Call Me [Ishmael] Maybe-Identity and Moby Dick

Studying a work such as Moby Dick gives insights as to how to both better understand and use our current digital culture. In our class we discussed the difficulty of forcing Moby Dick into one defined genre. Because of the nature of the book, it can be read and analyzed so many different ways. Similarly, it is difficult to define much of what is happening in digital culture in clear and distinct terms. However, as we read through and analyzed Moby Dick, we see many digital themes emerge, in particular, the idea of identity. Kayla did a lot of research and work with citizen journalism, and argues that Ishmael himself is in a way a citizen journalist. By reading through Moby Dick in this light, we gain a different perspective on Ishmael and his motivations, and at the same time we gain new ideas as to what makes good citizen journalism. 

Mele discussed how Ishmael uses this narrative to put forward a positive self-image. For myself, as I became suspicious of the truthfulness of the persona Ishmael put forward, I recognized the similar need for caution in accepting the personalities people put forward online. At the start of the novel, Ishmael states, “Call me Ishmael” (ch. 1). We have no idea whether or not Ishmael is indeed his name, and if the narrative we are about to hear is fictional or real. Ahab’s character also sheds light on the power of identity. Ishmael’s remarks exemplify this. He states, “So powerfully did the whole grim aspect of Ahab affect me, and the livid brand which streaked it, that for the first few moments I hardly noted that not a little of this overbearing grimness was owing to the barbaric white leg upon which he partly stood” (ch. 28).  The presence of Ahab was so powerful that Ishmael hardly noticed the fact that he was missing a leg. 

This is true of digital impressions as well. Often we are so overcome by the face people put forward online that we are distracted from other aspects of their identity. As mentioned before, it is hard to define Moby Dick and it is hard to define the digital age. Therefore, we need to take the same caution online as we do with reading and understanding Moby Dick.  By studying literary works such as Moby Dick, we are able to make sense of digital culture, and in turn, using digital culture allows us to make sense of the literature.