6/9 ...niceee... **winky face**

Index

I. Reflection

II. Markets

Reflection

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is a novel by Melville, that was first published in 1851. It tells the story of the obsessive quest for revenge of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, against Moby Dick, the giant white whale that on a previous voyage bit off his leg at the knee.

The novel is set in the early 19th century and begins with Ishmael (“call me Ishmael”), a young man who is looking for a job on a whaling ship. He signs on with the Pequod, which is commanded by the mysterious Ahab. Ahab is a driven man who is obsessed with finding and killing Moby Dick. He believes that if he can kill Moby Dick, he will achieve greatness (sorta, he also is just obsessive over the whale, either out of hatred, revenge, spite or something maddening).

The Pequod sets sail and travels to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, the crew encounters a variety of challenges, including storms, whales, and other ships. Ahab's obsession with Moby Dick grows stronger and stronger, and he becomes increasingly reckless.

Finally, the Pequod encounters Moby Dick. Ahab orders his crew to attack, but Moby Dick is too powerful, quite literally tossing their lifeboats like it’s nothing. The Pequod is destroyed and all but Ishmael are killed. Ishmael is rescued by another ship and survives to tell the tale.

Moby-Dick is a complex and challenging novel that has been interpreted in many different ways. It is a story about the dangers of obsession, the relationship between man and nature, and the nature of evil.

It is also one of my most favorite novels of all time.

The reason is because I was told a theory about it that you won’t hear anywhere else. When you read the book, and decide what it means, such as its a book about obsession, it is actually your own interpretation of how you view the world. The book was written to be a mirror to the reader and in it reveal our own thoughts, and views on life. It is so layered with so many symbols and themes (on top of it being incredibly dense, but modern graphic novels and revisions make it easier) that it is like a kaleidoscope. It shifts with the lighting what you see.

On top of it potentially revealing what your own views and biases are, it should also reveal to you a small lesson. That life can be viewed many different ways, just as Moby Dick can be interpreted in many different ways. It is often times where we put ourselves, and what lighting we choose that creates what we experience in life. I am not being idealistic in that if you just wish it, something will manifest. What I am saying is that often times, how we interpret what happens to us is one of our greatest assets. Our attitude and how we treat others and how we react to situations are our biggest sources of power. It says more to me how I carry myself. That I show greater restraint and strength by demonstrating kindness and compassion to others, while knowing I don’t have to be that way. I am stronger for wanting to build up my own life, and build up others around me.