Counterpane Theme in Moby Dick

Herman Melville’s epic novel, Moby Dick, provides commentary on the nature of mankind. The tapestry of humanity is a linking message throughout themes of brotherhood, diversity, and interdependence. This ‘counterpane’ is woven through the plot as a symbol of universal multiculturalism and friendships forged across the gap of diversity. The unification of man can be seen on a range of levels and magnitudes throughout the story. With the observations of Ishmael, an estranged man finding adventure on a doomed whaling vessel, man’s relationship to the universe is defined.
Melville creates a metaphor of life through the characterization of the sea. The chain of dependency rooting in the sea is paralleled by man’s reliance on one another. As all creatures depend on the grandiose, life-giving body of water in some way, so does man to other members of his environment. A peaceful coexistence, in either case, is based on the equilibrium of everyone’s needs. This can be ...