This tale of God-hating Ahab and relativistic Ishmael, of Fate versus Free-Will, and tyranny versus democracy is at the heart of our present experience as Americans. America’s greatest book was described by one contemporary reviewer as a cracking good whaling tale interrupted by too many digressions on philosophy. Not a bad description, except that the chapters on philosophy and theology are some of the main objects of Melville’s exciting work. In this course, your student will read through all of the books, and the focus of our class time and testing will be on the chapters that best establish Melville’s many themes and conclusions. That way, the student will not feel hopelessly at sea in the details of this wonderful and clear-headed book.