Melvilles Use of Observation and Eye Symbolism in Redburn essays

Melvilles Use of Observation and Eye Symbolism in Redburn essays "I was then but a boy," (Melville 43) Wellingborough Redburn says of the day he left home a mere fifteen. Such is often the case in life. Looking back a man can see the naivete' and mistaken assumption so commonly made from inexperience. Examination of pictures and books and a glass ship in his mothers house has Redburn deciding that he will go to sea (Melville 52) and he heads off to find great adventure in "remote and barbarous countries" (Melville 45). Alienation is his first acquaintance due to differences in age, social standing and education. By the time the ship puts to sea, he calls himself Ishmael due to his total isolation from those around him (Melville 114). Because he has difficulty communicating and understanding other people and the world, the green lad carefully observes what occurs around him. He quickly discovers he knows only the surface of people and things. So, to Redburn, the eye does not represent actual knowledge (Elworthy 23), but only perceived knowledg e. Melville uses constant references to the eye and to observation in building this story about the difficulty of accurately decoding reality. Melville shows that to truly discover the gold of knowledge (and reality), one must dive down and get the treasure... something few people desire or think of doing. To do this, however, the protagonist must decide whether or not to face a sort of insane desire ...to come at the plunder (Melville 49) and become a man. Simple observation leads Redburn to often make false judgment, such as when he decides to visit the captain, who he thinks is his friend and mentor. Even though the sailors and the first mate tell him a sailor cannot speak to the captain (Page121-22), he determines to do so and receives an embarrassing rebuff (Melville 124). Once he gets his sea legs, and learns to communicate better with those around him, such as the various sailors aboar...