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The Short Stories of Herman Melville, 2004.
This paper discusses characters who are rebels and nonconformists in the short stories of Herman Melville.
1,145 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 39.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Herman Melville?s short stories, written during the mid-19th century in America, are examples of non-conformity, which would soon reflect the apex of society in 1861 when the country was drawn into the quintessential revolt of man against himself in the Civil War. The author points out that Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," first published in 1853 , contains one of the prime examples of the Melvillian rebel, being Bartleby himself. The paper reviews other tales written by Herman Melville, that also contain rebellious and nonconformist characters: "Benito Cereno", "The Lightning-Rod Man", "The Encantadas", and "The Bell Tower".
From the Paper
"Bartleby, the alienated man who lends his name to the story's title, states several times that "I would prefer not to" in regard to doing his job as a scrivener at a law office on Wall Street in New York City. This indicates that his rebellion is passive rather than aggressive, much like the non-violent resistance found in the likes of Henry David Thoreau, one of Melville's contemporaries. The mystery surrounding Bartleby's strange behavior--why he chooses to rebel so completely yet so politely--is never revealed in the story, even though the unnamed, prosperous lawyer/narrator suggests that Bartleby may be the victim of extreme isolation from working in the government's Dead Letter office. Thus, the ambiguity of Bartleby's rebellion makes this tale more complex and leaves it open to many interpretations."
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Herman Melville: Influences that Made the Man and His Writing, 2006.
An examination of the life and works of Herman Melville.
2,088 words (approx. 8.4 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 65.95
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Abstract
In this paper the author looks at the life and works of Herman Melville. The paper focuses on Melville's personal experiences in life combined with his unique literary style and vision, making him, in the author's opinion, the creator of novels that are considered to be some of the greatest in American history. The paper starts with a look at Melville's early life from childhood through to adolescent and how the experiences he had, shaped him for the future. The paper then explores the writing techniques that Melville used in his story telling and the attitudes to his books at the time they were written. The paper concludes that Melville was one of the greatest authors in American history even though at the time of his writing he may not have been truly appreciated.
From the Paper
"Melville's writing reflects a tremendous number of influences. He incorporates character types, allusions, philosophy, and much more from the great thinkers of his day and from those who came before them. Some of his contemporaries were Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was a good friend, and transcendental thinkers such as Thoreau and Emerson. Whitman was another contemporary influence. Melville also read Shakespeare, Dante Alighieri, and Edmund Spenser. The evidence of these writers is found in Biblical, philosophical and literary allusions throughout his novels (DelFattore 1913)."
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Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener", 2004.
This paper examines the character of Bartleby in Herman Melville's novel "Bartleby, the Scrivener"
690 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, $ 23.95
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Abstract
This paper iscusses the theme of Herman Melville's story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." The author points out that, as a story of self-destruction, the tale is about a man Bartleby who succumbs to the strain of attempting to conform to the rules of a society, which he no longer believes in. The paper relates that the story is written from the point of view of the narrator and his attempt to save Bartleby.
From the Paper
"Herman Melville's creation Bartleby, who appears in his story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", is a man who lives in a highly straightened world. His story is that of a man who at first appears as if he should be able to meet the expectations of his society. Bartleby ..."
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Herman Melville's "Billy Budd", 2008.
Looks at the transcendental core of Herman Melville's novella "Billy Budd".
1,995 words (approx. 8.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 63.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the plot of Herman Melville's "Billy Budd" revolves around the central axis of the war between good and evil by using Biblical and mythical allusions. The author relates that, although Billy Budd seems to be the innocent character, from a religious point of view he becomes guilty after committing an involuntary crime. The paper concludes that the central message of the story is that natural innocence is to be preferred instead of moral truth.
