How does the character of Pip serve to highlight the
dehumanizing effects of imperialism in "Moby Dick"?
In "Moby Dick," the character of Pip serves a significant role in highlighting the
dehumanizing effects of imperialism. Pip is a black cabin boy, and as an
African-American, he is a victim of cultural imperialism, which was the idea
that Europeans were superior to other races and could impose their culture on
them. Throughout the novel, Pip is depicted as an object of pity and
oppression, as he is stripped of his identity, forced to conform to the ways of
the white crew, and subjected to the whims of the captain, who uses him as a
pawn in his psychological game against the whale.
Pip, who initially seems to be a harmless and happy-go-lucky character,
undergoes a dramatic transformation after being abandoned in the middle of
the ocean. He is traumatized by this experience, and his mind is shattered as
a result. Pip becomes a symbolic representation of the harmful effects of
imperialism, showing how the subjugation of one race by another can have
devastating consequences.
Pip's story underscores the broader themes of imperialism, power, and
domination that run throughout "Moby Dick." Melville uses Pip's character to
critique the prevailing attitudes of his time towards race and imperialism, and
to challenge readers to reflect on the human toll of these oppressive systems.
References:
- Melville, H. (1851). Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. Harper & Brothers.
- Sundquist, E. (1978). Guilt and Innocence: A Study of Pip in Moby-Dick. New England
Quarterly, 51(1), 80-94.