Essay #5 (10/12/2009)

You've got 3 options this week. Before attempting a response to one of these, you should listen to the class discussion HERE.

Essay #5: Take Your Pick!

Option 1: Risking everything

In Moby Dick Ishmael describes all the preparations made for the sea voyage, but despite all their best preparations they can’t take an extra boat. If the boat sinks, they all die. Captain Bildad says it’s best to simply prepare for death, since no matter what you do you could still sink and die.  But Peleg says you should always try to do all you can to survive. (pp. 104-105)

What does it mean to “risk everything” and why do we do it?

  • Explain why one of the characters in this book is willing to risk so much.
  • Is the character living more like Bildad says to, or like Peleg?
  • Compare yourself, and one of your experiences when you risked a lot, to one of the characters in the story.
    • How did you each prepare for the risky voyage? How far did each of you go to avoid failure…or death?
    • How did your “voyage” compare with the one in this book?
    • Did you risk for the same reasons?
    • In the end, did you live more like Bildad or Peleg?

Option 2: Bulkington goes to sea

The sailor Bulkington can’t seem to stand life on shore. Ishmael says that for people like Bulkington the life on land, with all its hot food and warm beds and good friends, would somehow be the death of them. They can’t stand a comfortable life among friends. (pp. 116-117)

Explain what you can about Bulkington and a real-life person you’ve known who is like Bulkington. Consider:

  • Why do you think a character like Bulkington really might want to stay at sea for so long?
  • Discuss a real-life person you know who is “at sea” and compare them to Bulkington.
    • Describe what it means to this person to be “at sea.” Are they running from something? What is it, and why?
    • What would it mean for them to “come ashore,” and do you think they will ever do it?

Option 3: Your FATE is to choose this option! Unless it isn’t.

Think of all the different views of fate in this book. The crazy “prophet” Elijah tells Ishmael that whatever is fated to happen will happen--unless it won’t. Queequeg seems to think that Yojo determines their future. Other characters have different views. (pp. 100-102)

Explain more in depth what you think “fate” means to at least one of the characters in this book, and compare it to your own view of fate in real life.

  • Describe in as much specific detail as you can what one character in the book seems to think about fate.
  • Is any character in this book able to make actual choices—to “change” their own fate?
  • Compare your own views about fate to what Melville seems to be saying in the book:
    • Is there a time you can point to in your own life when you have made a decision that seemed to change your fate?
    • Why did you choose what you chose?
    • Did “fate” determine your actions in any way?

Hints:

A brainstorm and an outline with some detail are required and must be handed in with your essay. Your outline should show:

  • Your “main” idea—the answer to the big question in the prompt
  • Major points that will help you explain your main idea—the main topics of each paragraph