Believing in Una of Naslunds Ahabs Wife :: Naslunds Ahabs Wife Essays

Believing in Una of Naslunds Ahabs wifeNaslunds novel, Ahabs Wife was immensely more satisfying and veridical than Melvilles Moby Dick. I apprehend to explain why Naslund did non merely present a powder-puff version of Moby Dick, but presented akinly universal themes within more realistic and meaningful contexts. By becoming intimate with the reader, she expects more she expects us to comprehend the world from a different perspective.Melville tries to be funny by make things ridiculous. Naslund makes reality funny. From what I gathered of others opinions of Moby Dick, the hilarity came from the absurdity. In my mind, however, when manything seems impossible the humbug seems to change to the realm of cartoon or science fiction. It seems not only not funny, but weird and irrelevant. I was glad, after feeling alike(p) I must not have any sense of humor, to jocularity bug out loud to Ahabs Wife. And some people believe Kit put in, that if you course cucumbers, your nose wi ll grow long. Or other parts. What parts? Frannie asked. Your feet, aunty said(p93). Although just as silly, this is funny because it speaks to an awkward situation similar to integrity e genuinelyone has been in, probably on all sides. It is not the absurdity of the myth of the cucumber that I laugh at, but rather the Aunts reaction to his reference. Naslund speaks to me, however, not because of realistic humor, but because of her contextual insight. Melville makes profound but irrelevant comment on the world, while Naslund shows us her journey to different understandings of the world. Melville, to use one of many examples of his philosophical meanderings, tells us that, there is no gauge in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. This statement could be very insightful, except that he is talking not about understandings of the world or identity formation, but rather feeling physical warmthWe matte up very nice and snug, the more so since it was so chilly out of doors indeed out of bedclothes too, seeing that there was no flaming in the room. The more so, I say, because truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. 52This leaves me move that he was able to connect his wise perceptions of the world to an only slightly relevant story, and makes me want to steal the quote and apply it out of its context.