Analysis Of The Works Of Herman Melville And Nathaniel Hawthorne

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for him to write. However, the most important impact on
Moby-Dick was the correspondence between the two writers. Hawthorne's
influence proved to be a factor in Melville's decision to write a novel
exploring the "meaning of life." The experiences of both writers helped
them realize that individuals have to figure out their purpose in life for
themselves and that individuality is implicit for a meaningful and
successful one.
Hawthorne wrote in The Scarlet Letter of a tragic "phase of
humanity," the idea that reality must not be ignored but rather accepted in
order to pursue happiness. Hester was a woman who acted on her own, not
following the crowd and Melville carried over the same theme in his novel.
In Moby-Dick, Ahab and Ishmael were a response to the hardship's one might
endure in pursuing a dream. Melville is a tragic dramatist who uncovers
these revelations. He addresses these potential dangers saying, "But while
this sleep, this dream is on ye, move your foot or hand ...

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the crew of the
Pequod down with him, and tries to resist it by appointing himself a master
of destiny. "No longer will I guide my earthly way by thee; the ship's
compass and the level dead-reckoning; these shall conduct me; thus I
trample on thee, thou paltry thing; thus I split thee and destroy thee.
Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted
me...Who's over me?" (Herman Melville, Moby-Dick: Norton, New York, 1952,
p.412) Due to Ahab's unwillingness to accept humility, he took upon himself
what he thought was the struggle of humanity. He recognized his own mi
sfortunes and attempted to fight back. As a result he ultimately suffers
from his denial and ...

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