THE REPRESENTATION OF A POLYNESIAN THROUGH QUEQEEQ CHARACTER IN HERMAN MELVILLE’S MOBY DICK
Abstract
This research applies a literary anthropology approach that focuses the study on the uniqueness of Queqeeq character represented in Moby Dick (Mellvill, 1962). That uniqueness contains physical characteristics as a Polynesian, cultural behavior, belief, and dialect. Queqeeq character is described as a very sober man, consistent in his words and manners, and referring to Polynesid race, with large black eyes, natural dark skin, and unworldly tattoos. Quegeeq is represented as a character of a hard worker, agile, and tough as a seaman in the Pacific ocean. In religion, Queqeeq is described as a primitive ritual-religion person, who is serious in fasting; not to eat and talk in the Ramadan time, prays ritually through a wooden idol, following the ritual-religion custom of Polynesian. Generally, it can be concluded that Melville in Moby Dick (1962) succeeds in representing the specific characteristics of Polynesian culture through character and characterization of Queqeeq
Moraref