From the Paper
"The character of Billy Budd is drafted on an opposition between the natural and the religious truth. He is at once portrayed as a noble savage, with a natural charm and a baffling innocence. Billy attracts everyone through his natural and pure character, but at the same time, he inspires some of the others with sinful feelings of either desire or envy. His shipmates and the captain also are irresistibly drawn towards Billy as to something incredibly pure and innocent. His beauty also emphasizes the idea that he represents natural perfection. He represents nature in its pristine form, untouched by the usual tinges of civilization. In shape, he seems to be descended from the "unadulterated blood of Ham", an ideal representation of nature and savageness, with an intensely black skin:"[He was] so intensely black that he must needs have been a native African of the unadulterated blood of Ham. A symmetric figure much above the average height."(Melville, 2) His shipmates swarm around him, attracted irresistibly by his natural virtue and sweetness: "Not that he preached to them or said or did anything in particular; but a virtue went out of him
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Herman Melville's "Billy Bud, Sailor", 2008.
A persuasive essay on the novel "Billy Budd, Sailor" by Herman Melville.
1,295 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 43.95
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Abstract
The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the novel "Billy Budd, Sailor" by Herman Melville. Specifically it contains a persuasive essay regarding sacrifice and the possibility of redemption in the novel. The paper states that in the novel, Billy dies as a result of miscommunication, hatred, and lies, yet, he accepts his fate and sacrifices his life for the rest of the crew. The paper relates that civilization should not require sacrifice, but for the sake of peace and freedom, most often, civilization does require sacrifice by one or many to remain free of anarchy and chaos. The paper concludes that the author questions what this says about our civilization.
From the Paper
"He compares other characters to ferrets, horses, and other creatures, and he does this again to separate the characters and indicate Billy's innocence and Claggart's evil. As noted, this also indicates just how closely aligned the characters are to the animal world, a world where the fittest survive, and chaos ensues if there is not order and dominance. Clearly, this applies to life on the ship, as well, and so, the society on board ship is somewhat animal-like and inhuman, which is why society demands for the execution of Billy. He is far too innocent and good to survive in this alien world, and Claggart, the most evil of all the characters, understands this far too well. "
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"Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville, 2002.
This paper discusses the story and writing style in the story "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the story "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville is a true story, reported in a book by the real Amasa Delano. The paper author feels that the story is interesting for the way Melville shapes it so that the reader is led to see the story in one way until a single moment causes a reversal and everything is seen to be the opposite of what was before. This paper comments that Melville made careful use of language and style, but the critics were not always accepting of his work.
From the Paper
"Captain Amasa Delano is the intelligence serving as the focus of the story in "Benito Cereno." The reader learns as the captain learns, and sometimes the reader learns faster than does the captain. The reader can see early that something is wrong on the San Dominick, but Captain Delano accepts what Benito Cereno tells him until the evidence begins to mount that something is wrong. It is not that Delano is foolish but that he is trusting, and he does not understand the nature of evil until after his experience on the San Dominick."
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Herman Melville?s Novelette, "Benito Cereno", 2004.
Provides biographical information about Herman Melville and an analysis of his novelette, "Benito Cereno".
1,616 words (approx. 6.5 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper describes Herman Melville's literary style, his political beliefs that were reflected in his writings, and the circumstances of his life that contributed to his political beliefs. Particular emphasis is placed on Melville's novelette, "Benito Cereno", and how he conveys his feelings about the evils of slavery, as well as the need to correct those evils, in a a way that brings about change in the South at an acceptable pace.
From the Paper
"The year Herman Melville?s novelette ?Benito Cereno? takes place may be 1799, but it represents the conflicting beliefs and actions that were occurring in the United States when the author actually wrote the piece in 1856. Although Melville?s stories and novels mostly revolved around the sea, including his masterpiece Moby Dick, one of his sub-themes was the treatment or mistreatment of one person or persons against another. He was continually intrigued by the ambiguities that he perceived in all human experiences, and sought answers as to what caused human behavior?specifically good versus evil, violence against women, racism, and the alienation of the worker."
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Herman Melville's "Billy Budd", 2000.
An analysis of Herman Melville's novel "Billy Budd". A look at the writing style, use of irony and central themes.
4,870 words (approx. 19.5 pages), 1 source, $ 124.95
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Abstract
An analysis of Herman Melville's novel "Billy Budd" centering on Melville's exploration of authority, as intertwined with other moral and philosophical issues in the novel. Extensive textual analysis is used to reveal Melville's methods of using irony and allegory. Included is a review of the novel and a discussion of the central characters.
