Ahab Unbound: Melville and the Materialist Turn

Herman Melville's Captain Ahab is reimagined in Ahab Unbound as a contingent figure transformed by his environment, challenging our thinking about boundaries, persons, and nations and the racist and environmental violence caused by categories like the person and the human.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 19 April 2022
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Captain Ahab, the iconic character from Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick," is often portrayed as a controlling and tyrannical figure. However, "Ahab Unbound," a collection of sixteen essays by leading scholars, offers a fresh perspective on Captain Ahab by reimagining him as a contingent figure transformed by his environment. This transformation is brought about by various factors such as chemistry, electromagnetism, entomology, meteorology, diet, illness, pain, trauma, and neurons firing, which unexpectedly challenge our perception of him.

In "Ahab Unbound," the authors explore Melville's emergence as a center of gravity for materialist work, reframing Captain Ahab in terms of pressing conversations in animal studies, critical race and ethnic studies, disability studies, environmental humanities, medical humanities, political theory, and posthumanism. By taking Ahab as a focal point, the essays collectively gather and give shape to the multitude of ways that materialism produces criticism in our current moment. They challenge our thinking about the boundaries of both persons and nations, as well as the racist and environmental violence caused by categories like the person and the human.

One of the key arguments made in "Ahab Unbound" is that materialism provides a valuable lens for critiquing the boundaries of both persons and nations. The essays explore how materialism can help us understand the complex relationships between humans and nonhuman animals, as well as the ways in which race, ethnicity, and disability are intertwined with environmental concerns. They also highlight the ways in which Melville's work continues to resonate with contemporary issues, such as climate change, resource extraction, and the ethics of scientific research.

Contributors to "Ahab Unbound" include renowned scholars from various universities, such as Columbia University, Pennsylvania State University, Vanderbilt University, Brown University, and Georgia State University. The essays are written in a clear and accessible style, making them accessible to a wide audience. Each essay offers a unique perspective on Captain Ahab and his transformation, contributing to a rich and nuanced understanding of Melville's work.

In conclusion, "Ahab Unbound" is a compelling collection of essays that challenges our perception of Captain Ahab and offers a fresh perspective on his transformation by materialism. By reimagining him as a contingent figure transformed by his environment, the essays provide a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about the boundaries of both persons and nations, as well as the racist and environmental violence caused by categories like the person and the human. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Melville's work, as well as those interested in critical race and ethnic studies, disability studies, environmental humanities, medical humanities, political theory, and posthumanism.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517907556