top of page

Enviro-Melville

 

 

the underlying environmental tone in the works of Herman Melville

 

Travis Smith | ENGL 4997 | Marquette University

Introduction

An environmental conscience does not have to manifest itself in firsthand activism against the perceived doomsday eco-crisis that many believe is an imminent threat to our world today.  An ecocritical mind does not have to be proven and actualized through participation in groups like Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, or any other “Green” organization.  In fact, an environmental conscience is often manifested in pure attitude that shows respect for the natural world and criticism of those who harm it.

Mindsets such as these were prominent long before the realization of threats such as global warming and animal extinction due to pollutants.  People like Thoreau, Emerson, and even Whitman often displayed affection for the earth and its wonders in their writing.  One of the most prominent authors to utilize a environmental voice in his works is Herman Melville, the nineteenth-century novelist known for his nautical-based essays and stories.  It is in Melville that this website has particular interest, for while his ecocritical themes and earthly praises may not be as obvious as those 

This website takes readers through four of Melville’s main works, applying a certain ecocritical theme to each of them.  In Moby-Dick, Melville’s best-known epic of a tale, we will look at his comments on animal rights and his ultimate dream of suggesting a universal conscience where humans develop empathy for whales instead of viewing them solely as a resource.  The Typee portion examines indigenous lands and 

from someone like Thoreau, they are prevalent nonetheless and parallel many of today’s environmental efforts.

In "Concluding Thoughts," we will cite our sources, take a minute to reflect on the environmental themes that are displayed in each of the examined works, and wrap them together to produce key points that readers of Enviro-Melville should take away. Enjoy!

analyzes both Melville’s critique of the polluting consequences of Western settlement and descriptions of what he perceives as the simple and ideal life of native peoples.  In Redburn, the narrative account of Melville’s first voyage at sea, we will look at how he comments on the sustainable consequences of city life and takes a philosophical approach to adopting an environmental conscience as well. Finally, in “The Encantadas,” we will walk through Melville’s Romantic descriptions of the Galápagos Islands and remark how even pure wonder and awe at the stunning beauty of raw, isolated nature promotes environmental consideration.

Images from top to bottom:

- 2001 Penguin of Moby-Dick (work cited in Enviro-Melville)

http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Dick-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe-Edition/dp/0142000086

- 1996 Penguin Edition of Typee (cited in Enviro-Melville)

http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/1108/mcms.html

- 1976 Penguin Edition of Redburn (cited in Enviro-Melville)

orginal image

- Image of "The Encantadas" Essay Cover Art (references in Enviro-Melville come from edition in Piazza Tales) http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WjGH-ipSMcw/hqdefault.jpg

bottom of page