Character Study of Ahab : Novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Hello Readers!

Welcome to my blog. Now I'm going to write about the character of Ahab in the adventures novel Moby Dick written by Herman Melville. Let's we look in detail. 

Introduction

"Moby Dick" presents a different world before the reader.Most of part of the story is developed in voyage. So, it is naturally the story has given a chance to the reader to peep into the life of the sailors. All the characters directly or indirectly present the life of a sea like Ishmael, Captain Ahab , Queequeg etc. The writer has described the life of sailors on the ship very minorly.  According to the writer the sea life is full of hardships, troubles and risks. The sailors don't know weather they will return or not. 

Character Studies of Captain Ahab 

Among many characters Ahab is the most important character in 'Moby-Dick written by Herman Melville. In this novel only the white whale is as important as captain Ahab. All the character had good opinion about Ahab. According to peleq,

"Ahab as a good man, not

a pious good man but a 

swearing good man"

Ishmael and Queequeg said that as his name suggests Ahab will meet sad end.

Let's evaluate Ahab with the reference to 'Moby-Dick'

Ahab's oath to his crew

We come to know Ahab's character much better when he took oath to hunt a white whale known as Moby-Dick. This is the whale which had snatched away Ahab's legs. Therefore he decided to take revenge upon that monster. So, the basic purpose of this voyage was to kill white whale. 

In the connection of his oath, he does so as if he were performing a religious ceremony. He serves alcohol to all the sailors and asks them to drink it and then hunt white whale . Ahab become angrey when some one have good opinion about white whale. Once Ahab said to Starbuck, 

"Talk not to me of blasphemy man;

I'd strike the sun if it insulted me."

Moby-Dick As an Evil world for Ahab


Here, Moby-Dick symbolised as Evil in the world especially for captain Ahab. Ahab himself believed that all the world's Evil is Moby-Dick and that is attack on him. The white whale swims before him as monomaniac incarnation. Ahab also takes this task upon him to attack on this evil and decided to end. 

Ahab a man of Egotism

One of the most important factor about Ahab's character is his egotism. He thinks himself to be supremely important. He gives promises to give it as a reward to the sailor who first sees Moby-Dick. One day while gazing at this doubloon, he described his own personality. In sort, what he decides he can do it. 

A man of action, Fearless and  Daring

Apart from all, Ahab is really a fearless and daring man. He is a man of action. He is a dynamic person who never hesitates in his purpose. He does work hard to achieve  his goal on various occasions he himself gets into his boat and chases whales which have sighted.


No one cans see Moby-Dick so, he himself begins to keep a water for it. For three days the chase of Moby-Dick continue sh Ahab was playing leading role to take revenge. His effort to kill the monster by any efforts he always thinks about his purpose not for others. 

His Humanity

Although Ahab possessed passion for revenge and his determination  to hunt down the white whale, yet he has humanity in inner side. It is true that his fixed purpose has crushed everybody's feelings. At that time he sent his wife and son back home.He also takes the mad negro boy under his personal care. Talking to startbuck, he makes a sentimental review of his past life during which he has continuously chasing whales.

He shows his humanity not on his sympathy for pip but also asking Satarbuck not to join in the chase of Moby-Dick and he go with his wife and son even if Ahab gets killed by the white whale. This actions show that Ahab is not any egotism person but also humanity-an person. 

His Symbolic significance

Ahab dies a martyr which may be described as most super human symbolically , Ahab is seeker after truth be the mystery which lies at the heart while the white whale represent mystery and truth. Ahab is represents Satan who revolt against God, who is represented by the white whale from all the point of view ,Ahab symbolised a tragic figure even if Ahab's motive be regarded as evil, we have to admit that he is a Titanic figure.

Conclusion


In "Moby-Dick", Melville's portrayal of Ahab is one of the author's great triumphs in the field of characterisation. Indeed, Ahab is memorable character in the whole range of american literature. We get the feeling that we have actually seen the man and came into close contact with him. He is a superman who meets a sad fate. He is undoubtedly a hero who is vanished by a terrible sea monster. In spite of the fact that there is much evil in this man, he succeeds in emerging as the tragic hero of the book.

In short , the portrayal of Ahab is one of the most convincing portrayals in fiction memo in "moby-Dick". 

Thank you! 

The Heathen : Jack London

Hello Readers!

Hello readers welcome to my blog.This is my blog about the very famous short story "The Heathen". Let's we try to analysis the story in detail. 

