Herman+Melville

Name: Herman Melville Age: 31 Gender: Male Occupation: Novelist, Essayist, Short Story writer If in politics, what was your occupation prior to that: Never in politics Social Class: Father and mother were from quite well respected revolutionary families. Had heroes on both sides of the family. Father worked as a merchant. Upon growing up, married the daughter of a State Supreme Court Justice and sustained a house. Therefore, was of the middle to high class. Financial Situation: As a child, his family had well-off relatives, but failure of business eventually made them bankrupt. Made sufficient money to buy a house in 1850, but not making many royalties from his less-than-successful books. As finances faltered, he earned money by being a lecturer Appearance: Had a recognizable beard and mustache with a short haircut Location: Pittsfield, Massachusetts Daily Routine: Spent days occupied with writing or managing his farm Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Tended to be a loner, wanted to be independent, was comfortable around Indigenous people (interacted with a tribe thought to be a group of cannibals) Past/Individual and family history: Father died shortly after leaving the family bankrupt, Melville wanted independence and to be able to sustain himself later in life. Traveled a lot, and believes that his real life started when he sailed across to the South Pacific. Deserted his ship and interacted with Indigenous people, having a good experience. When he went to Hawaii, he was against the conversion of Natives to Christianity. Recreated many such experiences in his later novels. Family: Mother, father (deceased), younger brother who eventually became governor of a small city. Had at least two more siblings because he was the third child. Social relations with others: Was primarily an intellectual loner, but around 1850, made great friends with a neighboring writer named Nathaniel Hawthorne, who inspired Melville. Religion: Puritan Education: Attended the Albany Academy, studying Classics Conflicts/Enemies: No quarrels with anyone at the time. Had a hard time staying financially stable. Father died at an early age, leaving the family without money. Later on, as his finances couldn't support him, he had troubles with his marriage and had to cope with rumored alcoholism.

Journal Entry #1:

I sit here writing, feeling quite accomplished. No matter the situation, man can't ever feel bad about the recent purchase of a house. Here we are, Elizabeth and me, getting settled in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in our house, Arrowhead. The name is full of power; so sharp and progressive. I feel optimistic about the future; been working on a little novel that I think will really be my breakthrough. We'll see how things progress with it, perhaps the new atmosphere here in Pittsfield will mold it into something great. Hopefully something that'll take my mind off the things going on with the big wigs of this country. Maybe I'm being a little extreme and dramatic, but that's how writers like us have to talk anyways.

It's just that I, unlike many other Americans, have had the opportunity to really GO places, and see things that people are too scared to explore. Fugitive Slave Act? Is this supposed to humor me? In my trip to Cape Horn, I deserted the ship and ended up being taken in by a tribe that was accused of being "savages" and "cannibals". I thought I'd give them a chance, and my intuition was spot on. I was treated very well by them; better than a lot of the citizens around here, from which I try to exclude myself. But now, we're taking away from the blacks, who are more civilized and Americanized (which I don't entirely approve of) than those Natives, their basic rights? Basic justice? What happened to the golden rule? What happened to the religion our ancestors based their immigration on? Taking Africans from their home country, and trying to mold them like clay is bad enough (Missionaries are trying to do that in Hawaii, what an outrage), but now we're taking away their rights in a country they're forced to live in? I'm glad I can manage my farm and take care of my writing to get my mind off things like these. I can't imagine having to think about and compromise these kinds of laws all day.

Journal Entry #2:

I guess that my previous prediction has come true. Things have slightly been looking up lately in my life, ho, with the publication of a satisfying work of mine, //Moby Dick//. It didn't receive the howling critical acclaim that I had expected, but people will open their eyes in time. I have Hawthorne to thank for that; what an inspiration to my writing. I myself will admit that I choose to isolate myself from the others. I'm just....different. I think differently, I speak differently; not a lot of people would understand me. But Nathaniel Hawthorne was a different case; a real friend and inspiration.

However, while there are fireworks in my life, I still see the flaws of our incompetent society. Constant political quarreling that amounts to what? Of course, more quarreling. The country divides over an issue that could be settled if both sides mature just a little bit. I hear of the election coming, but why should I even care. I detest the society and its workings. How could I not Aside from the fact that I am indeed a Romantic, why push for such a controversial topic as supporting slavery? I see these days that the key to success is being colorless, without clear goals. That candidate Franklin Pierce, tries to appeal to everyone by taking an unclear and vague stance on the issue at hand. What is the dang point of that?! What happened to radical drive, danger, and passion; the things that leaders SHOULD be chosen for? Yet, the political struggle has now brought us to a point where we must consider leaders that have no particular stance. With no particular stance, how do we elicit particular action?

