分析《白鲸》的象征手法

./毕业论文题目：分析《白鲸》的象征手法Title:OntheUseofSymbolisminMobyDickIntroductionThenovelMobyDick,writtenbyHermanMelville,isgenerallyregardedasoneofthemostpopularandtheworld’sgreatestmasterpiecesinAmericaliterature.Inthisbook,Symbolismisgivenafulluse,providingreaderswithanotherwaytounderstandthenovelandcreatingtheliteraryvalueabovetimeandspace.MelvillewasborninNewYorkCityonAugust1,1819.Hisparentswereofmiddle—classfamilybackground.Hischildhoodwasasecureandcomfortableone,buthisfatechangedin1832,whenhisfatherdiedandleftthefamilywithhugedebts.Thereforehewasforcedtodropout,andengagedinlotsofjobs.Amongthem,theearlysailingexperienceswerequiterewarding.Itnotonlybecameastoreofrawmaterialsforhisvisionsoflifebutalsobroadenedhishorizon.Thatistosayhisrealeducationwasatsea.Oncehesaid"awhale—shipwasmyYaleCollegeandmyHarvard."MelvillebeganworkingonMobyDickabouta"whalingvoyage"in1850whenhewashalfwayinthework;hemetHawthorne,whoisanAmericanShakespearetohim.AsaresultofhisimpactsforHawthorneMobyDickisawhalingtalebasedonMelville’sexperiencesofsailor’syears;thedirectsourceMelville’ssailingexperiencesaccumulatetohiswriting.Inadditiontoadetailedaccountoftheoperationsofthewhalingindustry,thenovelisalsoconsideredasanencyclopediaofeverything:history,philosophy,religion,etc.<洊波.2000.P.80>.Unluckily,itwasoverlookedinitsauthor’stimeduetoitsdeepworryabouthumancivilizationandgloomyatmosphereofpessimism.Melville’sreputation"surgedfromthelesserAmericanwritersintotherarefiedcompanyofShakespeareandafewfellowimmortalsofworldliteraturesothatonlyWhitman,James,andFaulknerwereseenashisAmericanequals."<Gottesman2044>.Hisliteraryreputationnaturallyleadstoastudyofthestoryofthebigwhale.DiscussingontheuseofSymbolisminMobyDick,wementionTheWhiteWhale,Ahab,theshipPequod.Thispaperwillshowthetragedybyanalyzingthesymbolicmeaningofthefactors.ChapterI.EmbodimentofMysticalColorinInWebster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,theword"mystic"means"beyondhumancomprehension;mysteriousorenigmatic"andinthesecondentryundertheword"mystical",itinterpretsthewordas"ofmysticsormysticism;ESP.relatingtoorbasedonintuition,contemplation,ormeditationofaspiritualnature"<Agnes954>.AccordingtoStevenFanning,"mysticismisthedirectintuitionorexperienceofGodoreveryreligioustendencythatdiscoversthedirectwaytoGodthroughinnerexperiencewithoutthemeditationofreasoning.Theconstitutiveelementinmysticismisimmediacyofcontactwiththedeity<Fanning2>.InMobyDick,theessenceofmysticismisnotseeninadirectmanner,butitisinmeditationwithsomesymbols.ThatistosaysomesymbolicdesignsofTheWhiteWhalearecoloredwithaheavymysticalatmosphere.WithregardtosymbolicmeaningofTheWhiteWhale,ithasdifferentviews.Somepeoplethinkitrepresentsvirtueandinnocence,otherssupposeitisasymbolofinnerevil.Stillotherssayitsymbolizesnature.Tosumup,manifestationofmysteriouscolorinMobyDickisattainedbysymbols.1.1SymbolofNatureNatureisalltheplants,animalsandthingsthatexistintheuniversethatarenotmadebypeople.TheWhiteWhaleisananimallivinginthewaterthatnursesitsyoungandbreathesairjustlikehumanbeings.Inlinewiththedefinitionofnature,obviouslyitbelongstoasortofspeciesinanaturalworld.Inthenovel,MobyDickisequaltoimmenseocean,namelynature.MelvilleprefacesMobyDickwithabrieflistofthewordsfor"whale"inthirteendifferentlanguages.Thenheaddsalistof"Extracts"fromvariousreferencestowhalesfoundinliteratureallovertheworld.Oneoftheimportantreasonsofhavingcompiledlistofremarksisthat"Hewantsustorealizethatthewhalehassincetimeimmemorial,beenasymbolofthepowerfulandmysteriousforcesofnature."Meanwhilethewriterexpressesanothersubjectwhichillustratestherelationshipbetweenpeopleandnature.WhenthecaptainAhabcapturesMobyDick,whohastornawayhisleg,itimpliestheinevitableresultofpeopleandnaturefight:thedestructionofhuman.Asweallknow,MobyDickisafierceandcunningcreature,soithaspowerstokillhumanaboard.Intheeyesofordinarypeople,whalesaresuchgreatpowersthattheyarefrightened.Onthecontrary,somehunterswhoaregoodatwhalingalwaystakevoyagestopursuewhales.Perhapsitisawaytoearnmoney.Howeveritisverydangeroustodosoandthisactionmayresultinextinctionofwhales.Finallyitbreakstheecologicalbalance.Neverthelesshumanmustpayaheavypriceandnatureiscapableofdestroyingthehumanworldsuchassomemajordisasters:earthquake,volcaniceruption,flood,debrisflowetc.Inthemoderntime,withdevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,manycountriesmakeeveryefforttopromoteeconomyintheexpenseofenvironment.Consequentlyitcausessomenaturaldisastersasifnaturehadrevengedonpollutionoftheenvironment.Inthebooktheauthorconveysamessagethatifhumanplunderednatureendlessly,humanwouldtakeariskofdyingout.Man,nomatterhowhardhetries,isdoomedandhastoyielduptothemercyofnature.1.2SymbolofEvilToPequod’screw,thelegendaryWhiteWhaleisaconceptontowhichtheycandisplacetheiranxietiesabouttheirdangerousandoftenfrighteningjobs.SincetheyhavenodelusionsaboutMobyDickactingmalevolentlytowardmenorliterallyembodyingevil,talesaboutthewhaleallowthemtoconfronttheirfear,manageit,andcontinuetofunction.ToAhab,TheWhiteWhaleisanevilbecauseittakesoffhislegonapreviousvoyage.AhabisabsorbedingreathatredandswearstotakerevengeonMobyDick,awhitewhalethattortureshimbothphysicallyandspiritually.LateAhabinsistsonchasingthewhale.Inordertokillthewhales,heaskspeopleonaboardtoassisthimbythetemptationofmoney.Duringthreedaysofthewar,theydefeateachotherbyturn.Butonthethirdday,AhabkillstheWhiteWhale,yetallthehumanbeingsinvolved,exceptthenarrator,dieintheprocess.ActuallyAhabclaimsthatMobyDickischieflywhathehatesandhebelievesthatMobyDickisamanifestationofallthatiswrongwiththeworld,andhefeelsthatitishisdestinytoeradicatethissymbolicevil.Fromthetragedy,theconclusionisreachedthatMobyDickthreatensandharmsthehuman,evenkillsthehuman.Consideringhumannature,thepurposeofMobyDickistorevealtheexistenceevilinlifeandhuman’spirit.Thereisaproverb"Nomanisperfect."Afterall,humanisnotGod,andeverypersonhasmeritsandshortcomings.Ineffect,evilisn’tterrible,anditmainlydependsonhowwetreatit.Sometimeswemayshowourweaknessesinreallife,butjustasthesayinggoes,ahorsestumblesthathasfourlegs.Regardlessofourshortcomings,weenjoyameaningfulandfruitfullifeingeneral.1.3SymbolofVirtueandInnocenceInMelville’slife,hewenttoseaatabout20.Graduallyhedevelopedloveforseaandarousedhisdesireforadventure.In1841,hesignedonforalongwhalingcruisetotheSouthSeas.Atthattime,whalingwasanimportantindustryforNewEngland,andpeoplewouldhuntwhalestogetthespermwhichwasusedinmakingperfume.Workingasasailor,hegainedalotofinformationaboutwhalingwhichdisplayssomerealsituationaboutcapturingwhales.Apartfromthesefacts,thenovel’ssettingistodescribetheageofrapidlydevelopingthewhalingindustryin19thcentury,andAhabontheshipPequodisengagedinwhalingfor40years.It’sclearthatitiscommontocatchwhalesinAmericansociety.Ontheotherhand,Americanliteraturegivesauniquesymbolic"white