Just the audio of a short but worthy lecture. Key points discussed:

• A deeper dive into the biblical significance of Ishmael and Ahab’s names
• The role of the divine in humankind’s struggle against nature, including an excellent analysis of Ahab’s most critical monologue
• Further contextualization of the famous chapter “The Whiteness of the Whale”, which I still maintain is overrated by critics
• A gentle reckoning with the ethics of the hunt itself as a paradox for the (largely Quaker) characters

Bloom, like many critics of his era, seems fixated on the distinct American-ness of Moby Dick, an idea I can only take but so seriously before I grow tired of it. Other than that, it is a phenomenal lecture. Recommended for sure.

Bonus: for those interested in more autobiographical context on Melville and his journey of writing and publishing Moby Dick (plus some info on his relationship with Nathaniel Hawthorne), I also recommend this talk given by historian and author Nathaniel Philbrick.