Like in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and MS found in a Bottle by Edgar Allan Poe, Moby Dick by Herman Melville is the tale of a journey, a quest (= ricerca).The whale has taken on an incredible multiplicity of meanings over the course of the novel. This makes Ishmael understand that human knowledge is always limited and insufficient. Moby Dick itself assumes an allegorical meaning: the ways of Moby Dick, like those of the Christian God, are unknowable (= inconoscibili) to man. Nobody can interpret them and, as Ahab experiences, the quest for them is inevitably futile and often fatal.Ahab looks for the whale continuously, he perceives its presence. The Sperm Whale (= capodoglio) is part of his body in the form of Ahab’s ivory leg (= gamba d’avorio) and the mariner must continue on his quest no matter the cost (= a qualunque costo).The novel supplies also an analysis about the contrast between Civilized and Pagan SocietyQueequeg and Ishmael illustrate the prevalent contrast between civilized, specifically Christian societies and uncivilized, pagan societies. Queequeg’s uncivilized and imposing appearance (= maestosa presenza) only obscures his real honour and civilized behaviour (= comportamento). The real pagan, satanic character is Ahab himself.
The Sea becomes the place of transition between funcivilized and civilized society and also between life and death. The coffin in which Queequeg is waiting for his death becomes the object that saves Ishamael’s life.