Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick, uses a Pagan character, named Queequeg, to embody the ideas of man’s inability to comprehend truth and the real meaning of life. The undecipherable tattoos on Queequeg’s body support the crew’s belief that he is uncivilized and corrupt. However, Queequeg uses his tattoos to demonstrate his own individuality, while also revealing the ideas of life’s mysteries and truth.
Queequeg’s tattoos are used as a reason for the crew of the Pequod to assume that the aborigine is a complete cannibal with no civilized characteristics. However, after a confabulation with Ishmael and Queequeg, Ishmael is able to overcome the stereotypes that are associated with Queequeg’s tattoos. ... Even though the tattoos are thought to be an indication of wild behavior, Queequeg is able to prove that the inner self can be nobler and not relate to one’s physical appearance. ... The tattoos are hieroglyphics, which are symbols used to represent words that are difficult to understand. Therefore, the tattoos are “a riddle to unfold [and] a wondrous work in one volume”, thus none of the crew members are able to decipher the meaning of the tattoos.
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