The Influence of Gnosticism on Moby-Dick

Abstract

Herman Melville 의 작품세계는 다양한 종교적 요소들이 주제면이나 작중인물들의 묘사면에서 나타나고 있는데 그 중에서도 영지주의의 역활은 괄목할 만하다. Melville 이 영지주의에 크게 매혹되었던 까닭은 그가 그의 전 작품세계에서 줄기차게 다루고 있는, 세상에 존재하는 악의 문제를 영지주의가 설득력 있게 설명할수가 있었기 때문이다. 그가 영지주의와 접촉하게 되는 것은 여러 종류의 비교종교학 사전들을 통해서 인데 그 중에서도 Norton과 Bayle의 사전이 그에게 가장 큰 영향을 끼쳤다. 이런 영지주의는 「백경」에 나오는 Ahab선장의 모습에서 잘 나타나 있는데 이것은 영지주의가「백경」에 중요한 영향를 끼쳤다는 것을 잘 나타내 준다.

Herman Melvill's masterpiece entitled Moby Dick expresses many aspects of various religions. Gnosticism plays one of the most crucial roles in his works. Gnosticism wich could explain the existence of evil in the world fascinated Melville. His contact with Gnosticism through Bayle's and Norton's writings led him to use Gnostic thinking and allusions in Moby-Dick and his ideas expressed in his numerous biographical data frequently reflects the ideas of the Gnoxtics. The examination of the influences of Bayle and Norton and discussion of Gnostic ideas and expression of them in Melville's biographical data and in Ahab's characterization in Moby-Dick can show that the influence of Gnoticism on Melville is very crucial in Moby-Dick.

Herman Melvill's masterpiece entitled Moby Dick expresses many aspects of various religions. Gnosticism plays one of the most crucial roles in his works. Gnosticism wich could explain the existence of evil in the world fascinated Melville. His contact with Gnosticism through Bayle's and Norton's writings led him to use Gnostic thinking and allusions in Moby-Dick and his ideas expressed in his numerous biographical data frequently reflects the ideas of the Gnoxtics. The examination of the influences of Bayle and Norton and discussion of Gnostic ideas and expression of them in Melville's biographical data and in Ahab's characterization in Moby-Dick can show that the influence of Gnoticism on Melville is very crucial in Moby-Dick.