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Grant Hugus Mr. Slider American Lit. 11/18/10 A Formalistic Approach to the Work of Moby Dick Do you ever look out the window and ask for something more, something beyond living a land lubbers life? Moby dick accomplishes just that through vivid character descriptions and a realistic storyline, you can be sitting at home and delve into the world of water. Most all stories have characters of some sort, but Moby Dick has descriptions that make you feel that you are witnessing the person first hand. Ahab is one of the more well described characters in this book, There seemed no sign of common bodily illness about him, nor of the recover from anyHis whole high, broad form seemed made of solid bronze, and shaped in an unalterable mold...Threading its way out from among his gray hairs, and continuing right down one side of his tawny scorched face and neck, till it disappeared in his clothing, you saw a slender rod like mark, lividly whitish (277). He naturally comes off to the reader as a strikingly well weathered sea bearing man, with battle marks and aging to prove it. In retrospect, many other authors do make good descriptions about their characters, but not always as striking as in Moby Dick. It takes a lot for a story to actually make you feel a part of it. In Moby Dick the descriptions that are used to establish setting are realistic enough to make even the most brain dead person be able to imagine the place or setting in question. Nevertheless, ere long, the

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warm, warbling persuasiveness of the pleasant holiday weather we came toFor, as when the red-cheeked dancing girls, April and May, trip home to the wintry, misanthropic woods, even the barest, ruggedest, most thunder-cloven old oak will at least send forth some few green sprouts to welcome such glad-hearted visitants (278). Descriptions like this can, and most likely will have readers deeply imagining the warmth of the breeze and the pleasantness of the weather. Unlike some stories where a description of the weather or temperature could be very simply and without passion put as The weather was cold, snow was on the ground, and ice cycles hung from the rafters. This would be combated with the famous phrase Show, dont tell and in this instance, would hold some very good ground for a case against this particular description. Moby Dick does tell the audience that the weather is warm, and pleasant, but then goes on to describe how the warmth feels and it would be very difficult for a reader to look at that passage, read it and still come up empty handed as to how fantastic the weather is. In comparison to other stories, not all mind you, but some, Moby Dick has found a way to stand out and accomplish a sense of reality. Pushing the intriguing descriptions, of characters and surroundings alike, the author has made a fantastic effort to place the audience in the story. Along with the sounds and senses described in this story, it should make the reader feel as if it is their own personal three dimension theatre with surround sound and proper snacking essentials.

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Work Cited Melville, Herman. Moby Dick, (277-278) 11/18/10