The Reproduction of Homosocial Domesticity Aboard the Pequod in Melville’s Moby Dick

Citation

Liu, Grace (2023) The Reproduction of Homosocial Domesticity Aboard the Pequod in Melville’s Moby Dick. Other, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/cjv8-8792. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechThesis:06162023-221050696

Abstract

[Introduction] In the 19th century, American society expected men and women to occupy entirely different worlds. Gender norms dictated that women belonged at home, in the domestic realm, where they performed routine household tasks and provided comfort and emotional support to their family. On the other hand, these norms encouraged men to pursue adventure and passion, and ideals of masculinity revolved around power and individuality. On the surface, the setting of a whaling boat is the perfect realization of the masculine sphere, as a group of men leave the domestic shore to travel the world, while reaping economic benefit and asserting power over nature by killing the seemingly indomitable sperm whale. This is the picture that Herman Melville paints at first in his 1851 novel Moby Dick, in which the main character Ishmael embarks with the crew of the Pequod to escape domesticity and takes part in Captain Ahab’s quest to kill the white whale. However, as Ishmael discusses his daily life, it becomes apparent that even in the absence of women, homosocial interactions on the ship recreate a new type of domesticity. Ishmael embraces the unexpected appearance of domesticity on the Pequod, which enables him to survive the disastrous encounter with Moby Dick. This contrasts the tragic fate of Captain Ahab, who rejects all opportunities to take part in domestic affairs in favor of pursuing his individual quest to kill Moby Dick. By recreating domesticity on the Pequod and contrasting Ishmael with Ahab, Melville arrives at an important conclusion: domesticity persists even in masculine spheres and repeated attempts to eradicate it only result in disaster.

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