"andculturehasaspecialmeaning.Melvillehasintentioninthechoiceofwhitecolor.Inthecommonsense,thewhitecolorreflectspureandinnocent,andwethinknatureisquiet,peacefulandfriendly.Aslongashumanisabletounderstandpeopleandnatureoftherelationshipbetweensuchco—existenceanddoesn’tdisturbit,naturewillnotdestroyhuman.Otherwisehumandoomstodie.Innaturalworld,theWhiteWhalesliveacarefreelife;theynevertaketheinitiativetoclosetoandattackhuman.Howeversailorstrytoconqueranddestroythem,atlasttheyaretobedestroyed.ChapterII.OntheDualityofCaptainAhab’sPersonalityCaptainAhabisthemainhumancharacterofthenovel.Tosomeextent,justiceandwickednesscanbeobservedonhim,whodemonstratesanadmirablequality:dauntlessness,courage,richexperience;andwhopossessessomefearfulevilpower:monomania,selfishness,despotism.<白凤欣.2007.第34卷2期>.AsthecriticM.H.Abramsstated"suchatragicheroAhabmovesustopitybecauseheisn’tacompletevillain,andhismisfortuneisgreaterthanhedeserves;butwhathemakesusfearisthatwerecognizesimilarpossibilitiesoferrorinourownlesserandfallibleselves."ThewordssummarizetheexistencedualityofAhab’spersonality.Unliketheheroesofoldertragicworks,Ahabsuffersfromafatalflawthatisnotnecessarilyinbornbutinsteadstemsfromdamage,inhiscasepsychologicalandphysical,inflictedbylifeinaharshworld.Heisasmuchavictimasheisanaggressor,andsymbolicoppositionthatheconstructsbetweenhimselfandMobyDickpropelshimtowardwhatheconsidersadestinedend.Ahab’smotivation,personalityanddestinyreflectthetragedyofheroismtemperament.Melvillesuccessfullycreatesthetragicherowhichrevealsthetruththattherelationshipofpeopleandnaturemustmaintainharmonyandunity.2.1AGod—LikeManLongbeforeAhab’sfirstappearance,thereisanairofmysteryaboutcaptainofthePequod.Thefirstwelearnofthecaptain’sappearanceisthathedoesn’tseemtobeillbutlooks"likeamancutawayfromthestake,whenthefirehasoverrunningwastedallthelimbswithoutconsumingthem."NextwearetoldthatAhablookslikeasculptureofsolidbronze;heiscomparedtoanoakorsomeothersortofgreattree.Thecaptainhasaprominentscar,"lividlywhitish,"runningfromthetopofhisheaddownhisfaceandneckuntilitdisappearsbeneathhisclothing.It’scomparedtothemarkofalightningbolt,andanoldIndianonboardclaimsthatitrunsthelengthofAhab’sbody,"crowntosole";wegetthefeelingthatalightningboltpiercedthis"grand,ungodly,god—likeman"<Chapter16>tohisverysoul.Thereisagrimlookonthecaptain’sface,"infinityoffirmestfortitude,adeterminate,andunsurrenderable"willfulnessinhisvisage.ThisisallsooverpoweringthatittakesIshmaelafewsecondstonoticethelegbarbaric,white,ivoryprosthesis"fashionedfromthepolishedboneofthespermwhale’sjaw."Thelowertipoftheartificiallegisanchoredinaholeinthequarter—deck,apparentlyboredforthatpurpose.Thedescriptionindicatesamanlargerthanlife;touchedbyheaven’sbolt.PerhapsheevenwantstobeGod.Ahabrefusestosubmittoanyhigherpoweranddoesn’tworshiporevenacknowledgethesuperiorityofforcesbeyondhim.Ahabhimselfisafearless,braveandexperiencedcaptain,sohehasarichknowledgeofsailingandownssuperbskillsaboutwhaling,whichmakeshimawell—knownsailor.OnboardthePequod,Ahabastheship’scaptainassumestheroleofkingordictatorthatgiveshimtheelevatedstatustofitthistraditionalviewoftheheroMelvillehimselfwrote:menmayseemdetestable;menmayhavemeanandmeagerfaces;butman,intheideal,issonobleandsosparklingsuchagrandandglowing.Indeed,alltheship’scommandersinthenovelshouldexamineinthelightofAhab’scharacterforusingAhabasthetouchstone.Whateverpowercontrolstheuniverse,Ahabwantstoattackitashefeelshehasbeenattacked.ThevastnessofhisobjectivesetsAhabapartfrommosttragicfigures,asdoesthefactthat,evenwithhisdyingbreath,herefusestorepentforhisactions.DespiteAhab’sapparentmadness,hestillseemedabletoreasonclearly.HecarefullyandmethodicallylocatedtheregionoftheseathatMobyDickismostlikelytobein<analmostimpossibletask,consideringthesizeoftheEarth’sOceans>.Whenhefirstsetsail,Ahab’soriginalplanwastohuntonlyMobyDickandignoreotherwhales.Onceherealizesthathismenwillabandonhimiftheydon’tmakesomesortofaprofitwhileatsea,heencouragesthemtohuntotherwhalesandbooststhemoraleofthecrew.Ahabisanexcellentleaderandamanofgreatdepthbutfewwords.Inchapter36wecanseehowhehasledthemenperfectlytotheprecisepitchofexcitementthathedesires.2.Anarchetypalcharacterisacharacterwhoappearsoverandoverinthelegends,andwhobringsdepthbydrawingonyourmemoriesofthelegends.InMobyDick,wecouldseefromthefactthatcaptainAhab’snameistakenfrombiblicalKingAhab.Thisnotonlymakesthesymbolismoffiguresunderstoodthroughthenamesdisplayed,butaddsareligiousatmosphereofthenovel.Ahab’snamejustwhatissaidwould"somehowproveprophetic"<Melville96>.ThewaythatMelvilleendowsthenameofhisherowithitssymbolicmeaningwillletyouthinkthatcaptainAhabwillhavesomethingincommonwithKingAhabintheBible.KingAhab,theseventhKingofIsraelin"FirstKings",commitscrimesandoffendstheLord.Simplyspeaking,heisarrogantandviolatesofGod’scommandmentsrepeatedly.IntheeyesofGod,heisanevilandheinousking,andfinallydiesoffightingwiththeJewishkingSofamiserably.Inthearticle,CaptainAhabisanemperor—likefigure,arrogantwiththeenemiesofGodconstantlyanddescendstohell.BothAhabsareblasphemers.OnthepartofCaptainAhab,heiscourtingblasphemythroughhisquesttofindMobyDickandwillsufferatragicendbecauseofhisactions.Withsomehints,KingAhab’sendforeshadowsfateofCaptainAhab.TheBibleoftheprototypeforunderstandingthearticleplaysasignificantrole.Tosomeextent,MelvilleentersintotheworldsofepicandShakespeareantragedybydescribingCaptainAhabasabiblicalarchetype.InMobyDick,Ahab,themanwithoneleg,isangryinthathisprideishurtandresolvestohuntthewhitewhaletothekill.Hecutshimselfofffromhiswifeandkidsandstaysawaymostofthetimefromhiscrewsoastoavengehimself.Afterthelossofhisleginhisencounterwithhewhitewhale,heholdsGodresponsibleforthepresenceofevilintheuniverseandisbentonkillingthewhale.<王蕾,著妍.2007.P.61>.Hehangsadoubloononmastasarewardforanyonewhosightsthewhalefirst.ThePequodmakesagoodcatchofwhalesbutAhabrefusestoturnbackuntilhehaskilledhisenemy.Herepeatedlyreferstomonomaniacal,whichsuggestsheisdriveninsanebyonegoal.Hehearsofobjection,beingtotallylostinhisownimpulseandhisselfishdesire.Heisegocentrictosuchanextentthathestartstolosehumanity,andbecomesdisconnectedwithotherpeople.HisradicalobsessionwithfindingandkillingthewhitewhaleknownasMobyDickcausesIshmaelandothersofthecrewtobecomefrightenedathisabnormalbehavior.Hehasamaniacalpresenceabouthimandwouldriskhislifeandthelivesofhiscrewmenjusttofulfillhismissiondementedrevenge.WhatAhabseeksisnottheactualwhalebutawhalethatstandsfortheultimatemysteryoftheuniverse.ThisisshowninCaptainAhab’srebelliousstruggleagainsttheoverwhelmingmysteriousvastnessoftheuniverse.Butthesuperioritiescontributenothingtoameaningfullifeifhisardorsswayfromthetruth.Ahab’sblindandpurposelessfuryofthewhaleeventuallydestroyshimselfandthecrewexceptIshmael.IfAhabhadabandonedhisgoal,hewouldhavelivedabetterlife.HereMelvilleintendstotellusmancan’tdowhateverhewantsandsomethingsaresimplybeyondhispower.Thereadercouldreallyexperiencetheinsanenessofthevoyage,andthecrueltyofthemissionthattheyhavesetouttoaccomplish.ChapterIII.TheDestructionofPequodNamedafteraNativeAmericantribeinMassachusettsthatdidnotlongsurvivethearrivalofwhitemenandthusmemorializingextinction,thePequodisasymbolofdoom.Itispaintedagloomyblackandcoveredinwhaleteethandbones,literallybristlingwiththemementosofviolentdeath.Itis,infact,markedfordeath.Adornedlikeaprimitivecoffin,thePequodbecomesone.Melvilleusesthenametorenamethewhalingship,symbolizingitisboundtoperish.AsIshmaelsaid,thecrewdideverythingpossibleandworkedhardthroughtheendlesssea,onlytohaveaccesstotheirdeath.TheytrackedandchasedtotheEndsoftheEarthasaresultofsearchingforwhatdestroyedthem.Asanonlysurvivorplannedtotellthestory,itpredictsthemiserableendingofthePequodandallthecrewmen.Inthearticle,thePequodrepresentsthemicrocosmofhumansocietyandAmericans’soul.Melvilleexpresseshisthemesbythestrugglebetweentheshipandthewhitewhale.3.1TheMicrocosmofHumanSocietyInthe19thcentury,Americawasflourishingintoanindependentcountry.Historicallyitwastimeofwestwardandoverseasexpansions.<伯香.2006.P.399>MobyDickisextensivelyconcernedwithseveralmajordimensionsoftheAmericanimperialisticvisionsuchasthevoyageofPequod.Tosomedegree,itstandsforthisspiritofexpandingintotheoverseas.Whatismore,duringtheperiod,theCivilWarbrokeout.ItprovedthatmostofAmericansthenwereindirestraits,especiallytheBlack.TheywerebreathingintheheavyoppressionofslaveryandthemostfundamentalpurposewasthattheywereopposedtothedominationofWhiteandthattheywouldliketoabolishslavery.Thereforealthoughdemocracybecametheidealofthenewnation,yetlonelinessandself—destroyedindividualismwerethetheme.Theauthorunderstooditandexpressedhisopinionfromthetragicendingofself—destructioninthesearchforthewhale;thelossoffaithandthesenseoffutilityandmeaninglessnesswhichcharacterizesmodernlifeoftheWestareexpressedthoroughlyinthebook.Fromanotherpointofview,thenarratorIshmaelintendstoescapefrommodern"civilization"societybygoingtothesea.Intheopeningofthenovel,itbeginswiththefamousstatementbythebook’snarrator"callmeIshmael".ThereadersareinformedthatIshmaelissotiredoflandlifethathecouldnotbearitanylonger.Themosteffectivewaytoescapeitistogotothesea,sohehasthehabitofgoingtoseawheneverhestartstogrow"hazyabouttheeyes".Hegoestoseaaslaborer,andasasimplesailor.Hedoessobecausehemaybepaidanditaffordshimwholesomeexerciseandpureseaair.Fromanotherperspective,Ishmaelhintsthereissomethingwrongwithourrealisticlife."Theseaisanarchetypalsymbolofthemysteryoflifeandcreation—birth,theflowingoftimeintoeternity,andrebirth."InIshmael’sview,itisonlythroughtheseathatmancankeepintouchwiththingsofterminaltruth;"inlandlessnessaloneresidesthehighesttruth,shoreless,indefiniteasGod",andthusitisbettertodieatseathanonland.Ishmaelposestheideathatacertainclassofpersonscouldoperatebetterontheseathanonland.Ishmaelattributesthistoacertainpsychologicalattainment,claimingthattruthbelongstoseaforitsindefinitequalityandflexibility.Inotherwords,comparedtothemoredefiniteatmosphereofdryland,thesearepresentsadegreeofmysteryandabstraction.Furthermore,incontrasttotheland,travelingontheseacouldseizeanopportunitytobeconfrontedwiththefundamentalsoflifeitself.Bysettingacontrastbetweenlandandsea,Ishmaelstressesthesignificanceofthesea.Thesea,astheoppositeandexpansionoftheland