tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425514987715337437.post7519189150732073664..comments2024-03-26T22:47:45.276-07:00Comments on Intro to Critical Reading: The Cannibals and the Destruction of the StateAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16302919444091859459noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425514987715337437.post-85346620769685910492012-03-16T18:50:23.908-07:002012-03-16T18:50:23.908-07:00This is a strong, focused beginning of an analysis...This is a strong, focused beginning of an analysis of one of the most interesting and deep lines of symbolism (as well as serious, political-philosophical thought) within the novel. I don't have any objections to anything that you have here - which is to say, I think you do everything you could within the scope of a single short assignment - but I also think that the deepest questions remained unasked.<br /><br />You are setting up a case (which itself could use developed, of course) that <br />a) MD symbolizes the state, among other things<br />b) Ahab's war against MD symbolizes war against the state<br />c) cannibals, criminals, and proletarians take his side, whereas the officers are much more ambiguous about their position (Stubb doesn't like it; Starbuck detests it) - I'm filling in some details for you on this one.<br /><br />You assert that Ahab has been wronged by the state.<br /><br />How?<br /><br />What makes the paragon of white power turn against the state, turn against everything he has ever stood for, and join with cannibals? To make this successful short essay turn into a successful revision, you must answer this question well - that's at the heart of this potential project.<br /><br />Note that if you're right, Ahab and Ishmael are much more closely aligned than we might think.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302919444091859459noreply@blogger.com