How does the character of Queequeg challenge conventional
racial stereotypes in "Moby Dick"?
In Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," Queequeg, a South Sea Islander, is
portrayed as a complex and multifaceted character, challenging conventional
racial stereotypes prevalent during the time of the novel's publication. Melville
presents Queequeg as a highly-skilled harpooner, a devoted friend to Ishmael,
and a deeply spiritual individual, whose religion and customs are shown to be
deserving of respect and admiration.
Queequeg's cultural identity is not presented as a monolithic construct but
rather as a dynamic and multifaceted one. For instance, Melville portrays
Queequeg as both a cannibal, a stereotype that was often linked to
Polynesian culture during Melville's time, and a skillful artisan, with the ability
to craft harpoons and carve intricate engravings on ivory. Similarly, while
Melville's presentation of Queequeg's religious practices is tied to his culture
and background, it is also shown to have profound spiritual and moral
significance.
Queequeg is not a one-dimensional caricature but a fully-realized character,
whose complexity and diversity forces readers to re-examine their
assumptions and prejudices about race and culture. Through the character of
Queequeg, Melville challenges readers to question their cultural biases and to
recognize the humanity and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their race
or ethnicity.
References:
Melville, H. (1851). Moby Dick. United States: Harper & Brothers.
Brodhead, R. (1990). Melville and the idea of Blackness: race and imperialism in nineteenthcentury America. New York: Oxford University Press.
McKee, J. (2001). Race and racism in nineteenth-century American literature. United
Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.