Moby-Dick and Melville’s Anti-Slavery Allegory

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, American
Cover of the book Moby-Dick and Melville’s Anti-Slavery Allegory by Brian R. Pellar, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Brian R. Pellar ISBN: 9783319522678
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: June 15, 2017
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan Language: English
Author: Brian R. Pellar
ISBN: 9783319522678
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: June 15, 2017
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Language: English

This book unfurls and examines the anti-slavery allegory at the subtextual core of Herman Melville’s famed novel, Moby-Dick. Brian Pellar points to symbols and allusions in the novel such as the albinism of the famed whale, the “Ship of State” motif, Calhoun’s “cords,” the equator, Jonah, Narcissus, St. Paul, and Thomas Hobbe’s Leviathan. The work contextualizes these devices within a historical discussion of the Compromise of 1850 and subsequently strengthened Fugitive Slave Laws. Drawing on a rich variety of sources such as unpublished papers, letters, reviews, and family memorabilia, the chapters discuss the significance of these laws within Melville’s own life.  

After clarifying the hidden allegory interconnecting black slaves and black whales, this book carefully sheds the layers of a hidden meaning that will be too convincing to ignore for future readings: Moby-Dick is ultimately a novel that is intimately connected with questions of race, slavery, and the state. 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book unfurls and examines the anti-slavery allegory at the subtextual core of Herman Melville’s famed novel, Moby-Dick. Brian Pellar points to symbols and allusions in the novel such as the albinism of the famed whale, the “Ship of State” motif, Calhoun’s “cords,” the equator, Jonah, Narcissus, St. Paul, and Thomas Hobbe’s Leviathan. The work contextualizes these devices within a historical discussion of the Compromise of 1850 and subsequently strengthened Fugitive Slave Laws. Drawing on a rich variety of sources such as unpublished papers, letters, reviews, and family memorabilia, the chapters discuss the significance of these laws within Melville’s own life.  

After clarifying the hidden allegory interconnecting black slaves and black whales, this book carefully sheds the layers of a hidden meaning that will be too convincing to ignore for future readings: Moby-Dick is ultimately a novel that is intimately connected with questions of race, slavery, and the state. 

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Centrality of History for Theory Construction in Psychology by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1979 to 2016 by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book French Philosophy of Technology by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Gynecological Cancers by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy of Magnetic Bulk Impurities by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Biorefining of Biomass to Biofuels by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Manufacturing of Natural Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Digital Libraries on the Move by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Queueing Theory and Network Applications by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Stochastic Models, Statistics and Their Applications by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Information and Communication Technology for Intelligent Systems (ICTIS 2017) - Volume 1 by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book The Palgrave Handbook of Race and the Arts in Education by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Micro to MACRO Mathematical Modelling in Soil Mechanics by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book Foundations and Practice of Security by Brian R. Pellar
Cover of the book A Neuro-Psychoanalytical Dialogue for Bridging Freud and the Neurosciences by Brian R. Pellar
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy