Through his works, Herman Melville expresses his philosophical views on the nature of good and evil. He uses a wide variety of tools, such as religious allusions, symbolism, and carefully chosen diction to illustrate these views. However, Melville’s opinions are often shrouded in ambiguity, as the meanings of his symbols are seen differently by the characters who interpret them, depending on their background and beliefs. Also, in any attempt made on a character’s part to destroy a force which they see as evil, the endeavor invariably leads to tragedy. Therefore, Melville puts forth the view that good and evil are illusions, created by society and interpreted by individuals, and that to destroy an aspect of ourselves deemed evil by society will ultimately end in utter destruction.

     Moby Dick exemplifies Melville’s philosophy towards the metaphysical ideas of good and evil. Each character within the story represents a different set of morals and values. Ahab, the novel’s monomaniacal hero-villain, is depicted as an antichrist, if not a demonic figure (Murray); his very name is a biblical reference to a ruler in the Old Testament that provoked and angered God. Ahab’s actions, including his ritualistic ceremony with his crew, his baptizing a harpoon in the name of the devil, and his reliance in Fedallah’s counsel, signify his break from Christianity. Also, during the scene in which the Pequod is caught in a lightning storm, he seems to challenge God with his pride. However, Ahab does not see his quest as being evil, focusing instead on the white whale that crippled him, which he sees as malicious, and sets out to “strike through the pasteboard mask” to the nature of evil. Ahab “piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it.”(Melville, pg. 200) Thus, to Ahab, the whale is the embodiment of evil, but his attempt to kill the whale destroys him and his ship. Since evil, in Melville’s view, is merely a label placed on certain aspects that are inextricably linked with human nature, Ahab’s quest to rid himself of the “evil” is an attack upon himself, and leads him to his fate. The white whale may also represent God, or at least Christianity, to Ahab; since he is depicted as an antichrist, the whale could be seen by Ahab as a symbol of the religion which he feels ostracized from. In any case, while Ahab may be seen as a sinner by a Christian audience, he feels that he is on a righteous quest to destroy the whale, and presents one perspective towards the nature of good and evil.

     The other characters of Moby Dick do not share Ahab’s philosophy when interpreting the whale. Starbuck, for instance, represents a view opposite Ahab’s, finding biblical significance in the events that occur. He realizes the foolishness in hunting the whale, and interprets events as omens from God to turn back, which puts him at odds with the captain. Ishmael, on the other hand, attempts to analyze the whale in neither biblical nor demonic terms. Instead, he employs all forms of scientific methods to attempt to describe whales, which represents his search to find philosophical truths. As the story’s narrator, Ishmael may very well be a literary representation of Melville’s own search for the true nature of good and evil. Another perspective is that of Captain Boomer of the Samuel Enderby, which is the opposite of Ahab’s. Boomer, who lost an arm to Moby Dick, does not find malice or evil in the whale like Ahab does, attributing the incident to the whale’s “awkwardness.” The differences in the characters’ philosophies are further demonstrated by their differing interpretations of the gold doubloon. Therefore, through various interpretations of the nature of the whale and doubloon, Melville presents different points of view regarding good and evil. Also, the absence of a single, all-encompassing definition of the whale’s nature implies inconsistency, thereby implying the illusory nature of good and evil.

     The true nature of the white whale Moby Dick remains a mystery, reflecting the inability to define the true nature of good and evil. The whiteness of Moby Dick, as Ishmael notes, presents a contradiction, since white is traditionally associated with goodness and purity, while the whale’s actions are seen by some as being malicious. This contradiction could be an attempt on Melville’s part to challenge the conventional thought regarding good and evil during his time. The whale represents and illusion, perceived differently by each member of the Pequod crew, but the quest to find Moby Dick unites them with a common goal. Whether it be for vengeance, as in Ahab’s case, or for the gold doubloon Ahab promises whoever finds the whale, the desire to find Moby Dick is shared by most of the ship’s crew (with the exception of Starbuck). This represents man’s desire to pursue the truth behind the illusions of good and evil, regardless of their previous beliefs or biases.

     Besides the symbolic significance of the whale, Melville also uses religious symbolism to express his philosophy. Biblical allusions abound in Moby Dick, including the stories of Jonah and the whale, Job’s trials, and Noah’s Ark, to name a few. (Bair) Also, the try-works scene is reminiscent of the fires of hell, disorienting Ishmael and creating a sense of the pagan nature of the Pequod. It has been hypothesized that Moby Dick is a symbol of God or Christianity. (Murray) If that is the case, Melville, through Ahab, may be challenging Christianity, which dictates for its followers what is considered good and evil, instead of allowing the free expression of human nature. In other words, if good and evil are illusions restricting human nature, then the basis for organized religions like Christianity does not exist.

    Although these Christian themes run throughout the story, biblical references are not the only religious allusions made in Moby Dick. The crewmembers of the Pequod are described as a racially, and thus religiously, diverse group. The harpooners, for instance, are each members of different non-Christian religions. They also represent primitive values, beliefs, and practices. (Murray) Ahab becomes drawn to these primitive religions, and is converted to the pagan mysticism of Fedallah. Fedallah becomes like Ahab’s shadow, and his prophecies about Ahab’s death come true. Therefore, to Ahab, and perhaps Melville, these religions are closer to nature (Fedallah’s religion is that of a Persian fire-worshipper), and thus, closer to the true expression of human nature. Since Melville, through Ahab, disagrees with the restrictions of “good and evil” placed on human nature by Christianity, he utilizes pagan religions that contradict Christianity to combat it.

     In Moby Dick, a diverse variety of perceptions regarding philosophy are presented through its characters. Through their different religious beliefs and interpretations of the whale and the gold doubloon, Melville presents different viewpoints without stating which one is correct, thereby implying that none of them are correct. Thus, all that is left is human nature, devoid of rules governing “good” and “evil.” Melville illustrates that human nature cannot be repressed or governed without tragic consequences. This is shown in Ahab’s destruction in Moby Dick, as well as Bartleby’s destruction in Bartleby, the Scrivener.

     Bartleby, the Scrivener applies Melville’s thoughts on human nature to peoples’ places in society. Bartleby, while not necessarily considered “evil” by those around him, is perceived as being “strange.” His habits are considered odd by his employer, and his refusal to do as he is told is seen as unreasonable. He is arrested for vagrancy and taken to prison, where he dies. Thus, Melville’s theme regarding the consequences of repressing human nature is illustrated through Bartleby’s fate. Society creates rules on what is right and wrong, rules that are illusions attempting to restrict nature. When society’s value system declares that Bartleby is “wrong,” society attempts to force him to conform, and destroys him in doing so.

     In his works, Melville attempts to “strike through the mask” covering the true nature of humanity. His epic whale hunt and his story of Wall-street stand as examples of the conclusions he has drawn. The conclusions presented here are only one of a myriad of theories surrounding Herman Melville’s works. If, however, these statements are a true representation of what Melville believes, their validity as they apply to human nature is a question best left to the philosophers.