An Eco—critical Perspective of the Relationship between Man and Nature in Moby Dick By Liu Jin and Sun Bin

襄州區(qū)二中 柳進

襄州區(qū)二中 孫斌

Moby Dick，by Herman Melville，one of the important American novels in the 19th century， was published in 1851.The relationship between whalers and the whale can be regarded as the relationship between human beings and nature. The tragic ending gives a caution to human beings.

This thesis analyzes their relationship in an eco-critical perspective in Moby Dick through two parts.The first part is about human beings’ attitude towards whales，including Ishmael，Ahab，Starbuck and Queequeg in Moby Dick in an eco-critical perspective.All the whalers from different classes have different attitudes，which are harmonious and inharmonious，towards Moby Dick.The second part is about the natural thing，including Pequod， Moby Dick and sea in Moby Dick in an eco-critical perspective.

Eco-criticism originated from Europe and America in the later of 20th century. The reason why it comes into being is the ecological crisis on the earth.So some writers want to draw the people’s attention on the environment by their works.In this thesis，I will analysis the main characters with perspective of eco-criticism.It helps to dig out the practical significance of Moby Dick and then rouse man’s environmental awareness，which is good to make man respect nature and get along well with nature.Key words：Moby Dick；eco-critical；human being；nature； harmonious An Eco-critical Perspective View of Human Beings in Moby Dick

（1）Ishmael’s Harmonious Attitude Towards Whales。The novel starts with “call me Ishmael”. Ishmael recalled his experience to hunt whales， what he saw and heard during the voyage and stated the knowledge about cetology.He is not only a narrator but also a junior member of the crew of the Pequod. There are two different significances to set on the voyage：one is as a sailor；the other is as a narrator.Unlike to Ahab and Starbuck， he wants to explore the relationship between human beings and nature and regards nature as equal as human beings. Ishmael has little or no money in his purse， and is not interested in anything on the shore. He wants to see the watery part of the world.

During the rest of the voyage，he gradually becomes a narrator who recalls the experience on Pequodand explains the mystery between man and nature.He thinks the white color of Moby Dick symbols nature or the universe which is objective and neutral.The purpose of his voyage is not to kill whale and to make money but to explore the mystery of nature. During the voyage，he appears as a narrator to describe the scene of hunting whales.

（2）Man’s “Unusual” Actions for Whales。Ahab and Moby Dick As an avenger， Ahab is a mysterious person. “it was one of those less lowering， but still grey and gloomy enough mornings of the transition， when with a fair wind the ship was rushing through the water with a vindictive sort of leaping and melancholy rapidity，that as I mounted to the deck at the call of the forenoon watch，so soon as I levelled my glanced towards the taffrail， foreboding shivers ran over me. Reality outran apprehension；Captain Ahab stood upon his quarter-deck.”This kind of atmosphere makes Ahab strange and mysterious.He is an ace at hunting whales.He spends most of his time on the ocean and regards the ocean as his own farm.He kills many whales. However，one of his legs is killed by a white whale，which throws huge damage on his body and mind. It doesn’t make him depressed，but he is in high spirits to avenge himself on the white whale.Revenge on the white whale becomes the meaning and value of his life.As an experienced hunter，Ahab lost one of his legs.He could have spent his remaining years in comfort， but he doesn’t. He installed an artificial leg made of whale bone and continues his hunting.He swears to kill the white whale at all costs.He promises to give the gold piece to anyone who first sees Moby Dick.The harm to Ahab is due to Moby Dick’s self-protection. Anything can’t change Ahab’s mind. And at last，the prediction comes true. He was killed by Moby Dick when he tries to kill his enemy.

（3）Starbuck and Moby Dick。The chief mate of the Pequod is Starbuck， who is a native of Nantucket. He is a Quaker by descent and convinced Christian. The Christian think nature is God’s gift to humanity and a tool for human use.They also think nature is a tool which is used to punish human beings by God.So human beings must comply with nature. Influenced by the traditional culture，the Christian suffer from the belief crisis. They are in obedience to God as well as against themselves. Starbuck is a typical example in Moby Dick.

Ⅲ. An Eco-critical View of Nature in Moby Dick

（4）Pequod： A “Living” Desolated Island。Pequod is such a rare old craft， which is painted a gloomy black and covered in whale teeth and bones.Its materials come from all over the world，such as masts from Japan， decoration from ocean and wood from America.And it is adorned like a primitive coffin.Pequod undergoes the typhoons and calms of the four oceans and suffers from long seasoned and weather-stained.The whole voyage of the Pequod is to kill the Moby Dick.

All the crews， from different kind of classes on Pequod，are a epitome of America. It is a ship superficially， while it is a carrier of desire. Its mission is to pursue wealth，to subsistent and revenge. In order to finish the mission， it has no choice but to kill many whales on the voyage. Every sense of hunting whales is dangerous and bloody. Before desire and interests， everything seems insignificant. Whalers devoted themselves to hunting whales. During the hunting， we can’t see anything except the whale oil and the satisfaction. In order to finish the mission， hunting Moby Dick is without wiggle room. Ahab’s revenge is the clue of the whole novel.

（5）Whales： Secret but Powerful Forces of Nature。Moby Dick possesses different symbolic meanings for different individuals. The White Whale is a legendary concept to the Pequod’s crew.It can be used to transfer their anxieties about their frightening and dangerous jobs.There are many experiences of the sailors about Moby Dick. Sometimes it is calm and peaceful， but sometimes it is a horrific sea monster. For Ahab，“all that most madden and torments； all that stirs up the lees of things；all truth with malice in it；all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain； all the subtle demonisms of life and thought； all evil， to crazy Ahab， were visibly personified， and made practically assailable in Moby Dick.”P203 It symbols fear or evil literally. It is Ahab’s destiny to eradicate this symbolic evil. For Ishmael，it not only symbols the nobleness and tranquility，but also symbols the horror death. It is an incorporation of all contradictory things in the universe. It makes Ishmael understand that he should not destroy nature but explore the mystery of nature.

Conclusion

Moby Dick is the research object in this thesis. It is used to inspire people to recognize the important role of nature and come to understand the balance of ecosystem. Moby Dick is regarded as an evil book. It is not until the 1920s that the ecological value is discovered and accepted by readers.At the very beginning of industrial civilization，Herman Melville foresees the seriously ecological crisis caused by the over-exploring nature. But people do not attach much importance on it and then suffer from their action.In this thesis， I analyze the relationship between human being and nature in the view of eco-criticism. The main characters in Moby Dick die except Ishmael in the hunting of The White Whale， which tells that human beings will take the consequences if they still continue the uncontrolled exploitation and the unlimited use.

I hope our human beings will pay much attention to the environment and don’t do the thing for the immediate interests but for the long-term interests. This is the main purpose of this thesis. Besides， I hope this thesis will make a foundation for the following researchers.But in fact， there are some other shortcomings in this thesis， for example， the lacking of evidences.