The Hypocrisy of Religion in Moby-Dick
Religion is not a pair of pants that someone can change whenever they see fit. Quaker is what many of the major characters claim to be, if not for simply believing in the tenants, then for the fact that they lived in Nantucket, a place originally settled by Quakers. Several of the characters in Moby Dick are identified as Quakers, but their actions do not match their words. When comparing the tenants of the religion to the action and dialogue in the novel, it becomes evident that some of the characters can not be seen as Quakers.
Quakers believe in several tenants which shape their daily lives. The Quakers believe in, “the virtues of moral purity, integrity, honesty, simplicity and humility” (Tolerance). Ishmael learns about the history of Bildad, which involved going to new lands and whaling. Ishmael informs the reader that, “…he had long since come to the sage and sensible conclusion that a man’s religion is one thing, and this practical world quite another.” Bildad apparently practiced his religion piously at home, but did not make the connection between it and the outside world. If religion generally carries moral codes to live by, what is the point in practicing a religion if you choose when and where you follow its rules? During the chapter, “The Ship,” Ishmael negotiates his lay with Bildad, who tries to convince him that 1/777 lay is plenty enough for Ishmael. Bildad believes that too much money might corrupt Ishmael, asserting, “The seven hundred and seventy-seventh wouldn’t be too much, would it?—‘where moth and rust do corrupt, but lay.’” Bildad attempted to use a quote from the bible to keep Ishmael from being “corrupted,” when it reality Bildad was just being greedy.
Another of the main testimonies of the Quakers is that of peace. The belief that violence is wrong has persisted from the religion’s very beginnings. Even Ishmael wonders how Bildad reconciled his religion with the spilling of, “tuns upon tuns of leviathan gore.” If peace and nonviolence runs towards humans, could it not also go towards animals, as well? Ishmael describes Quakers like Bildad and Peleg as “fighting Quakers…” but that seems completely oxymoronic. If a tenant of their belief is nonviolence, then the Quakers cannot be known as “fighters
Bildad constantly preaches to the other sailors about what he believes is appropriate behavior. Bildad scolds others when they swear and warns them of Hell. The fact that they participate in such a gory profession does not seem to bother Bildad. Morality and integrity should also be very important to Bildad, but he is only too willing to forget about those tenants when it comes to determining the lay. Bildad cares more for his job than what should be his way of life.
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