Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819, to Alan and Maria. Herman was third-born out of 8 children. His father was often traveling in Europe for work, an importer (not exporter) of French dry goods. Herman grew up with three or more servants in the household and the family was indeed financially comfortable. Alan (dad) lived beyond their financial means though, often splurging on things unnecessarily. Upon Maria’s income from her parents being cut off, Alan realized he had caused severe debt to the family’s name and had no immediate resolution for it.
Despite this financial turn, Herman wasn’t harshly impacted by the sudden change in lifestyle. His parents were known to very loving and affection people, putting their focus on their immediate circle. Herman began school at the age of 5 and was a very happy, amiable child. Once a bit older, Herman was sent off to a male high school with his brother. In 1829 Herman enrolled in a grammar and preparatory school, majoring in English. He did well overall, though he didn’t dedicate much time to studying, per his brothers’ overseeing eyes.
Alan decided to move the family to Albany, New York and riskily, venture into the fur business. Debt was continuing to build and their financial struggles turned into bankruptcy. Herman was taken out of school in 1831 because of the tuition fees being a bit more than his father could bare. His father traveled to New York City by steamboat and then traveled the remaining 70 miles in an open carriage. Unfortunately, the temperatures during this long excursion were below freezing. Maria (mom) said Alan was delirious and losing all sense. Sadly, he passed in January 1832 at the age of 49. Herman stood by his family’s side during these events and witnessed the deterioration of his father in his last days, later writing that it was a scene from Pierre.
At the age of 14 Herman stepped up to contribute to the family income as a bank clerk. He was a well trusted employee and viewed as responsible young man. He was a big fan of drawing during this period of his life, which is revealed as a lifelong passion in his later years. He showed great curiosity and read books of mythology, anthropology, and history. Undoubtedly his varied reading engraved a lasting influence on his overall views and his illustrative creativity. In 1835 Herman enrolled to go back in school (he just can’t seem to stay away)!
His older brother Gansevoort was a big influence in his life and he served as a beneficial role model to Herman. Gansevoort was a member of Albany’s Young Men’s Association for Mutual Improvement and Herman eagerly joined by his side. His brother was also a major contributor to his interest and passion for reading. Gansevoort had a blank register that was for noting outstanding passages from books. A few he had noted were discovered to be pulled from books that Herman later used for inspiration in Moby-Dick and Clarel.
Panic of 1837 was a period that touched off a major depression, causing a widespread financial crisis in the US. Wages were lowered, unemployment skyrocketed, and dark clouds seems to hover over everyone. The family was forced to split up and the younger children were sent to live where costs were more reasonable. Gansevoort studied law and Herman tended to the farm…that is until he received a teaching position at a school in Massachusetts, teaching children of various ages. Once the semester was complete, he returned home and decided that he desired some public limelight, even if on a small level. Herman decided to submit two controversial letters to be published in the Albany Microscope that reviewed concerns over debating societies. In 1839 his first published essays, “Fragmants from a Writing Desk” appeared in the weekly newspaper. He used heavy-handed allusions and dark writing that glimmered inspiration from Lord Byron, John Milton and William Shakespeare, to name a few.
In May of 1839, at the ripe age of 20, he signed aboard a merchant ship and returned a few months later in October. He returned to teaching and then quit after one term, due to lack of compensation. Hm. Is it just me or does it seem like his urge for adventure was part of that decision? In 1840 Herman decided to sign up for a whaling voyage aboard a new ship. He signed the contract Christmas day and set sail in January of 1841. He had 20 roomies that he had to share space with, but thankfully this ship was 104 feet long and 28 feet in breadth. There were two decks and three masts built onto this ship, safely carrying the crew to the Bahamas where many whales were found. The cutting and boiling of just one whale took approximately three days, yielding one barrel of oil. On the norm, one voyage equated to 40 whales killed, filling 1600 barrels of oil. At times the crew would come across other ships with teams of whalers and they would sometimes decide to enjoy the fresh comradery and hunt together.
In the summer of 1842, Herman and his shipmate Richard jumped ship at Nuku Hiva Bay. His shipmate was captured by cannibals in the Marqueas Islands. This quest was his inspiration for his first book Typee. Herman was able to escape and joined an Australian whale ship that was heading towards Tahiti. He was tied to a revolt by refusing his assigned duty and was briefly jailed. In October he fled to Eimeo and spent a month beachcombing the island, then crossing over to Moorea (French island in Polynesia). In November he signed a new contract to be seaman on the Nantucket whaling ship for 6 months. He was discharged in Hawaii and remained there, working random jobs.
In 1844, he joined the US Navy in August and was discharged in October. Herman has a desire to wander and explore it seems. He was often moving from place to place after only a few months, savoring his freedom to discover and experience what was not yet known. He appreciated learning about the Polynesian culture and found a newfound appreciation for those less fortunate, recognizing the humble attitudes of those without authority. Once Herman returned to New York, he shared his tales of adventure and romance to his family. They excitedly urged him to write down his experiences. This was good stuff! He published Typee in 1845 and it became a bestseller in England, then New York. Herman was a bit hard on himself and desperately wished for better success. He didn’t want to go down as the man who lived among the cannibals. Though I can’t say that’s not a pretty impressive way to be known.
