Changes

'''''Moby-Dick''''' (full title: '''''Moby-Dick, or, the Whale,''''') a [[novel]] by [[Herman Melville]] published November 14, 1851, is considered one of the finest novels in the [[English]] language. Initially a sales flop, it was not recognized as a great literary work until the 1920's.  Totaling 212,758 words, this novel is longer than most.

'''''Moby-Dick''''' (full title: '''''Moby-Dick, or, the Whale,''''') a [[novel]] by [[Herman Melville]] published November 14, 1851, is considered one of the finest novels in the [[English]] language. Initially a sales flop, it was not recognized as a great literary work until the 1920's.  Totaling 212,758 words, this novel is longer than most.

The facts (which take up about 1/3 of the text, the remaining 2/3 of the book is more of an encyclopedia of the American whaling industry) concern an obsession by one Captain Ahab to hunt and kill an albino whale named Moby-Dick, in revenge for the whale's prior attack on Ahab leaving him with only one leg.  The novel addresses the human struggle for meaning, happiness, and salvation.  Historians view ''Moby-Dick'' as the epitome of American [[Romanticism]].  "Call me Ishmael" is the famous beginning of the book, and it cites other biblical figures and themes throughout its story.

The facts (which take up about 1/3 of the text, the remaining 2/3 of the book is more of an encyclopedia of the American whaling industry) concern an obsession by one Captain Ahab to hunt and kill an albino whale named Moby-Dick, in revenge for the whale's prior attack on Ahab leaving him with only one leg.  The novel addresses the human struggle for meaning, happiness, and salvation.  Historians view ''Moby-Dick'' as the epitome of American [[Romanticism]].  "Call me Ishmael" (the narrator) is the famous beginning of the book, and it cites other biblical figures and themes throughout its story.

The story begins with a lengthy onshore prelude. The narrator decides to enlist as a [[sailor]]:

The story begins with a lengthy onshore prelude. Ishmael decides to enlist as a [[sailor]]:

{{quotation|Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.}}

{{quotation|Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.}}

He leaves [[Manhattan]] for [[Nantucket]], then the whaling center of America. He takes lodging in an inn where he must share a bed with another sailor. Significantly, he chooses not to object to his bedmate's race or religion.

He leaves [[Manhattan]] for [[Nantucket]], then the whaling center of America. He takes lodging in an inn where he must share a bed with another sailor. Significantly, he chooses not to object to his bedmate's race or religion.

Captain Ahab and the crew fail in their attempt to kill Moby-Dick.

Captain Ahab and the crew fail in their attempt to kill Moby-Dick and only Ishmael survives the attempt.

== Reception ==

== Reception ==