Metaphorical Use of the Bible in the Beginning Part of Melville's Typee

概要

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Melville's theological contexts in his first book, Typee, hane not been duly discussed, since critics have considered the issue proper to his later books. The intent of this study is to show that Melville ingeniously insinuates Biblical episodes in the beginning part of the book so as to give the described incidents additional quality and depth which relate to the perspective of Ishmael in Moby-Dick. Here we also discuss the idea of the Covenant of God with man, the central doctrine of New England Puritan theology. This thesis concludes that the narrator's flight form the "arbitrary and violent" captain of the ship signifies Melville's metaphorical assertion that the narrator annuls the covenant with orthodox Puritan God.