It is the sad truth of the world we live in today, that if teenagers were told to choose between spending their friday night going to the newest action movie with friends or cozying up on the couch to read a book, most would, without hesitation, choose to see the flick. But why has it become this way? What if there was a book so thrilling and full of adventure that it rivals even the highest grossing action movies in theaters today? Well my fellow action addicted teens, there is such a novel. I’ll give you a hint as to what it is: it includes an adventure seeking narrator, a menacing white whale, a questionably crazy captain, and a sea voyage aboard a ship that vaguely is reminiscent of the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean. If you haven’t caught on already, I’m referring to Moby-Dick. It may surprise some of you that I am seeming to claim that Moby-Dick is modern, but I can assure you that their are key components to this timeless novel that make it a fascinating read for anyone who dares to delve into its hefty 516 pages.
So what are these components that allow Moby-Dick, a two hundred year old novel, to compete with the modern day action packed, brain twisting mega movie that is Inception? Well, I will tell you that the answer to that question can be found within the movie itself. Let me explain…
Cobb, the movie’s main character, played by the dreamy but somewhat mischievous Leonardo Dicaprio, is a tortured hero of sorts. Within the first ten minutes of the movie it is made clear to the viewers that he has a mission that he will risk anything to succeed in. Sounds like a hero to me, but where does the tortured half come in? Well, we soon find out that he is haunted by a horrible past that creeps into his mind and clouds his judgement throughout the entire movie,even to the point where he puts his fellow “dream-mates” at risk of a fate far worse than death. Soon, his partners in dream stealing realize that to follow Cobb, would be to walk themselves straight off a cliff, however something about his obsessive need to achieve this dangerous goal, and the overall adventure of the challenge entices the crew, and they stick together.
In many of the same ways as Cobb, Ahab, the manaical captain leading the Pequod to find Moby-Dick, is also a tortured hero with a distinct goal- kill Moby-Dick. In his own deranged version of reality, Ahab believes that all the evil in the world has been collected together and compiled into a great white whale that terrorizes the ocean, and that he is doing the world a favor by murdering this forsaken creature. Due to multiple warnings from prophets and other ships who have had recent encounters with Moby-Dick, the crew of the Pequod is fully aware of the danger they are sailing towards, yet none of them stand up and revolt against Ahab. They all (with the exception of the ship’s first mate, Starbuk, who questions Ahab from the beginning) simply follow orders in pursuit of what will surely be the greatest and deadliest adventure they will ever know.
The similarities between not only the personalities of Cobb and Ahab, but also the unrelenting drive they both possess, provides us with a look into one of the overall themes that encompasses Moby-Dick, and that is the idea of defying fate in order to reach a goal. Everyone in the twenty-first century is taught to have a goal, in fact I would argue that goals are timeless and have an overwhelming range of applications. The founders of the United States had a goal to create a new government for the people and by the people, John F. Kennedy had a goal to reach the moon before the sixties were over, I have multiple academic and sports related goals right now. So you see, goals are an essential part of every persons’ life. Without them, there would be no drive, no desire to achieve. However, there is a fine line that must be drawn between striving to be successful in one’s endeavors and obsessing over them. Both Cobb and Ahab walk this line throughout their respective story lines.
Since we’re discussing the shared theme between Moby-Dick and Inception, it would only be fair to mention their similar structuring. Melville chooses to begin his story with Ishmael, the story’s narrator, longing for an adventure. He then proceeds, throughout the novel, to jump between different styles of writing. At times, the story is intense with action lurking behind every corner, and at other times, the writing is very explanatory and scientific. Melville does this intentionally in order to bring down the level of excitement a bit so that the reader is prepared and well informed when it comes time for the next moments of exhilaration. Modern day movie makers employ this same tactic when writing scripts and directing scenes. A movie with too many fight scenes and not enough explanation of the action could never hold any weight. Sure you would get some “Oooh”s and “Ahhh”s from the audience, but it means nothing if their is no substance -no meat- to back up the conflicts. Inception manages to weave in scenes between the action that are strictly devoted to explaining concepts to the audience, but whether this was due to a script writing genius who channelled Melville’s literary structuring, or was simply because the movie would be completely non-sensical without those explanatory scenes, we will never know.
Finally, in reference to the major theme of drive versus obsession present in both works we are discussing, it is important to mention a specific symbol within Moby-Dick that (surprise surprise!) also shows itself in Inception. The Pequod is a looming symbol of death and dark destiny throughout Melville’s novel, however, the crew aboard the whaling ship symbolizes something much more positive-unity. Although they all reign from different places around the world, they are able to work together in order to reach a common goal. They have enough determination to push on, even during the hardest points of their voyage, and they have enough common sense to realize they cannot do anything alone. Each member of the crew, whether its the captain, the first mate, a harpooner, or a cabin boy, every position within the crew is vital. Inception includes this same idea of team work into its story line in regards to the five other “dream specialists” who use their specific talents in order to help the group as a whole succeed. Sounds to me that when businesses, sports teams, theater ensembles, and so on, want to teach their members about team building, they should just hand them a copy of Moby-Dick and a DVD of Inception.
Movies like Inception are well known for their power to dazzle us with their complex story lines, enticing characters, and the overall message they each drive home, but who’s to say that a book can’t do the same? I would argue that Moby-Dick is one of the few novels out there that has withstood the test of time and can still keep us cringing on the edge of our seats. So I challenge all of you to let go of your wariness and choose to cozy up on the couch one Friday night instead of seeing a movie, so that you can finally explore the wonders that Moby-Dick has in store for you. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
