NCHS AP English Language

Ch 2 Analysis of Moby Dick- Jray & Smittie

Chapter two refers to the biblical Tophet and Lazarus of the bible, which relates to the allegory of the cave written by Plato. Tophet is a biblical term for Hell, which Ishmael relates to the town, inns, and the strangers all around. The Lazarus most likely represents the poor people in the town because Lazarus was a beggar in the bible. I think the setting of the story reflects the mood of the narrator, dark and dreary. He is lost in the world and looking for refuge, but all he finds in this town is dilapitated and threatining sights. At one point he walks into a church service with a black priest preaching about darkness and despair, which he refers to as Tophet (hell). Another biblical referece ,euroclydon, talks about a constant wind that chills the residents through their body making it extremely difficult to become comfortable. Lastly, the Spouter Inn fits the narrator perfectly because the whole point of the book is going whale hunting, and whales have spouts. This is our interpretation of the allusions in chapter two.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 8:06 AM