# Moby Dick from the whale's p.o.v. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529 "2004-12-07T13:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/1 "2004-12-07T13:05:47Z")
…is kind of a cliche in discussion of p.o.v. , but has anyone actually written such a story or such a novel. If not, I’d like to give it a try. Also, if not, could someone point me to a good layman’s intro to cetatology, since I don’t actually know much about whales. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/2 "2004-12-07T13:45:23Z")
Ummm…in _Moby Dick_, by Herman Melville, the White Whale symbolically represents God. You want it from God’s pov? 😕 :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/3 "2004-12-07T13:48:33Z")
**the White Whale symbolically represents God.** cite? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/4 "2004-12-07T13:53:37Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > the White Whale symbolically represents God. Ah, now we need a good layman’s intro to cetotheology. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/5 "2004-12-07T13:56:30Z")
I’ve heard the God interpretation, but I’m not sure why the 😕 :rolleyes: . I’ve read stories from the pov of God. I like them. I’ve also heard that the whale represents any unattainable thing the seeking of which takes over your existance. (No, I can’t parse that any better this early.) The whale may represent money, love, greed, a winning football season… But none of those are reasons why a whale pov Moby Dick wouldn’t work or be interesting. What would it be like to be sought after with such lust and greed, yet know that you yourself aren’t what the seeker is really looking for? The seeker is looking to fill a hole inside himself, and using you as a convenient focal point. To know that you are so sought and perversely loved, but only as a symbol. To also know that if he catches you, he will be completely disillusioned and come to hate you. Only by not having you does he love you. Attainment of the goal destroys the relationship. I think it would make a great story. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/6 "2004-12-07T13:59:56Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > **the White Whale symbolically represents God.** > > cite? Last paragraph, scroll down. [http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-79,pageNum-156.html](http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-79,pageNum-156.html) The White Whale is a mask for a greater power that limits Man. If this is not a description of God, then just what is it describing? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/7 "2004-12-07T14:14:47Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > The White Whale is a mask for a greater power that limits Man. If this is not a description of God, then just what is it describing? Speed traps on the highway? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/8 "2004-12-07T14:16:24Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > The White Whale is a mask for a greater power that limits Man. If this is not a description of God, then just what is it describing? The melting point of skin? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/9 "2004-12-07T14:21:24Z")
Bosda–Any time you’re relying on Cliff’s notes for a definitive interpretation, you can pretty much depend on being overly simple, if not outright wrong. If Melville wanted the whale to “stand for” God, he would have made him into God. ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/10 "2004-12-07T14:28:32Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > Bosda–Any time you’re relying on Cliff’s notes for a definitive interpretation, you can pretty much depend on being overly simple, if not outright wrong. Cite? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/11 "2004-12-07T15:14:04Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > Bosda–Any time you’re relying on Cliff’s notes for a definitive interpretation, you can pretty much depend on being overly simple, if not outright wrong. If Melville wanted the whale to “stand for” God, he would have made him into God. Then, oh wise one, what _does_ the damn whales stand for? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/12 "2004-12-07T15:17:47Z")
_Moby Dick (a Whale’s Story)_ ``` by **Herman Scrappy Hero Pup** ``` “Mmmmmmmm… leg.” “Stop chasing me. Seriously. Stop chasing me. This is getting old. Didn’t you learn when I bit off your leg?” “Would you STOP?” “OK, that’s it. I’ma f-ck you up.” “Hey, you. Yeah, you on the coffin. Go tell people to leave me the hell alone.” Anything else I can help you with today? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/13 "2004-12-07T15:21:38Z")
Actually, the OP’s idea sounds like something Gregory Maguire would write… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/14 "2004-12-07T16:11:10Z")
Is anybody else thinking of a Hitchhiker’s Guide tie-in? Suddenly, and quite improbably, a flowerpot and a one-legged ship’s captain appeared. The whale said “I wonder if they will be my friends?” The captain started to poke the whale with a harpoon, the whale thought “I guess not”, and promptly ate him. “I wonder if the flowerpot will be my friend, at least?” he wondered. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/15 "2004-12-07T16:37:16Z")
“Call me Ishwhael.” ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/16 "2004-12-07T16:40:45Z")
… and who are you going to get to play him in the movie?? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/17 "2004-12-07T16:49:53Z")
> [@NutMagnet](#): > > … and who are you going to get to play him in the movie?? Louis Anderson? ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/18 "2004-12-07T16:56:39Z")
Appologies for having pasted this in two different cafe threads, but I like it: _A hunt. The last great hunt. For what? For Moby Dick, the huge white sperm whale: who is old, hoary, monstrous, and swims alone; who is unspeakably terrible in his wrath, having so often been attacked; and snow- white. Of course he is a symbol. Of what ? I doubt if even Melville knew exactly. That’s the best of it_ -D. H. Lawrence And a book from the whales point of view would be awesome if someone managed to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/19 "2004-12-07T17:13:06Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Then, oh wise one, what _does_ the damn whales stand for? :dubious: I quote from my currently-unpublished masterwork: > [@](#): > > On the third strike, the symbolic third strike, > Though he wasn’t quite sure of the symbolism, or of what it meant, > Of why a third hammerblow would mean anything to him, or to his father, > Or to the Haitian zombie voodoo cult, > Or to the members of Parliament who were marked for death, > Or marked for zombie attack at any rate, > The symbolism was much too deep for him, > And is left for future students to analyze, and debate, > And argue that Jonathan is really a metaphor for the Republic of Ireland, > And that the zombies really represent the forces of change, > And that there’s a whole economic undertone to the work; > Jonathan knew none of this, > But on the third strike, > The door collapsed inwards, > Caved in from the force of Jonathan’s swing, > And the weight of his father’s mighty hammer. It’s evident. Moby Dick really is a zombie white whale. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529/20 "2004-12-07T18:01:53Z")
There was a good love story (at least I liked it) written from a whale’s p.o.v. It was written by Adrian Conan Doyle (Arthur’s son), was titled ‘The Lover of the Coral Glades,’ first appeared in _Playboy_ in November 1956 and was collected in the book _Tales of Love and Hate_ that first came out in 1960. Unfortunately there does not appear to be an online version of it. Anyway, nothing to do with Moby Dick, but at least it’s a story from a whale’s viewpoint. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-dick-from-the-whales-p-o-v/278529.md?page=2)