Introduction
Director John Huston’s 1956 take on Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick masterfully employs symbolism to dramatize the book’s central conflicts regarding religion, humanity’s relationship with nature, and obsession leading to destruction. The foremost symbol is the whale itself. Its unearthly whiteness echoed in the albatrosses that circled it, connecting it to the supernatural and divine. When crewmen predict its immortality and supposed ubiquity across oceans, it becomes symbolic of a god – but a savage, indifferent one bringing death, not salvation.
The Symbol of the Whale
Melville suggests that the whale represents the cosmic divine, an embodiment of supernatural power and inscrutability that humbles mortal man. Stubb says that “if God ever wanted to be a fish, he’d be a whale.” (Huston 0:05:53 – 0:05:57). EvenMoby Dick’s color, white, can be seen as a symbol of its divinity. When First Mate Starbuck warns Ahab that “To be enraged with a dumb brute that acted out of blind instinct is blasphemous.” (Huston 0:51:17 – 0:51:24). He sets up the whale as a symbol of forces man must not challenge lest he court destruction by violating natural law.
This symbol negotiates the novel’s central tension between humble acceptance of one’s place and proud rebellion against the apparent random injustices of fate. When the Pequod sinks in the final confrontation, the whale demonstrates the perils of defiant overreach: Ahab – defiant to the last, “From Hell’s heart I stab at thee, for hate’s sake” (Huston 1:48:55 – 1:49:04) as his crew drowns around him, a warning against proud rebellion.
Simultaneously, the loss of pious Starbucks signals that faith is no amulet against calamity; man has no bargains with or protections from the cosmic power the whale represents. The whale’s attack on the Pequod symbolizes Nature’s brutality. Ishmael survives by floating on Queequeg’s coffin. This highlights the importance of friendship and humility during crises.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Huston’s 1956 adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick deftly explores deep themes of religion, the relationship between humans and nature, and the pernicious effects of obsession by utilizing symbolism. The white whale is a potent symbol, representing the cosmic force’s heavenly and feral sides. In addition to warning against defiant overreach and highlighting the futility of faith in the face of nature’s harsh indifference, Melville’s story highlights the delicate balance between humility and rebellion.
Work Cited
Moby Dick. Directed by Huston J. Moulin Productions, 1956. YouTube. Web.