Introduction

There was a fashion, a trand to write fiction about adventurous mainly in the middle of the sea. In 19th century American literature 'Treasure Island' by Mark Twain, 'Blow up with the ship' by Wilkie  Collins, ' Moby Dick' by Herman Melville and many other stories about sea life and adventurous are some of the examples of fiction about the world of the sea. The Heathen is another fine example of adventurous journey in the pacific by Jack London. He was a novelist, journalist, short story writer and essayist. One more fact regarding such fiction is that the write's of such stories where themselves associated with the sea life very closely. Jack London worked at various hard labour jobs. Pirated for served on a fish patrol to capture poachers, sailor the pacific on shelling ship  etc.

Here is such adventurous story in detail.

Title of the Story

The title of this short story 'The Heathen' is a strange world. The meaning of this word is a person who doesn't believe in god , an atheist. The narrator meets too, the Heathen during his remains with the narratDor for seventeen years. The story highlights greater qualities of the Heathen. So the title is apt. 

Theme of the Story

The Heathen like many other American stories highlights the adventures in the middle of the sea. It shows how the narrator and Otoo spend life together at various parts of the worlds. It also introduces the character sketch of Otoo  as noble human being. The story shows how a white man, the narrator and native belonging to an Island, development friendship.

Characterisation

  Short Story introduces a small group of characters similarly The Heathen introduces mainly two characters the narrator himself and Otoo, the Heathen. Though this is a long short story. Others character are minor and they have little role to play like other sailors, The pearl treaters, the local inhabitant,Bill king etc.Jack London draws the character sketch of Otoo very powerfully. He is a kind, nobel and more than a family member to the narrator. He is peaceful by nature but when his challenged, he also a strong fighter. 

 Setting

This is an adventurous tale about the sea life.  There for the setting is mostly the sea. The story develops at ship, pots, Islands and the places closely connected with the sea. The pacific, the story begins with the narrator of the ships, pots, Islands and the places closely connected with the sea. The pacific the story begins with the narration of the  the ship the petitesteseam and then many other places are narrated in this story. 

Plot 

Adventure stories highlight the life of sailors mainly the stories related the sea. Story begins with the narrator's journey in the ship petaitjenne, unfortunately the ship meets a storm. There is also epidemic in the ship that claim many lives. Luckily the narrator  is survived with Otoo he meets first time in this sheep. Otoo belongs to BoraBora Island. A coloured man. Then they live together as brother, friends for seventeen years facing every problem. The narrator develops business well with the help of Otoo. He is an assitant, a friend and more than a brother for the narrator. At the end of the story , Otoo sacrifices his life to save the narrator from the shark. Throughout the life Otoo serves the narrator.

  
The narrator himself, Jack London was experienced of the sea life. He had worked on the ship. So his portray of the sea life can be more effective and realistic. 'The Heathen' shows  many aspects of the sea life minutely.He shows adventures, the horror side of the sea as well as the beauty of the sea. His characterisation is also powerful. 


                                       Thank You!

Friendship Poem by Henry David Thoreau

Hello Readers!

Welcome to my blog. This is one of my B.A. studies blog  in which I wrote about most famous poem "Friendship" written  by Henry David Thoreau. In the poem "Friendship" by Henry David Thoreau, he addresses the theme of love and how love is shown in our world. ... "Love is to me a world, Sole meat and sweetest drink, and close connecting link." By making love into this real, tangible thing, it helps the reader see how important love is to Thoreau.

Henry David Thoreau 

American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, Henry David Thoreau was a New England Transcendentalist and author of the book Walden. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. He began writing nature poetry in the 1840s, with poet Ralph Waldo Emerson as a mentor and friend. In 1845 he began his famous two-year stay on Walden Pond, which he wrote about in his master work, Walden. He also became known for his beliefs in Transcendentalism and civil disobedience, and was a dedicated abolitionist. Click here to read more about Henry Thoreau.

"Friendship "Poem by Henry Thoreau 

Friendship

I think awhile of Love, and while I think, 

Love is to me a world, 

Sole meat and sweetest drink, 

And close connecting link 

Tween heaven and earth. 

I only know it is, not how or why, 

My greatest happiness; 

However hard I try, 

Not if I were to die, 

Can I explain. 

I fain would ask my friend how it can be, 

But when the time arrives, 

Then Love is more lovely 

Than anything to me, 

And so I'm dumb. 

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak, 

But only thinks and does; 

Though surely out 'twill leak 

Without the help of Greek, 

Or any tongue. 

A man may love the truth and practise it, 

Beauty he may admire, 

And goodness not omit, 

As much as may befit 

To reverence. 

But only when these three together meet, 

As they always incline, 

And make one soul the seat, 

And favorite retreat, 

Of loveliness; 

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates 

And a kindred nature, 

Proclaim us to be mates, 

Exposed to equal fates 

Eternally; 

And each may other help, and service do, 

Drawing Love's bands more tight, 

Service he ne'er shall rue 

While one and one make two, 

And two are one; 

In such case only doth man fully prove 

Fully as man can do, 

What power there is in Love 

His inmost soul to move 

Resistlessly. 

Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side, 

Withstand the winter's storm, 

And spite of wind and tide, 

Grow up the meadow's pride, 

For both are strong 

Above they barely touch, but undermined 

Down to their deepest source, 

Admiring you shall find 

Their roots are intertwined 

Insep'rably.

In the poem "Friendship" by Henry David Thoreau, he addresses the theme of love and how love is shown in our world. He describes how he views love, and how love is expressed in nature.

Friendship is one of the favourite subject of poet,  Here the title "Friendship" is a short, simple and meaningful as the poem highlights me elements of Friendship. 

Theme of the poem

Thoreau convince his felling emotions  and sentiments by the way of this poem. He has beautifully described love through friendship. According to him love and friendship are both on the same level and are synonyms to each other. 

Content of the poem

Friendship is a well meaning poem. The poet has analyse friendship from it's roots and fount out they are equal and there is no difference between the two love and friendship both are equally important in a relationship, love is the relates feeling in the world as Thoreau begins this poem;

"I think a while of love, and while I think,

love is to me a world"

Love is the base of every relationship. No feeling is superior to love in life. A person with love in his  heart can win anyone and anything in his life. Love can be found many relationship ,such as in couple husband and wife, between parents and children, man and nature, man and animal etc. but love is incomplete without friendship. The poet state mate he is very happy the convey it his friend, he feels love more lovely. He writes,

"I fain would ask my friend how it can be,

But when the time arrives,

Then love is more lovely

Then anything to me,

And so I'm dumb".

The poet argues that the true love can not speak but thinks. A man love the truth practise it, he may admire duty but he can not easily express the true love. The poet also give examples at to  strong asks which stand side by side. They face the winters storm, wind and tide but  they are both strong by root which are inseparable.

In his attempt to determine the limit at friendship Thoreau emerges himself in the Ocean of friendship. His deep exploration makes him realise that the roots at friendship are intertwined, inseparable and undetermined. Intertwined roots of friendship indicate there is no define base of friendship. It can happen between anyone for example there are not set rule to start your friendship with someone in older to have successful friendship. 

Friendship laid on the ground of love will always be successful. End of friendship means and of love. If there is no love there is no friendship. Vise versa true friendship laid on the ground of love is described as inseparable just like no time or age can separate love between two people,similarly true friendship never dies. 

Style of the poem

Thoreau is basically a thinker, philosopher like Emerson. There his poetry governed by taught on Idea rather than feelings. In the present poem friendship he discusses two key element of human life. Love and friendship. 

He has designed the poem into stanza of five lines each most of the lines are short and simple.

"I only know it is, not how or why,

My greatest happiness, 

However hard I try,

Not if I were to die,

Can I explain".

The poet has made use of example of day to day life to convey his idea about love and friendship example The Oak tree.

To sum up

It is Rightly commented ,

"Life without friendship is like wine without taste".

It indicate the role of friendship in our life H.D.Thoreau has also highlighted the same relationship in this poem. This poem conveys a fine massage about the role of love and friendship in our life.

Citation :

“Henry David Thoreau.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 21 June 2019, www.biography.com/.amp/writer/henry-david-thoreau.


Friendship’ Poem by Henry David Thoreau.” Thoreauhenrydavid [Licensed for Non-Commercial Use Only] / "Friendship" Poem by Henry David Thoreau, thoreauhenrydavid.pbworks.com/w/page/73071764/"Friendship" poem by Henry David Thoreau.

                    Thank you!

          

Character study of Othello

Hello Readers!

Welcome to my blog! This my B. A. Studies blog. I wrote here blog on one of my favourite drama "Othello" written by World famous writer William Shakespeare.  We also performed this drama when I have in second year of my  B. A. study.  I played role of Casio. This is very interesting drama and also teach us lots of things. Trust is very important in our life. Othello doesn't trust on his beloved and killed her without thinking and knowing. At the end of the play he realise that his beloved is innocent and he was killed himself. Let's we look the character of Othello in detail. 

• William Shakespeare

Joseph Campbell once was quoted saying,

 “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

 A hero can make a difference by his or her actions and words. A hero may live next door to you or can be someone who is known all around the world. There are many heroes that have accomplished a goal or great deed. A true hero has many qualities such as selflessness, perseverance, persistence, and open-mindedness. To some people, William Shakespeare of England is a hero because of his superior writing.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. He died on April 23, 1610. William was married to Mary Arden. They had three children named Susannah, Hamnet, and Judith. Although they didn’t follow in his footsteps, they admired and supported his work. William Shakespeare's wonderful plays have been performed all over the world. William wrote over 30 plays and 150 sonnets with very unique words in them. His works have been translated into every major language today. Shakespeare’s last two plays were written after he retired to Stratford. Click here for read more about Shakespeare.

