The Pusher and the Sufferer: An Unsentimental Reading of "Moby Dick"

by Suzanne Stein

Overview

Explores the nature of Melville's relations to his reader in Moby Dick, arguing that Melville and his narrator Ishmael are so dazzled, so completely seduced by the Ahab's charismatic charm that they, along with most readers and critics, are unable to see Ahab's character clearly confusing his demonism for tragic heroism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815339595
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/22/2000
Series:	Studies in Major Literary Authors , #2
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction: Uses of Melancholy 1. The World as Will 2. Narcissism 3. Seduction 4. Fusion Selected Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

This analysis of questions the premise upon which thousands of pages of Melville studies are founded: namely, that Ishmael is a candid, reliable narrator capable of seeing, comprehending, and dispassionately rendering his story and its protagonist, Ahab. This reading demonstrates instead that Ishmael is unreliable, and that the narrative strategy of mesmerizing readers raises major questions about how clearly Melville could see Ahab, and whether the author was not himself dazzled and mesmerized by his creation. Discusses the narrator and protagonist in light of literature about narcissism, and examines the imagery of trance and seduction that permeates the novel. Author information is not given. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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