There is a symbolic element in every great literary work, which makes the author’s message more tangible and real to his readers. In Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, one such element is the idea of the “counterpane,” or tapestry, of humanity, that is woven throughout the story as a symbol of the world’s multiculturalism. Melville develops this symbolism on at least three levels, proving that the world is indeed a counterpane of diverse cultures, races, and environments, in which we, while supremely unique individuals, are always connected by our humanity.On a grandiose scale, Melville uses the open sea as a metaphor for the world and mankind. There are many creatures that depend on the water, and then still others who depend on the creatures that depend on the water. In order for everything to be balanced, inhabitants must learn to coexist peacefully while they try to meet all of the different needs they may have. The multiple ships that the Pequod meets during all of the gams in the story, each represented a different culture of people. For instance, the Jungfrau (or Virgin), was a ship from Germany, while the Rosebud was from France, and the Town Ho came straight out of Nantucket. Not only were the different ships different in style and accents, but their views on whaling and life were all greatly varied as well. There was also a great deal of irony in the meetings of the Pequod with the other ships. “ . . . another homeward bound whaleman, the Town - Ho, was encountered. She was manned almost wholly by Polynesians” (Melville, 239). The ship that came from one of the most “white” places in the whaling world, was not being run by whites! The Pequod also encounters “ . . . another ship, most miserably misnamed the Delight” (Melville, 504). The Delight had seen a tragic whaling attempt just a day prior and was now taking care of the last of the victims. “ ’I bury...