We need those men like Preston Brooks. Granted, I fully am against his intentions and his sudden actions, but he has the passion that we need to see in a leader. He has the drive for change. I am not going to discriminate him just because he supports slavery (which is the reason that nothing can get done around here on that issue). He did a "valiant" thing, voicing his opinion like that. We need someone with just half that zeal to actually get things going in this country. We need candidates with a clear position and stance. But, what do I care? Society is corrupt and dirty anyways. As long as the elections don't affect my peace and harmony with nature, as long as they don't start discussing issues of deforestation, I am fine.

Journal Entry #3:

That Douglas is a fool! Excuse my outburst, I know that I have nothing but negativity for this society, but there is obviously a reason for my ranting. This is exactly why we shouldn't put human institution in charge of making necessary changes: because it fails to do any good. I've just heard of the passing of some phony Act regarding Kansas and Nebraska. Some talk about popular sovereignty here and there - no matter...What most irks me is that this Act has caused the repealing of the Missouri Compromise. Nothing is worse than covering up a controversial Compromise with one that's even worse. Douglas were you thinking straight? Do you possess a brain or soul? Didn't you have any idea what sort of uproar this would cause, to change an established compromise and leave the people shocked? And this is why we let nature take its toll on changes, that we don't try too hard to make things happen, it'll only anger more people. Romanticism people, Romanticism!

But perhaps I'm exaggerating a little bit. I'm not saying that trusting nature to take its course will yield only good results. I'm no Ralph Waldo Emerson; I don't believe that there's a silver lining in a murder. I am mature enough to understand that bad things happen as well, and nature shouldn't be our sole reliance. But as I continue to emphasize, decisiveness is of critical importance, especially in this stage of America's growth. Repealing a Compromise is definitely the opposite of that.

P.S. Moby Dick is selling fairly well, but I worry that it might be ahead of its time. Perhaps people of future generations will find it more interesting.

Journal Entry #4

Well my last journal entry has just been answered, albeit in a violent way. Word has gotten out about this event they call "Bleeding Kansas", involving a John Brown. Of course, I don't condone cold blooded killing, but this man has the right idea, as gruesome as it sounds. This man has a passion; a heart for his belief in abolition and antislavery, and he contradicts the indecisiveness of the rest of the nation. I won't say at this moment if I agree with his beliefs, and I definitely am against the way in which he carried it out, killing those slaveholders, but I admire his drive and devotion. An opposite to that Douglas trying to please everyone. But this violence has caused a bigger split in the North and South over this childish issue, and I'm afraid that things will escalate to a hostile level.

Slavery news seems to be the only thing I hear about these days, with the introduction of this slave they call Dredd Scott, taking some action against this injustice and suing for freedom. As much as I support this man's intentions and drive, I am beginning to doubt the justice of our system, and predict that the outcome will be against him, just because of his skin color. Our nation has begun to become very predictable in its decision making. I just hope that this man will be blessed.

Journal #5

Well, there's really not much for me to say at the moment. I'm still in quite a shock, not because I particularly am attached to the matter at hand, but only because it's something you wouldn't expect to happen to a nation. Now granted, I choose not to dabble in politics, so maybe if I were interested in it, I would have seen this coming. However, I had not even slightly predicted the secession of South Carolina, a bold move on its part, but immature and stupid in my opinion. Here I was, for the past few journal entries, preaching about the importance of being bold; of being definite, and South Carolina goes and pulls this off. Hmph, taking my advice the wrong way.

And they say the cause of all this commotion is merely the election of the new president, Abraham Lincoln; honest Abe, a man that supposedly has a plan that disgusts those South Caroliners. He has that leadership aura, looks like the ideal literary hero, with that lumbering height of his. But like a politician, here he is trying to please everybody. Saying he wants to end slavery, be an advocate to stop sectionalism, but isn't egalitarian and this and that. But I'm not going to preach about being extreme anymore, I'll just wait and see what Lincoln actually gets done.

But I do admit, this whole sectionalism thing is getting a little out of hand. I wouldn't be surprised if the two "sides" of the Union went to war. (Well, maybe that was a little bit exaggerated, what kind of nation would fight itself?) But I remember when John Brown raided that Harper's Ferry and the things that came out of that. It's to the point where my fellow Northerners are feeling sympathy for that murderer, just because he has the same views as the rest of the North. Sure he looks like a hero, but a hero doesn't kill out of cold blood. And I'm sure it didn't make the South too happy with us either. Half of them are probably scared out of their wits that the rest of the Northerners are killing machines, and the other half are probably ready to tear us down any second.

Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 3: Early Nineteenth Century - Herman Melville." //PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide//. WWW URL: http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/melville.html

Liukkonen, Petri. "Herman Melville." //Www.kirjasto.sci.fi//. 2008. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. .