E X T E N S I O N ISHMAEL, QUEEQUEG AND RACISM In the time of the mid-19th century, in which racism was particularly strong, in Moby Dick, Herman Melville compares civilization and savagery1. By placing a civilized protagonist (Ishmael) alongside a savage co-protagonist (Queequeg), Melville intends to show the similarities between two seemingly2-opposite characters. When Ishmael meets Queequeg (probably a Maori) in the Spouter Inn, at rst, he is scared to death; later on, he claims that it s better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian . This statement expresses clearly Melville s idea that external appearance and customs do not necessarily re ect the quality of the internal being never judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes. This opposes the popular ideas of the mid-19th century which claimed that whites were naturally superior to all others. The relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg shows the readers that the belonging to an ethnic group or another does not mean that one person is morally better than another.This was a belief shared among all white supremacists3 at the time when Melville wrote Moby Dick. The pleasant Polynesian harpooner contributes signi cantly to the themes of friendship and diversity in the novel. Although Queequeg is a pagan, Ishmael increasingly notices the man s independence, dignity4, good heart, extraordinary courage, and generous spirit. 1. savagery: (here) uncivilized condition. 2. seemingly: appearing to be. 3. supremacist: a person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power. 4. dignity: calm, serious, and controlled behavior that makes people respect you. 22