Moby+Dick+Feminism+Focus+Questions

1. Define feminism and feminist criticism. -Feminism is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men, while Feminist critisim critiques partriarchal language and literature by exposing how these reflect masculine ideology. It examines gender politics in works and traces the subtle construction of subtle construction of masculinity and feminity, and their relative status, positioning, and marginalizaion within works.

2. Discuss the difference between an androcentric (male centered) world and a gynocentric (female centered) one. -an androcentric world is centered on, emphasizing, or dominated by males or masculine interest, while a gynocentric world is dominated by womens interest.

3. Describe the feminist movement during the period in which the novel was written.

(1) In the United States -Abolitionist, feminist, and fromer slave sojourner Truth delivers her famous "And Ain't I A Women" speech at a women's rights convention in Akron, Ohio. Now revered as a classic of America oratory, her address exposes the hypocrisy of the woman on a pedestral' argument used by conservatives to deny women civil rights. (2) In Europe -Most of the supporters of woman suffrage were males. They supported woman suffrage by writing journal articals and books, making speeches, challenging public speakers, and debating opponents both privately and publicly on the issue.

4. Describe the relationship between the feminist movement and the philosophical Romantic movement. -Feminist movement and Romantic movement share a relationship in which both movements have to do with some strong emotion in which it touches the topic of equality and feelings.

5. What elements of feminist concerns are present in Moby Dick?

(1) In the characters the elements of feminist that are presented in Moby Dick, would be represented with Ishmael and Queequeg. When Ishmael had to share a bed with Queequeg and woke up being hugged by Queequeg. (2) In terms of plot the elements of feminist that are presented in Moby Dick, would be represented when Ishmael and Queequeg are spending quality time together. (3) In terms of symbols the elements of feminist that are presented in Moby Dick, is when Queequeg gives half the of his money to Ishmael, it is representing the relationship between them, similar to when a couple is married they share the money they receive with each other. (4) In terms of themes the elements of feminist that are presented in Moby Dick are the domestic roles that are used and portrayed. The roles of husband and wife are portrayed in Queequeg and Ishmael. Their tender relationship with one another is the only sign of feminism in the book.

6. How are female (and male) roles played out in the work? What stereotypes - overt or subtle - are portrayed? What messages about gender roles are being sent? The role of Ahab has a more masculin role, and Ishmael has a more feminist role. Ahab is feared by most of the men on the ship, is very prideful, and when he throws away his compase, he proves that men don't need directions, even if they are in the middle of the ocean. Ishmael, however, is very friendly, and tries to look at things and have a greater understanding for them. Like Moby Dick, for instance, he sees the whale as many things, not just as an evil that must be removed from the earth like Ahab sees him.

7. How would the story change if gender roles were shifted? The roles would be extermely different if all the male characters became females. The characters may not go on a whaling voyage, seeing as it would be very rough and dangerous work for women. They wouldn't take such great risks, and the woman playing Ahab would have the common sense not to get everyone killed. It may not be as exciting, but at least everyone would live!

8. How would the piece differ if the author were of the other gender? If the author were of the other gender, the book would take on a very different perspective. The characters would think and act different, which in turn would change the story, which would lead to something completely different from the original story.

9. How do these elements of feminism and Romanticism help Melville to comment on the direction of the United States in the 1800's and on the philosophies of feminism and Romanticism in general? He showed how different the US style of writing had become from England's writing style. Through his book he showed how differently the US showed it's emotions and feelings through writing than England and the rest of Europe did.