My favorite thing about Moby Dick is how it breaks the perceived rules of modern lit so readily. People are always like “Where is the next Moby Dick? Who is writing the next Moby Dick?” Not only would it not get published for obvious reasons, but of all the literary criticism I’ve read on Substack, one of the most espoused rules is ‘don’t explain yourself, trust the reader!’

Meanwhile Melville has entire chapters where he’s almost literally like:

“So the whiteness of the whale is a symbol. Here’s what whiteness might mean.”

“You think it’s dumb to write about whaling? Here’s why it’s actually interesting!”

“Remember that last chapter about Ahab? Here’s why it’s important.”

“Whales are fish, btw.”