,is"theimageoftheungraspablephantomoflife",wheremancangetaglimpseintothetruthofallthings,soIshmael’sgoingtotheseaishisrequestforthemysteryofthelife.3.2TheAmerican’sSoulAsitismentionedahead,toAhab,theWhiteWhaleiseitheranevilcreatureinitselfortheagentofanevilforcethatcontrolstheuniverse,orperhapsboth.Infact,anevilofsymbolicmeaninginWhiteWhalealsoreferstodefectorshortcominginone’ssoul.Inaword,thatisthegoodandevilaspectsofhumannaturewhichisinnerself.Thoseoutsideoneselfarecalledobjects,whichareimpervioustothedesiresorwillsofmen.Forinstance,theblindcanseenothingbutlightdoesexist,thedeafcanhearnothingbutvoicedoesexist,andthedumbcan’tspeakbutspokenlanguagedoesexist.Melvilleshowsthatevilexistsinhumannature.Ifhumanwouldliketorootoutevil,hewouldbedestroyedbyevil.ThesameistruewithCaptainAhab’sfate.Inaword,whatisimportantisone’sattitudetowardslife.Peoplewhoshownegativeattitudetowardlifearethosewhoknowwhatisrightbutdotheotherwayround.Theevilprevailsoverthegoodintheirinnerselves.Theycan’tstopthemselvesfrompursuingthewrongthing.Justasthesayinggoes,thethingrightlydoneisalways10timesbetterthantodothingsright.Ifonewantstoseethesunset,hehastogotothewest.Otherwisehewillneverseeitevenhehasmadegreatefforts.Thereforethiskindofpeopleisdoomedtoliveameaninglessandfutilelifeeventhoughtheydofightfate.Ifthegoodprevailsovertheevil,oneislivingameaningfulandfruitfullife.AccordingtothebackgroundofMelvillewriting,itwasTranscendentalismthatinspiredmanyAmericanwriterstogreatness.WriterssuchasHawthorneandMelville—wereinfluencedbymanyofitsconcepts.<童明.2005.P.86>.Transcendentalismhasbeendefinedphilosophicallyas"therecognitioninmanofthecapacityofknowingtruthintuitively,orofattainingknowledgetranscendingthereachofthesenses."Transcendentalistshighlightthepositiveaspectofnatureandbelieveintheinherentgoodnessofhumankind,buttoHawthorneandMelville,everyoneispotentiallyasinner,andgreatmoralcourageisthereforeindispensablefortheimprovementofhumannature.Emerson,themostrepresentativeTranscendentalist,tellsusthattranscendentalistmuststrugglewithself—doubt.TheproblemisnotinachievingamystictranscendencethatmomentarysenseofonenesslikeIshmael’smast—headreveries,butinlivingonaftertheexperience,returningfromidealitytoactuality.Emerson’sadvicetothetranscendentalistwhocan’tandneverwillexperience"continuousday"orAhab’slonged—for"reposeofif"istofindaQuakerlycontentmentinwaitingforthelight.Andthisrequiresaperpetualbalancebetweenself—relianceandcommunality.IshmaeltakestoseademocraticallytoconfronthisfearofnothingnessjustasAhabtakestoseaautocraticallytokillthatfearintheformoftheWhiteWhale.Thetwoapproachthematterdifferently.Ahab’sapproachtotheproblemofnothingnessisdenial.In"TheQuarterDeck",heralliesthecrewbyplayingfastandloosewithtranscendentalideas,makingthewhaleouttobea"pasteboardmask"orsymbolofanevilandreasoningforce.Ahab’srhetoricisbadtranscendentalthinkingontwocounts.In"ThePoet,"Emersonarguesthatwecomeclosesttotranscendencewhenwedowhatnaturedoes.SincenatureisourmostimmediateexampleofthecreativeforceofIdeality,doingwhatnaturedoesmeanscreating,andwhatnaturecreatesarepalpablesymbolsofuniversalconcepts.Thustoapproachtranscendence,wemustcreatesymbols.HoweverAhabattemptstotranscendbybreakingthroughandreducingsymbolsanddoessoassumingthatdestruction,notcreativity,istheuniversalideal.Ahabcanappeartoperforminganactofself—discoverybycuttingthroughnature’ssurfaceinordertoapprehenditsideal