Ishmael Stereotypes

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Since the founding of the United States in 1776, racism has been a deep-rooted, ingrained part of America’s existence. From the genocide of Native Americans to slavery to Japanese internment camps to Ferguson, racism is evident throughout all periods of American history, including today. Prejudice against people of color and racist caricatures can be found in all forms of media, such as television, movies, and books. The American classic novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville contains several characters of color, including Queequeg, who is Pacific Islander, Pip, who is African-American, and Fedallah, who is Middle Eastern. These characters are not only portrayed as stereotypes of their cultures but also described as inferior to white people. Although…show more content…
Ishmael is not accustomed to seeing people who are not white, so when he first encounters Queequeg, who is Pacific Islander, he is shocked by Queequeg’s dark complexion. Ishmael views Queequeg’s “dark, purplish, yellow color” as something abnormal or strange (33). Ishmael’s initial reaction to Queequeg is a prime example of people fearing others who are different. Because Queequeg is not white, Ishmael perceives Queequeg as a monstrous, untamed savage. Ishmael has grown up in a society that deems white skin as ideal and dark skin as something deviant or unnatural. Queequeg’s skin is “unearthly” because it differs from white society’s rigid description of what is normal (33). Ishmael immediately judges Queequeg based on his race before getting to know him. Although Ishmael is prejudiced against people of color, he realizes that “a man can be honest in any sort of skin” (34). As Ishmael and Queequeg become closer, he learns that people of color are still people, despite their dark skin. Ishmael begins to view Queequeg less as a “head-peddling purple rascal” and more as a friend (34). Because of Ishmael’s white skin, he is able to pass through Nantucket without being labeled an outsider. Ishmael experiences racism first-hand when he goes out in public with Queequeg. People stare at the friendly pair because they are not used to “seeing…show more content…
When Melville first introduces Fedallah to the reader, he is described as having a “vivid, tiger-yellow complexion” (181). By comparing Fedallah’s skin tone to that of a tiger, Melville dehumanizes and animalizes Fedallah. Similar to how tigers are viewed as ferocious creatures, Fedallah is perceived to be part of “a race notorious for a certain diabolism” (181). Fedallah’s white turban and long braids scare the crew of the Pequod into believing that he is some sort of devil. Melville paints Fedallah as a satanic being, worshipping fire and “invoking some curse” upon the ship (371). Throughout the novel, the narrator refers to Fedallah as the “Parsee,” who is a person of Persian heritage who practices Zoroastrianism. Fedallah is seldom called by his name. Because he is a person of color, Fedallah is defined by his ethnicity. The reader is constantly reminded that Fedallah is not white through the use of the ethnic term “Parsee.” Fedallah is much more than simply an ethnicity, but Melville allows Fedallah’s culture to consume his entire identity. People of Middle Eastern descent are often stereotyped as violent or sinister, and Melville contributes to racist Middle Eastern stereotypes by demonizing
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