Moby-Dick: Great Books Explained

Herman Melville, the author of Moby-Dick, worked on a whaling ship as a harpoonist, literally at the sharp end of that gruesome business. And he took those experiences of life at sea and combined them with a love of William Shakespeare and the King James bible, to create a great American novel about obsession and compulsion. Moby-Dick pre-empts the work of Freud and Jung and the very modern quest to understand the psychology of the human mind, and it is just as much a story of the inner journey to the recesses of the human psyche as it is a journey across the vast blue oceans.

Moby-Dick is a complex metaphysical novel that looks for philosophy in whales, and for poetry in blubber.

I would like to thank all my Patreon supporters, in particular Alan Stewart, Alexander Velser, Alyssa Phillips, AMSN, Anja Zeutschel, Bria Nicole Art, David Asabreu, Christa Sawyer, Eric Mann, Erique K, Francis Song, Griffin Evans, Hugo Moita, Jemma Theivendran, John Baer, Jon Hanzen, Julio Cardenas, Karim Hopper, Kibibi Shaw, Louise Tait, Monte St Johns, New Curiosity, Paul Ark, Paul Waterman, Sagar Saxena, Sean Welgemoed, Stefan Paisson, Stephen Beresford, Tanya Moore, Theresa Garfink, Toni Ko, Tyler Wittreich, and Will Dew's-Power.

"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter

SUBTITLES

Spanish Subtitles by Alma Perdomo (Gracias)

CREDITS

Actor: David Shurvell

Sound Mix by Robert Lewis (Thank you!)

VIDEOS
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them.

MUSIC
"Feraye"
trad. Turkish, arr. Ulvi Cemal Erkin
Boğaziçi Jazz Choir (TR), conductor Masis Aram Gözbek

FILMS
The Sea Beast (1926) - ©Warner Bros
Moby Dick (1956) - ©Warner Bros
Moby Dick (2011) - ©Gate Film in association with RHI/ORF

BOOKS
Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

[elJas]

First I learned about art, went to National Gallery to see the Gainsborough painting You showed in a video. Then I Went to Vienna to see the kiss by Klimt. Now I have read Alice, and I guess this is my next book. This channel has shown me a new way to appreciate the world of art, and I will be forever grateful for it.

[juniorjames]

My mother lived in nursing home in Fall River, Massachusetts. When visiting her, I used to wonder why almost everybody in this area had a Portuguese last name, EVERYBODY!!! One day one of the elderly residents explained it to me. Back in the late 18th century, whaling ships would leave Portugal with a new crew assembled from surrounding Lisbon area. By the time the ship arrived in Rhode Island or Massachusetts after six months to one year of catching whales, the crew- their pockets fat with a year's salary, had zero desire to get back on that ship. They stayed in New England to start of new life, while the ships returned to Portugal practically empty. Repeat this a thousand times on a thousand ships from the 1800s to the 1920s, and thats why over half the population of some Rhode Island towns are descended from Portugal, Cape Verde and Angola!

[Yazdeen]

When the book reaches The Chase, after hearing so much about the whale and how obsessed Ahab was, it was so invigorating to read through those last pages. Then, suddenly in the end, after everything collapses, Moby Dick goes on the rest of his day like nothing happened. To me, that was the clearest theme that I got out of it, especially towards the end. Nature is indifferent, as you said!

[THFLCNx]

The greatest American novel, no doubt. Truly a life changing read for me. The powerlessness, the anger, the bitterness, the Gnosticism; it hits deep. The most affecting part for me is when Ahab has a brief moment of clarity and realizes he's wasted his life on his quest, but then reaffirms his fixity of purpose and says, "Ahab is forever Ahab, man. This drama was rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled." Truly one of the greatest books ever written.

[nullings.]

Having different people read out the citations in your videos helps to make the books feel distinct, and it's also exciting to hear who's reading this time.

[SevenUnwokenDreams]

I was too young and foolish when I first read Moby Dick. I know now through your exquisitely done video that this is just the book for me, and I will read it again with a keener eye. Thank you.

[DanielaMaria]

To all the people in the comments that are hesitating reading this book because of its size, its divided into very small chapters and it's easy to read in small increments if needed.
It might take long to read, but the time will pass anyways and meanwhile you ll have read this really amazing book!

[nuritardif]

This book had me on my knees begging the sky for meaning, punching walls, and satisfyingly sobbing. I have thought about it every single day since i first read it, and while reading it i did not want it to end. Thank you for an amazing video on the book that has now become my own manual for living. I spread the Gospel any chance I get and tell people to read this book as soon as they can. It truly changed me and the way I view life. Thank you so much for this!

[MarkLiversedge]

You should start some kind of book club- so we can read the book before watching your films. Gonna have to do this one in reverse !

[lf]

Me, breaking my ankle running to upvote this highly anticipated installment of Moby Dick in Great Books Explained before I finish the video because I know how good it is going to be!
Plus, I will watch it twice.
At least twice, probably more.

[jaystammer]

Fantastic video! Fascinating interpretation of the psychology behind the writing. James - All of your book and Art/Artist videos are a masterclass for us all.
For your viewers interest, the book "Heart of the Sea" by Nathaniel Philbrick chronicles the true story of the Whale Ship Essex and it's sinking by a white whale. The Essex sailed out of Nantucket at the time of Melville. Melville had heard the story of the sinking of the Essex which was the inspiration for the final scenes of Moby Dick. Highly recommend as a non-fiction follow up to Moby Dick. Well done James!

[aperson]

Your final comment was perfect. Having confessed all the sins of man, Melville has been washed clean. Nature, God, man, he struggles with all the big themes. The sea, careless whether you live or not, will strip you to the bone. Wonderful commentary.

[meredithbignell]

Thank you for elevating the culture of YouTube. You are my favourite content creator by far!

[KaritKtana]

Wow, this makes me want to read the book!
After a lifetime of hearing about it and getting general pop culture references, your videos are on another level of helpfulness!!

[TommyChardonneret]

Spectacular! That was one exemplary yet concise video and audio book review of a truly American literary Northern Star! This Melville masterpiece was a sort of redemption for me as a bookworm 13-year-old a long 57 years ago. So much of my loneliness and isolation "teenage angst" was greatly assuaged by multiple treasures within its covers. I've reread Moby Dick so many times throughout my life that I can't even count them now in retrospect. But of one thing I am certain: It never failed to further enrich my mind and spirit with each and every lingering appreciation of reading Melville's vanguard prose as poetry sentences! Thanks immensely to the crew who put this review to sail!

[croatianshiftry]

Mr. Payne, I am so grateful for your hard work. You truly make my week, when you upload! Thank you!

[camilacosta]

I recently discovered this chanel and I'm LOVING IT. Thank you so much for your work.

[SuperYova]

For those who want to purchase this book, find the reissue with illustrations by Rockwell Kent. They're a beautiful companion to the story itself.

[themetalheadg]

It has finally arrived people!!! Let's dive and see..

[DanielaMaria]

Was waiting for this video since the community post! Great analysis has always.
Read this book last year and as soon as I got to the sermon in the beggining of the book I knew I was reading something truly amazing. It took me months to finish, the story was so gripping and it really felt like i, as the reader, was going through the adventure with the whole crew.
Loved to see the explanations of the religious parallels as well as of the social and political situation in the u.s.a at the time, it really fills in my interpretation of the book.

Looking forward to more videos!