The conflict between Good and Evil can be traced back to Biblical times and can be characterized by the conflict between God and Satan. As the books of the Bible progress, we see Satan or evil attempt to influence or corrupt innocent people. This seems to be one of the earliest examples of evil in writing.

Throughout literary history, the conflict of Good versus Evil has tended to dominate the classical literary trend and has been utilized by numerous authors; Herman Melville poses as no exception in the long array of writers on this topic. He was an extremist of this comparison and brought forth new ideas about the whole subject in itself. In the writings of Herman Melville, "...the intellectual and moral world appeared as consisting not merely in a duality of good and evil, truth and falsehood, but in endless and soul-defying ambiguities." These uncertainties would bring

As previously stated, Moby Dick does not serve as the main objective for Ahab; he attacks Nature itself, which also appears as being ultimately evil. Moby Dick is merely a part of this evil. One of the most recognizable agents of nature's evil in Moby Dick are the sharks that appear as Ahab enters one of the dinghies. Melville describes the sea and the sharks beneath it as having "tranquil beauty and brilliance of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang."6 He continues by describing the way the sharks "maliciously snapped at the blades of the oars every time they dipped into the water."7

In fact, Melville expands upon this idea with his method of presenting his characters as symbols of things much larger and more complex. In his writings, Melville portrays aspects of nature as evil or destructive. This use of representation and detail help to note Melville as one of the most respected authors of all time.

Upon his return, Melville decided that he did not desire a maritime career and began work as a schoolteacher in Greenbush, New York until it's closing when he began to teach in Brunswick. Melville would soon join the crew of the Acushnet, a whaling ship that had set sail January 3rd, 1841. The opening of the Acushnet's sails "...would prove to be for literature one of the most important voyages of all time."

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Approximate Word count = 2809
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)