Moby Dick - Brotherhood of Man

In the intricate novel of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, the notion of a "universal brotherhood of Man" is introduced in the first fifteen chapters. Melville uses the relationship of Ishmael and Queequeg and the everyday standards of the shipmen to illustrate these ideas. A theme of the novel is the idea of comradeship between human beings, no matter how different. In the following essay, I will analyze and explain this concept by incorporating events that coincide. The theme of universal brotherhood of Man is first introduced in the third chapter. After Ishmael finally found an inn to stay in, The Spouter-Inn, and got a chance to get familiarized with the place, he watched as the newly arrived shipmates took pleasure in each other's presence. These men drank and had fun, feeling happy-go-lucky and limitless. However, Ishmael noticed a shipmate that stood out. "…One of them held somewhat aloof… This man interested me at once." (Page 14) This shipmate was subdued and did not make as much of a ruckus as the other men and while these men were at the peak of their gaiety, he snuck out of the bar. When the men noticed that Bulkington, the quiet man, was gone, they all went searching for him. "`Bulkington! Bulkington! Where's Bulkington?' and darted out of the house in pursuit of him." (Page 15) This incident shows the brotherhood of Man. Even if one was to be the outcast of a group, he is still part of the group and when the ‘outcast' disappears, part of the group is missing. That is why those shipmen looked for Bulkington. They had a special bond with each other – a brotherly bond – universally shared. Another example of the brotherhood of Man is depicted through the relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg. When Ishmael firsts meets Queequeg, he was startled by his appearance and tentative about sleeping with him. However, Ishmael looks beyond his appearance in hopes that Queequeg is a really benign and decides to give it a shot. Later on in the