    "Othello"  ~ By William Shakespeare 

Wonderful book! Reading Othello can offer you matchless insights into male conscience and psychology. Above all, it helps you understand the meaning of personal relationships in the context of social dynamics and how these things shape our world. Othello's love for Desdemona was real but not as real as Desdemona's for Othello. In a world, where men dominate and a man believes another man rather than his own woman, a wife's love finds it difficult to obtain meaning and value. Iago is a villain who represents the poisonous male dominated society and how the venom it has nurtured for generations is still its nemesis. Women have continued to sacrifice themselves for their men for generations but men could still not return the same love or worship women as they worship their men. Shakespeare proves that Desdemona's love wins but if only Othello had retained his love for her and not felt troubled or unsettled by Iago's treacheries, his life would have become heaven. The tragic drama is a splendid work by Shakespeare and helps you peep into a world where a woman's love is still struggling to find meaning. Shakespeare's characters are amazing and so are his works but the theme of this drama is just matchless and so is the author's candid treatment of the topic. It all begins at a point where a war is over and the winner takes home a beautiful wife as a trophy but keeps judging himself all his life for if he ever deserved her. Shakespeare has poured all his love into the drama for his readers to show how love for love can change the world. This is very interesting book review given by Abhieet Pratap.

Character Sketch of Othello 

Othello is one sense, is by for the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes; and he is so partially from the strong life of war and adventure which he has lived from childhood. He does not belong to  our world and he seems to enter it we know not from where almost as if from wonder length. He stands among the best known character of literary world. Like a magnificent hero of tragedy. Othello's characterisation is glorious and  unforgettable. He passes many distinctive qualities generally a hero should have. He is noble generous, brave, a true lover and a good human being but all his qualities are defected by a single vice that is his suspicion takes him towards his own distraction. Let's analysis his character in detail.

•  Physical Appearance

Othello physical appearance is completely contrast to the concept of hero. He is very ugly looking coloured moor of course his looks very strong and brave but his look does not match with a general handsome looking hero. 

• As a Brave commander

Basically, Othello is a soldier, a brave commander. Perhaps that's why he fails in love, because he takes decision to kill Desdemona  without considering the issue sound mindedly. He has participated in numerous wars, battles  and proved himself  a great worrier. He is so capable that he is given the entire responsibility to protect Cyprus  from   possible alack by the Turks.

• As a lover

Othello is of course a champion in battle fields; he also succeeds to win Desdemona's affection when he narrates his experience of battle field before Brabantio. Desdimona Brabantio's daughter is impressed by him and she falls in love with him. At Cyprus when Othello and Desdemona arrives, we can observe some of the best poetic dialogue by this Romantic lover. Brabantio warns him about faithlessness, Othello replies him,

"My life upon her faith"

•  As Shakespeare's Hero

Like Hamlet , King Liyar or others Shakespearean heroes, Othello occupies a hire level. He possesses a respectable position as the commander in vanashian army. Shakespearean tragedy introduces tragic heroes who are exceptional personalities As S.C. Bradly point out;  

"We have seen already that the

hero with Shakespeare is a person

of height or public importance 

and that his actions or sufferings

are an unusual kind".

  

Othello is a typical Shakespearean hero. We can observe 'Hamaratia means the fall or degradation of the hero.

• His Weaknesses

Every traditional hero of tragedy passes some weakness of fault which causes destruction for him as well as others. Othello fails to understand Iago's intrigues and therefor Iago traps him. In edition to that Othello can not judge Desdemona, his beloved properly. His dearest beloved turns faithless for him very soon. He kills her for know fault of hers failure can be divided into two parts those who only think but do not think and those who only think but never act. Othello is first type of failure who murders his wife without thinking. While Hamlet only thinks and acts very late.

• His tragic end

As it is pattern of Shakespeare's tragedy, most of the characters die at the end of the play with or without faults. Othello after killing his wife and knowing truth about Iago's intrigues, feels heavily , sense guilt. He commits suicide. A brave warrior, A true lover and good matured hero dies winning sympathy from the audience.

• Conclusion

'Othello' is a Shakespearean tragedy. It has a rich characterisation but Othello is a main character of this drama. He is kind hearted man but one misunderstanding create by Iago and he kills his love Desdemona. Othello is an uncomparable character in this drama. 

•     Reference 

•  William Shakespeare.” The MY HERO Project, myhero.com/Shakespeare_memorial_ms_06.
• From teachers lecture.

                  Thank  you!