Moby dick is a realistic novel showing the conflict between human and nature.moby dick is entitled to the spirit of nature.
In this novel we may also notice that almost everything described in it has its symbolic meaning.in fact ,it is an encyclopaedia book about whale ，but its meaning is more than this.Next, three crucial things will be analyzed from symbolism.
ⅠThree crucial symbolic meaning
1.The Symbolic meaning of Moby Dick
Moby Dick is the White Whale， the world’s largest creature. Moby Dick has various symbolic meanings for various individuals.
Firstly,About character Ahab as the capital in this novel,most people acclaim that the whale represents just evil. However,I consider the white whale also a challenge for the Ahab apart that reason. Many hunters is aim to accumulation money，but Ahab's aim is to kill it. Indeed, in the novel the whale is described as a powerful , mysterious image of nature that is difficult to conquer. But the evil we said is not just totally in form. So, to some degree, the white whale is metaphor for the industrialization of the capitalism. on one hand , it shows the fear of author to the newborn capitalism, and the strength of capitalist social productivity. On the other hand，it reflects his sympathy and concerns to the fate and terrible situations of people at that time.
Secondly,it symbolizes nature to human beings, for it is powerful, complex, mysterious, and dangerous.we can regard the conflict with white whale as the conflict with the real nature.Human being is the first one to be blame for the damage of the nature. It swims peacefully in the sea until disturbed by humans, then shows a terrible rage. Melville tries to convey to us such a faith: man cannot conquer nature. In order to live a better life, one must follow certain principles, rather than doing absurd things like Ahab, who only aim is to kill white whale. so when Ahab desperate to kill the white whale, the white whale also retort. Symbolically, this is punishment of the nature. Ahab’s plan make the tragic fate for himself and the crew of the vessels.As the saying goes:facts speak louder than words. A series example proved that while we are destroying the order of the nature world, we are just seeking the destruction .
2.The Symbolic Meaning of Ahab
Ahab, the captain of the ship Pequod, is the other crucial character . Ahab is a typical “isolato”. He cuts himself off from his wife and kid to hunt Moby Dick which makes him loss his leg. He hates Moby Dick which is an embodiment of nature. After the loss of his pride in conflict with the white whale, he seems to undertake the work of evil in the universe.
The name Ahab in Moby Dick is symbolic and taken from the Bible, in which Ahab is described as a king who turns vile.
However, he is also a man dare to against the gods, against the old custom rules, a man fear nothing, never gives up, only aiming to defeat moby dick and he is an experienced sea captain. Having fight with the terrible sea for forty years, He has a noble soul, great and simple heart .
With the above analysis, Ahab's character is multiple, contradictory. This image of the symbolic meanings is also complex, vague, difficult to grasp .To him, good, evil coexist, and beauty and ugly exist side by side.
3.the symbolic meaning of Ishmael
Ishmael is school teacher and part-time sailor.He is influenced by calvinism. He describes such issues as free will. He is the sole survivor of the Pequod. He was controlled by a feeling of loneliness and estrangement, which is a common feeling between human and human, nature and soul, which is one of the themes of the novel. The author thought that in 19th century, American was under the control of such loneliness. So He escaped from his living environment and got on the Pequod just want to find a new life that could make him feel happy and fulfilled. In this voyage, he gradually knows the importance of love and friendship,through Ishmael，he still hold the hope of human.
ⅡConclusion
Throughout the famous novel even though its structure seems chaos , we may notice that almost everything described in it has its symbolic meaning. For instance, a pipe symbolizes pleasure, and a rope symbolizes unity and corporation. We may find many such images in the book, both people and objects. When analyzed from difference angle they can have different symbolize,which make the book more vivid and profound. The book does not only reveals the spirit and social reality of the 19th century,it also leads people to look forward to love and beauty. And the influence of the book is still far-reaching. The symbolic meanings are still worthy researching in today's society.