Discourse Analysis of Symbolism in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick

Abstract

This study explores the symbolism of the Whale, the Pequod, and the Sea in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick (1851) using discourse analysis. The research aims to reveal how these symbols are represented and how their meanings shift across different contexts in the novel. Employing a qualitative approach, the study examines how language, ideology, and perspective shape symbolic interpretation. The findings show that Melville’s symbols are not fixed but fluid, reflecting the dynamic interaction between human belief, power, and nature. The Whale embodies humanity’s struggle with the unknown, the Pequod mirrors social and ideological structures, and the Sea represents both the vastness of nature and the limits of human understanding. Through discourse analysis, this study concludes that Melville constructs meaning as a process of negotiation rather than a static allegory. The results contribute to literary studies by demonstrating how discourse shapes symbolic meaning, offering new insight into how language and ideology influence interpretation in classic literature.