeenintensified,whichpromptshimandthecrewtoatragicend.WhatmakesMobyDickagreatsuccessismorethanitsplot.InMoby-Dick,Melvilleemploysstylizedlanguage,symbolism,andmetaphortoporeintonumerouscomplexthemes,includinghistory,philosophy,religion,inadditiontorelationshipbetweenhumanandnature.ThroughIshmael’sjourney,itpresentsapanoramaofthesocietyin19thcentury.2.HermanMelvillewasthecelebratedauthorofseveralbig19th-centuryovelsaboutthesea.Moby-Dick<1851>,thestoryofthefanaticalCaptainAhabandhishuntforthegreatwhitewhaleofthetitle,isnowconsideredoneoftheclassicsofAmericanliterature.Melville'sothernovelsincludeTypee<1846>,Omoo<1847>,andBillyBudd<publishedposthumouslyin1924>.Melvillepublishedlittleafter1860anditwasn'tuntilthe1900sthathegainedhisreputationasoneofearlyAmerica'sgreatauthors.CaptainAhabhatesMobyDick--"thewhitedevil"--becausehelostalegtothewhitewhaleinafight.NowAhab,thecaptainofawhalingship,canonlythinkofonething.HehastofindMobyDickandkillhim.Manyoftheothersailorsontheshipdon'tknowabouttheircaptain'splan.Ishmaelisayoungsailorandthisishisfirstwhalingjob.Heandhisnewfriend,Queequeg,sailwithCaptainAhabonthisexciting-anddangerous--trip.AlsoontheshipareStarbuck,Srubb,andotherwhalersfromdifferentcountries.Heispreparedtosacrificeeverything,includinghislife,thelivesofhiscrewmembers,andevenhisshiptofindanddestroyhisnemesisⅡ.ExtendedmeaningofMobyDickA.SymbolismArthurSymons<2004>said:"NoSymbolism,noliterature".Symbolisminliteraturecameintobeinginthelatterhalfof19thcenturyandlastedtotheearly20thcentury.Itistheforerunneroftwentieth-centurymodernism,aperiodwhensymbolsandevocativesuggestiontakeplaceofdirectstatement.1.SymbolItisessentialtoprobeintosymbolbeforedealingwithsymbolism,sincesymbolisanindispensablemediumofsymbolism.Onlybysymbolcansymbolismachieveitsgoalofbeingmusical,suggestiveandmysterious.Combinedwithbothliteralandevokedmeanings,symbolrealizesthegoalofexpressingabstractmeaningbyusingaspecificandobjectiveimage,whichenablesthewriterandthereadertoseektheimpliedideainaspecificcontext.2.Symbolism"Symbolismcanbedefinedastheartofexpressingideasandemotionsbynotdescribingthemdirectly,norbydefiningthemthroughovertcomparisonswithconcreteimages,butbysuggestingwhattheseideasandemotionsare,byrecreatingtheminthemindofthereaderthroughtheuseofunexplainedsymbols."<Chadwick,1971>3.FunctionsofSymbolismItisPaulValeryinFrench,RainerMariaRilkeinGerman,andW.B.YeatsinEnglishthatcarriedthetraditionintothe20thcentury,andhardlyanymaterofmodernismwasunaffectedbyit.Americanliteratureoftheearly20thcenturyundoubtedlyhasbeenprofoundlyinfluencedbySymbolism.Itisitsgreatfunctionthatmakesithassuchaneffectonliterature.B.SymbolismofEvil1.TranscendentalismandAnti-transcendentalismTranscendentalismisanidealistphilosophicaltendencyinandaroundBostoninthemid-19thcentury.GrowingoutofChristianUnitarianisminthe1830sandinfluencedbyGermanandBritishromanticism.TranscendentalismaffirmedKant’sprincipleofintuitiveknowledgenotderivedfromthesenses,whilerejectingorganizedreligionforanextremelyindividualisticcelebrationofthedivinityineachhumanbeing.TheleadingTranscendentalistRalphWaldoEmersonissuedthemovement’smanifestoinhisessayNature<1836>,whichpresentsnaturalphenomenaassymbolsofhigherspiritualtruths.ThenonconformistindividualismoftheTranscendentalistsisexpressedinEmerson’sessaySelf-Reliance<1841>andinHenryDavidThoreau’sWalden<1854>--akindofautobiographicalsermonagainstmodernmaterialism.TheTranscendentalists’mannerofinterpretingnatureinsymbolictermshadaprofoundinfluenceonAmericanliteratureofthisperiod,notablyintheworksofNathanielHawthorne,HermanMelville,andWaltWhitman.