Imagery and its Power In Herman Melville’s Moby Dick

As Mos Def once said, “What I take from writers I like is their economy — the ability to use language to very effective ends. The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets of words — that’s magical.”(Def, 2002). Imagery is a tool used to import the reader into the text. It adds a depth to writing that otherwise cannot be achieved through normal means alone. There is no question when it comes to the fact that Herman Melville set a completely different tone for American literature in his development of the book “Moby Dick”. In many different ways, Melville took a system of literature that had been cemented in the American identity and turned it on it’s head. one of the many evident ways in which he did this was through his powerful use of words. He used imagery in a way incomparable to that of any other piece. The use of this language comes with effects that capture the attention of the reader, and let their imagination run with the possibilities.

The first example in which Melville applies his masterful use of imagery can be found in his description of the city in which eh lives. Melville uses a beautiful flow of language to describe Manhattan in a way that has stood the tests of time. He illustrates this when he writes “ There now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by wharves as Indian isles by coral reefs- commerce surrounds it with her surf. Right and left, the streets take you waterward. Its extreme downtown is the battery, where that noble mole is washed by waves, and cooled by breezes, which a few hours previous were out of sight of land. Look at the crowds of water-gazers there.”(Melville, 1). This quote describes Manhattan in a way that makes it’s relationship with the sea very evident. Melville uses language such as “cooled by breezes”. The use of words depicted here leaves the reader with a distinct idea of what the setting looks like. Setting is such an essential aspect of this writing, and because of this, the fact that it is well established and or cemented in this words choice is valuable. In addition to this, Melville is already establishing a relationship with the sea in the writing. He uses words that make the reader think oft he vast ocean in ways that prepare them for the commentary this story contains on the ocean. He establishes the importance of the the sea by referring to these “water-gazers”. The fact that people are actively giving attention to the sea sets up a tone of importance regarding the water throughout this piece.

In addition to this, imagery can also be found and analyzed when Melville describes Ishmael’s relationship to the sea. He uses language that allows the reader to picture the ocean in a way relevant to the story. Melville captures this when he writes “ Then the wild and distant seas where he rolled his island bulk; the undeliverable, nameless perils of the whale; these, with all the attending marvels of a thousand Patagonian sights and sounds, helped to sway me to my wish. With other men, perhaps, such things would not have been inducements; but as for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.”(Melville, 1). This quote continue to represent and contribute to Melville’s powerful use of descriptive terms in his writing. Melville’s use of words such as “wild” paint a picture in the mind of the reader. The ocean immediately assumes this identity of viscous and untamed. The reader is lead to respect the ocean and it’s power in the language used by Melville. In addition to this, the fact that Ishmael says “I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.” leads the reader to take on some ideas surrounding the character of Ishmael. The reader uses this language to develop an idea surrounding who this character is. He has a respect for the sea, yet a fearlessness of it at the same time. In some ways, the reader may be lead to believe that Ishmael has a death wish.

Overall, imagery is used in a revolutionary way in Melville’s text. He sets a tone of depth regarding American literature in a way never done so before. Every single words is used as a puzzle piece that plays a small role in generating a bigger picture of descriptiveness and illustration.