From the Paper
"In Billy Budd Melville takes on the issue of authority, complicated by other moral and philosophical issues. The key word here is complicated, as Melville, seems unable to see anything in a simple manner. To Melville, life, like the sea, is a mystery, full of unanswerable questions. As a writer, he struggles to delve more and more deeply into the mystery while we, as readers, sometimes feel we are drowning in unfathomable depths. In Billy Budd, Melville continues the quest he began forty years earlier in Moby Dick. In his white whale Melville embodied everything fearful and unknowable to man. Now at the end of his life, he has a few more words to say on these subjects. It is my belief that if one looks closely at the clues offered by the narrative structure of the story it is quite possible to identify Melville?s position in relation to the moral issues addressed. In doing so, however, one must keep in mind Melville?s critical attitude, his love of ambiguous allegory, his godlike inscrutability and the possibility that to modern ears his subtle satirical voice may sound like perplexing perversity."
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Herman Melville?s "Bartleby the Scrivener", 2005.
This paper analyzes Herman Melville's short story "Bartleby the Scrivener", about a man who withdraws from life.
1,920 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 61.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the story of Bartleby is ambiguous because the reader sees Bartleby's life entirely from the outside, never hearing anything in Bartleby's own voice except the repeated, "I would prefer not to." The author points out that some critics see Melville's image of Bartleby as reflecting his view of Henry David Thoreau and as a satirical comment on Thoreau's writings; Melville was fixated on Thoreau, despite the fact that there is no evidence that he ever met him. The paper concludes that Melville's life is more clearly evident in his sea stories; much of what is thought about his inner life and how it is reflected in this story is highly speculative although the ways he treats other characters faced with authority are similar to his other works.
From the Paper
"It is possible that Bartleby has had some revelation about his life and has come to an understanding of the need to escape it. This is never clear, but Bartleby's way of escaping is clear--he withdraws into himself. Bartleby withdraws into a smaller and smaller space until he is not there at all. In his own way, Bartleby is quite reasonable about his withdrawal, a fact noted by the narrator when Bartleby first makes his declaration of preference: "With any other man, I should have flown outright into a dreadful passion, scorned all further words, and thrust him ignominiously from my presence. But there was something about Bartleby that not only strangely disarmed me, but, in a wonderful manner, touched and disconcerted me.""
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Herman Melville, 2002.
This paper discusses how Herman Melville dealt with gender themes in novels such as "Billy Budd", "Moby Dick", "Redburn: His First Voyage", and "Typee".
1,275 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 7 sources, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Melville's attitude towards philosophical and metaphysical themes. The author's primary focus is on Melville's frank portrayals of what life at sea involved in the Nineteenth Century.
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?Bartleby the Scrivener? by Herman Melville, 2006.
This paper examines the main character, Bartleby, in Herman Melville's, short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener."
925 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 32.95
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This paper analyzes how Melville's character, Bartleby, symbolizes the barriers that surround us, the encroachment of the corporate world and the futility of fulfilling the American Dream, which has grown to be a model for the majority of short stories in western literature. The paper,which includes a brief review of the book, goes on to explain that short stories are written for more than just entertainment and that western literature is one of the defining elements in western civilization.
From the Paper
"Wall Street, the financial institution symbolizes the encroachment of the corporate business. Bartleby and the other scriveners industriously making copies like a cog in the big machine of life. Almost like cattle, being pushed and prodded into a particular direction. Similarly in John Updike's "A & P" the setting of the grocery store combined with the behavior of the customers portrays the same message. "I bet you could set off dynamite in an A & P and the people would by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists and muttering "Let me see, there was a third thing, began with A, asparagus, no, ah, yes, applesauce!" or whatever it is they do mutter" (693). The industrialization of our homeland often leaves us with a belittled feeling and without identity. Melville reiterates these points in this passage: "What miserable friendlessness and loneliness are here revealed! His poverty is great; but his solitude, how horrible!"
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Herman Melville?s ?Moby Dick?, 2004.
This paper discusses Captain Ahab as a romantic hero in Herman Melville?s ?Moby Dick?.