<ChrisBaldickP228>2.TheNatureofEvilAccordingtotheTranscendentalists,Manismorethanthewordgoodcandescribe;instead,manisdivinebecausetheyareblessedwithDivineIntellectawardedbyGod.Hence,intheireyes,evildoesnotexist,letalonedevelopment.Fromtheperspectivesofpsychologyandphilosophy,evilcanbedefinedindifferentways.Inpsychologicalterms,evilisadeviationfromtheego.Anevilegoholdstheviewthatterroristhemosteffectiveforcetodominateothers;hence,hehasastrongdesiretodominateotheregosbymakingterror.Ontheotherhand,thedominatedonesaresubjecttosuchafearthattheycanhardlytakeeffectiveactiontodefendthem.Undersuchcircumstance,anevilpersoncandoanythingtothemastheywish.Bysuchmeans,thereemergesaviciouscircle.Inreligiousorspiritualterms,evilisanaberrationofthesoul.SincethesouliscreatedintheimageofGod,therefore,itispeaceful,loving,happyandeternalinnature.Onthecontrary,evilishostileandcold-heartedinnature,furthermore,itbringsdisastersandsufferingstohumanbeings.3.SymbolsofEvilToCaptainAhab,attackedonthepreviouswhalingvoyagebyMobyDick,thewhalesymbolizesallevilintheuniverse.Therefore,hetakesapersonalfightagainstthewhale.Intheprocessofdestroyingthewhale,Ahabisdestroyinghisownfearsandevilsthatheisconfrontedwithintheworld.Andinalargesense,theshipPequotisthevehicleofevils.Inthebeginning,thesavage-lookingshipisnothingbutatooloftraditionalwhalingindustry.Thedevelopmentoftheplotshascloseconnectionwiththeship,whenAhabmakeshisfirstappearanceondeck,balancinggingerlyonhisfalseleg,whichforebodessomethingawful.AsthePequotsailstowardthesoutherntipofAfrica,whalesareinsightbutunsuccessfullyhunted.Onthethirdday,theboatsareonceagainsentafterMobyDick,whoonceagainattacksthem.Bythen,theevilsaredisplayedtofull:FedAllah’scorpseislashedtothewhalebytheharpoonline;thePequotissunk;Ahabiscaughtinaharpoonlineandhurledoutofhisharpoonboattohisdeath;alloftheremainingwhaleboatsandcrewaretrappedandstrugglinginthevortexcreatedbythesinkingPequot.II.SymbolismofGodA.ViewofGodinAnti-transcendentalismForJewish,Christian,andMuslim,Godisaneternallyexistentbeingthatexistsbeyondspaceandtime.SinceGodisthecreatoroftheuniverse,heisalmighty,unexplainableandunknowable.UnlikeTranscendentalism,whichtakesGodastheOversoul,thesouloftheUniverse,Godisregardedasadestructiveforce,unknowntohumanbeingsandcannotbedefiedineverypossiblemeansandoneverypossibleoccasion.Furthermore,Godinflictspainsandsufferingonhumanbeings,anditisimpossibletofindawayouteventryingtoavoidhimasmuchaspossible.B.TheSymbolofGodIshmaelisthenarratorofthenovelMoby-Dick.ItisthroughhiseyesandexperiencesthatthepanoramaofthefullstoryoftheshipPequod,andthefightbetweenCaptainAhabandthewhitewhalepresentsitselfinfrontofreaders.Atthebeginningofthenovel,thewholestoryrevolvesaroundhim;however,withthedevelopmentofplot,herecedesintothebackgroundasacommentator.III.SymbolismofNatureA.ViewofNatureNature,intheeyesofAnti-transcendentalist,isasymbolofeverythingunexplainable.Forthem,Natureisvastandincomprehensible,reflectingthestrugglebetweengoodandevil;Nature,createdandpossessedbyGod,cannotbeunderstoodbyhumanbeings.InHawthorne'sTheMinister'sBlackVeil<1836>,Anti-transcendentalideaaboutnatureiswellillustratedthroughoutthestory.Theliterat