Moby Dick, By Ralph Melville

Reading Moby-Dick in the Age of Ecological Crisis Within the relatively nascent tradition of ecological literary criticism, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick has only recently begun to receive critical attention for its environmental themes and content, whereas the environmental movement has long celebrated his contemporaries Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau for their innumerable contributions towards developing an American literary tradition of environmentally centered writings (Schulz 97)

Lionel Trilling once said, "A proper sense of evil is surely an attribute of a great writer." (98-99) Although he made the remark in a different context, one would naturally associate Hawthorne and Melville with the comment, while Emerson's might be one of the last names to mind. For the modern reader, who is often in the habit of assuming that the most profound and incisive apprehension of reality is a sense of tragedy, Emerson seems to have lost his grip. He has often been charged with a lack of

in the works of Jonathan Edwards and Cotton Mather. Their strict Calvinistic, Puritanical views gave their writings a "fire-and-brimstone" type of style a inflammatory rhetoric meant to rouse religious fervor (Baym 103). Both Hawthorne and Herman Melville (another later generation New Englander) would focus some of their most important works of literature on their Calvinist roots. In contrast to these fiery preachers, however, were the mid-17th century poems of Anne Bradstreet, the first published

Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most important authors in the history of American literature and the genre of Romanticism or Dark Romanticism, due to his unique style of writing and his focus upon subjects of Puritan religion and the unknown. I consider Hawthorne an important author, due to the fact that he skillfully and accurately based his fictional writings upon happenings of colonial times, was one of the first authors to display unfortunate outcomes for his characters’ immoral choices according

information from his own experience, Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick, a story about a one-legged captain in search of the whale responsible for devouring his leg, which is considered one of the greatest novels in American literature. Herman Melville, born on August 1, 1819, admired every aspect of literature from a young age. Having lost his father when he was only 13, he was forced to go to work to provide for his family. Writing wasn’t a priority for the young Melville but it was definitely inspirational

The American nation was founded by a myriad of immigrants. Oppressed peasants, religious dissidents and the generally disenfranchised are just a few of those who left an indelible cultural and a political mark on our nation. This is apparent in the literary culture which defines our nation. Starting in the Colonial era leading up to the childhood of the Republic, American literature was primarily composed of religious sermons, folksy poems and old European folk tales given American qualities. However

He met Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Hawthorne was plaqued by debt and the sickness of his wife. Sophia bore 3 children. He was a life-long Democrat. His political connections landed him a job as a surveyor. However, he lost his job because of political

Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the most known authors along with Moby Dick, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and yes, even Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. You’ll think it’s even hard to believe but Nathaniel was actually close friends with all of these people, but his closest friend would probably be Franklin Pierce (a former president). Amazing, right? Well, I’ll tell you where they all come into play in his life, but first I’m going back to the beginning. No, not when the dinosaurs were alive

information from his own experience, Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick, a story about a one-legged captain in search of the whale responsible for devouring his leg, which is considered one of the greatest novels in American literature. Herman Melville, born on August 1, 1819, admired every aspect of literature from a young age. Having lost his father when he was only 13, he was forced to go to work to provide for his family. Writing wasn’t a priority for the young Melville but it was definitely inspiring to

Individualism was also an important topic; the philosophy focused on the individual and its importance rather than a whole group’s significance. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are some noteworthy transcendentalists. In the late 18th century, the theme of romanticism