960 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 34.95
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This paper explains that one of the ways that Melville's establishes Ahab's superiority is by naming his protagonist after a biblical king, Ahab. The author points out that Captain Ahab is the perfect example of a romantic hero because he pursues the whale that in a previous voyage had caused him to lose a leg with a murderous obsession, but he wants only information about the whereabouts of Moby Dick. The paper states that, in Ahab, the reader can see exceptional courage, endurance, strength of purpose, and admirable heroic willpower; but at the same time, he is a destructive madman who has substituted egotism and self-love for the humility and self-abnegation of a true believer.
From the Paper
"Ahab is preeminently fearless, a deep diver, a water-gazer, and a philosophical man given, to symbolic hermeneutics. The shearing off of his leg has brought home to him the problem of evil in the world, has in fact deranged him. For him Moby Dick could be merely a beast, but the creature seems to be much more than that; he may indeed be an agent of a malign power in the universe, the principle of evil itself. Captain Ahab is the dark brooding captain of the Pequod. He is portrayed as a brilliant, creative, sensitive as well as competent captain, yet the dark side of Ahab emerges in his obsession of the white whale, Moby Dick. In his mad pursuit, he does not consider anything or anybody (including his crewmembers) else important."
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Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener", 2002.
Analyzes Herman Melville's short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener".
2,945 words (approx. 11.8 pages), 5 sources, $ 87.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the various criticisms of the short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Hermann Melville, about a laborer's life as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The author examines criticisms by: Nichola Ayo, Hans Bergmann, Michael Bethold whom all approach this short story from different perspectives.
From the Paper
"Nichola Ayo in his discussion of ?Bartleby the Scrivener? spends only a brief section of the paper analyzing the character of Bartleby himself (exploring a number of theories that have held Bartleby to be a stand-in or metaphor for Melville himself as a man of letters trying to find a place for himself in a world that has very little place indeed for intellectuals). Most of Ayp?s discussion is geared to an analysis of the lawyer, and whether or not he has acted properly. "
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Herman Melville's "Moby Dick", 2002.
This paper discusses the role of various characters in Herman Melville's "Moby Dick".
1,845 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 59.95
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Abstract
The paper states that "Moby Dick" tells a story of obsession, with the object of Ahab's obsession being Moby Dick, the White Whale who cut of Ahab's leg. The paper discusses that the central character in the story is Ishmael who is curious about the White Whale. The author believes that Pequod is symbolic of human life adrift on the dangerous sea, and the White Whale is the unnatural symbol of death that seeks out the ship and destroys it.
From the Paper
"The different members of the crew each have their own personal journey where the physical and the spiritual meet, and this multiplicity of reasons reflects the dominant idea that each action in this world can have many causes and many consequences. For Ishmael, the telling of the story is announced in the first line, "Call me Ishmael" (29). For Ahab, the entire journey is directed to one goal--to find Moby Dick. Stubb tells him that as long as they are making this trip, they should capture other whales and fill the casks as they would do on a "normal" voyage. Ishmael is also on a spiritual journey: he is perhaps the most aware individual on the ship. His specific purpose in going to sea is to learn about life and to achieve a closer connection with the natural world and the world of man both, though at first he speaks as if his journey is only a way to break the routine:"
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Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed" and Herman Melville's "Moby Dick", 1994.
This paper examines the problem of individual freedom as represented in two novels, Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed" and Herman Melville's "Moby Dick": Main characters are doomed and controlled by irrational urges beyond their control.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 2 sources, $ 47.95
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From the Paper
"This study will examine the problem of individual freedom as it is represented in two novels, Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed" and Herman Melville's "Moby Dick". The study will argue that both authors are portraying human beings as creatures controlled by urges and impulses beyond their control. In this context, the books are arguments against individual freedom, at least in the specific cases illustrated in the two novels.
Melville paints the picture of an obsessed man driven to revenge against the whale who took his leg. Dostoyevsky paints the picture of many obsessed men who try to change a country but who in the process lose themselves.
The lesson which Ahab refuses to learn is the lesson that he is not God, that his only real freedom is surrendering to God that drive to vengeance so that he can remain a sane human being."
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