A classic tale of the battle between nature and man, Moby Dick by Herman Melville displays the common human craving for revenge in a drastic setting, ending in destruction and madness. Melville demonstrates this theme through instances of allusion, foreshadowing, and character types, along with many other devices as well. References to the Bible are a most common allusion throughout this particular novel, as the biblical hints suggest a proposed outcome to the reader. This leads to foreshadowing, a device that was mostly exercised through prophecies, a rather uncommon occurrence in a majority of other instances of realistic fiction. Different character types are also demonstrated in the novel. This includes examples of stagnant characters and foils. By means of these implementations, greed and selfishness of the human race is exhibited. 

Biblical allusions are quite common in early American literature, as the Bible was often referenced in everyday life and it could be assumed that the audience would understand the relations. Prior to the start of the voyage in the novel, the audience and characters are introduced to a seemingly mad man by the name of Elijah. This man accosts Ishmael and Queequeg, warning them passionately of the dangers on board the Pequod, starting significantly with Captain Ahab. This relationship between Elijah and Ahab could be easily connected to the ancient biblical tale of two with the same names. In the bible, a prophet named Elijah warns the sinful king Ahab that doom is on the way. The king didn't listen and as a result, created a drought of three years and mass chaos among the people. This allusion foreshadows the imminent doom that will soon be met by the crew aboard the Pequod. The man warned, “With finger pointed and eye leveled at the Pequod, the beggar-like stranger stood a moment, as if in a troubled reverie; then starting a little, turned and said:—’Ye’ve shipped, have ye? Names down on the papers? Well, well, what’s signed, is signed; and what’s to be, will be; and then again, perhaps it won’t be, after all. Anyhow, it’s all fixed and arranged a’ready; and some sailors or other must go with him, I suppose; as well these as any other men, God pity ’em! Morning to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye;’”(Melville, pg. 102). Prior to this statement, Elijah filled Ishmael and Queequeg in on the deeds done by their soon-to-be captain, including fights with Spaniards, skirmishes, and the occurrence of his loss of leg. Due to this, Elijah clearly does not trust Ahab and warns them against signing off to him. This warning foreshadows the darkness on the horizon for the members of the Pequod. 

Most novels include a multitude of different character types including static characters, dynamic characters, round characters, flat characters, and more. Captain Ahab, although an immensely important person in the book, is an example of a static character. He doesn’t have any major changes throughout the novel, simply slowly developing in the madness for vengeance. The journey opens with him edging the ship onward towards his revenge, not stopping for anything or anyone. Throughout the novel, he retains this way of thinking. From the beginning, he knew what his goal was and never stopped to reconsider even for a moment. Despite this, in chapter 132, the audience is almost convinced that the harsh captain had finally had a change of heart. During his sentimental speech with Starbuck of his family back at home, he expresses, if only for a moment, a longing for home. Nevertheless, he plunges onward, never being properly swayed. According to the text, “‘It is done! we head for Nantucket! Come, my Captain, study out the course, and let us away! See, see! the boy’s face from the window! the boy’s hand on the hill!’ But Ahab’s glance was averted; like a blighted fruit tree he shook, and cast his last, cindered apple to the soil. ‘What is it, what nameless, inscrutable, unearthly thing is it; what cozening, hidden lord and master, and cruel, remorseless emperor commands me; that against all natural lovings and longings, I so keep pushing, and crowding, and jamming myself on all the time; recklessly making me ready to do what in my own proper, natural heart, I durst not so much as dare?’”(Melville, pg 592). Captain Ahab is blinded by his need for revenge, not seeing past thoughts of glory when killing the brute that took his leg. As the book progresses, he descends deeper into madness, concentrated only on the proposed vengeance. This shortsightedness leads to his demise. The one character that makes it out alive just so happens to be the foil to Ahab himself, Ishmael. 

Ishmael, the main character of the novel and the primary point of view that the book adopts, is the opposite of his severe captain. While Ahab spends the entire voyage hyper fixed on his heartless revenge, in direct contrast to this, Ishmael chose this journey in order to explore the world and try new things, he is generally more open than the captain and could take things in moderation. For example, when introduced to a religion other than his own, Ishmael thinks, “I was a good Christian; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church. How then could I unite with this wild idolator in worshiping his piece of wood? But what is worship? thought I. Do you suppose now, Ishmael, that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth—pagans and all included—can possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood? Impossible! But what is worship?—to do the will of God—that is worship. And what is the will of God?—to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me—that is the will of God. Now, Queequeg is my fellow man. And what do I wish that this Queequeg would do to me? Why, unite with me in my particular Presbyterian form of worship. Consequently, I must then unite with him in his; ergo, I must turn idolator. So I kindled the shavings; helped prop up the innocent little idol; offered him burnt biscuit with Queequeg; salamed before him twice or thrice; kissed his nose; and that done, we undressed and went to bed, at peace with our own consciences and all the world.”(Melville, pg. 58). In this excerpt, Ishmael is shown to be an open person, honest about trying new things and free to explore. However, Ahab doesn’t seem to understand the point of gaining new views. He instead chooses to lock himself in his room, refusing to fraternize with the other members of his ship. The text states, “At last, stepping on board the Pequod, we found everything in profound quiet, not a soul moving. The cabin entrance was locked within; the hatches were all on, and lumbered with coils of rigging… It was now clear sunrise. Soon the crew came on board in twos and threes; the riggers bestirred themselves; the mates were actively engaged; and several of the shore people were busy in bringing various last things on board. Meanwhile Captain Ahab remained invisibly enshrined within his cabin,”(pgs 108,110). This proves the inability to socialize that the captain has. In this sense, he and Ishmael are foils of one another, where one is open and free and the other is closed off and bitter. 

Herman Melville used a number of different literary techniques such as allusion, foreshadowing and character types in order to portray the theme to the audience. Through these devices, a theme of harsh greed and demand for vengeance in human nature is revealed. The audience is introduced to multiple characters, all of whom understand this issue in a different way and process it in their own personal method.