How Tone is Established in Moby Dick

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Herman Melville was a very creative and intelligent writer for his time. With his usage of figurative language and his many allusions to Shakespeare and the Bible, one cannot fully grasp the depth and perception of Moby Dick. One can never truly understand the full meaning behind the text. The classic novel, Moby Dick, unfortunately, did not become popular until after his death and is arguably one of the most famous works of American Literature. Moby Dick, or The Whale, is often referred to as “The Great American Novel”. In Chapter 64 of Moby Dick entitled, “Stubb’s Supper”, Herman Melville establishes a satirical tone using figurative language and rhetorical devices. Although parts of this particular chapter may seem ironic or hypocritical at times, the overall tone of the chapter is satirical.

Melville uses figurative language to describe the numerous tones of this chapter. “Like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved.” (Pg. 236) After capturing a whale, the crew aboard the Pequod throws the remains of the whale out for the sharks to eat. This simile is ...

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