Home > In Search of Moby Dick Summary & Study Guide > In Search of Moby Dick Group > Discussion Board

When I read the book, there was nothing that I could find, because when I read a book, I dont really pay attention to that stuff, so I kind of need your help.

One strong point about "In Search of Moby Dick" are that the author brings a literary classic ("Moby Dick") to life and grounds it in reality. Another is the quality of the writing. The descriptions are clear, even vivid. As far as weaknesses, I would argue that the following elements are weaknesses.1) In trying to show which elements of Melville's great work are not based on historical fact, the author sort of misses the point.2) The author sounds intellectual, and makes his quest conceptual. Melville's—and Ahab's—were emotional and passionate.3) The author sounds a bit self-important for my tastes.

Perhaps the greatest weakness of this novel is that Melville digresses from his narrative too often.  For example, there are chapters filled with detailed descriptions of the types and sizes and composition of whales and of the aspects of whaling and composition of ships.

These digressions tend to mitigate the power of the metaphysical aspect of the novel: the question of whether a spectre-like whale can think and initiate evil against man.  Captain Ahab seeks answers from the great whale that has robbed him of his leg:  "All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks.  But in each event--in the living act, the undoubted deed--there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the molding of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.  If man will strike, strike through the mask!"

Melville explores the metaphysical question of "striking through the mask" and uncovering the meaning of Nature, especially embodied in Moby Dick whose "outrageous strength and inscrutable malice sinewing it" baffle Ahab.