At age 28, Herman married a gal named Lizzie after a brief courtship of 3 months. Lizzie’s father was a close friend of his late father, and over the years had offered financial assistance to the family after Herman’s dad had passed. He was a warm-hearted man and he may have been more of a paternal presence to Herman than most realized at the time. Lizzie felt the marriage was unexpected and once they married, wrote to a friend, “It seems sometimes exactly as if I were here for a visit. The illusion is quite dispelled however when Herman stalks into my room without even the ceremony of knocking, bringing me perhaps a button to sew on, or some equally romantic occupation“.
The pair had three children, two boys and one girl. Herman began working on Moby-Dick in 1850 and upon attending a gathering that included several literary figures, Herman met Nathaniel Hawthorne. He grew to admire and appreciate Nathaniel with great intensity…comparing him to William Shakespeare. Herman borrowed some money from his father-in-law and bought a 160-acre farm in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Soon after, Herman eagerly invited Nathaniel and his wife to stay, offering ample brandy and cigars, along with the hope of deep, intellectual conversation. But his new friend Nathaniel was a writer and well, he was deeply engrossed on writing his next book. Herman dropped by a for a visit and Nathaniel just wouldn’t have it. No can do, Herman! No interruptions please. One would assume Herman could relate to the common trend of a writer’s fixation once on a writing roll! Once the words start flowing, that current just can’t be stopped!
The two were 15 years apart in age and Herman was said to exhaust Nathaniel with his manic intensity. Thankfully, a smidge later, Nathaniel came to visit Herman on his farm, bringing his young daughter Ana. His home had an office window facing Mount Greylock, undoubtedly offering a calming inspiration to Herman’s soul during his writing. Herman’s first manuscript of Moby-Dick was initially rejected because the publishers assumed the validity of the story couldn’t be true. But finally, the novel was accepted in London where his brother Gavensoort was working for the American Legation.
Alas, finally! In 1851 Moby-Dick was published and his good friend Nathaniel commended his skills and approved of the creative uniqueness of the novel. Herman published several books during his later life, many not being appreciated at the time. A few sources reported Herman as a “crazy man” in papers and relatives of Lizzy said he confined himself in his study all day, with little or no exercise. His novel Ambiguities did not go over well, and it compelled his publishers to refrain from releasing a few other pieces he had completed. Herman was also hitting a point where he desperately needed to recover financially, and he took part in three different lecture tours. Herman felt dejected with the negative feedback on his last novel, (understandably) and focused his energies on writing poetry.
When Battle Pieces and Aspects of the War was published, Herman was soaked with disappointment yet again after reading reviews. Many readers didn’t understand his more simple and direct writing style. Herman intentionally avoided showy and pretentious words, trying to exude the simplicity of his vision with a direct approach of realism. Around 1866, Herman was suffering from many various physical pains and nervous exhaustion. Often his behavior resulted in him turning into a more harsh and cruel version of himself, sometimes drinking and coming home to take his pent up frustrations on his wife, Lizzie.
His oldest son died at the age of 18 due to a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Lizzie’s family felt concern for her safety and pleaded that she get out of the marriage by addressing the court with reasons of her husbands insanity. Lizzie decided she could not follow through with this idea. Perhaps she genuinely loved him and knew this wasn’t him going crazy, but merely a unhealthy response to feeling rejected and unsuccessful. Either way, she stayed with Herman. I hope things improved. His youngest son died at 36 due to tuberculosis. The heartbreak of losing your child must be devastating to a parents core, much less two children!
Though Herman retired, he continued to write for his own pleasure. In September of 1891 Herman passed away from cardiac dilation. He left behind many unpublished writings…a volume of poetry, an unfinished novel called Billy Budd, with sloppy notes of rearrangements that were quite messy and confusing. Lizzie wasn’t able to establish what the intention was. Billy Budd later became quite the success after his granddaughter handed it over to Raymond Weaver, an English Professor. He published a quick transcription in 1924 and it became a huge hit in England!
When The New York Times published his death notice, they documented his death alongside his most famous publications. That of which included, “Mobie Dick”. Hm…does something look off there? The incorrect spelling caused many to feel he was disrespected during his life and not given the praise deserved. Herman’s writing wasn’t well appreciated during his lifetime, as it should have been. I get a sense that he had a true desire to avoid conforming to society and bending to fit into the mold expected, but in the same token, had a desperate yearning for recognition, honor and acceptance. He believed in respecting different views and beliefs, as long as you do good to others. His heart enduringly seemed to be motivated by positive inspiration, but the desperateness to be admired and perhaps, just noticed, enticed a darker side we can all relate to. Maybe if we all soak ourselves within the colors of nature and tend to those with greater need, the darkness won’t ever come.
“Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the orange tint begins? Distinctly we see the difference of the colors, but where exactly does the one first blendingly enter into the other? So with sanity and insanity.”
― Herman Melville, Billy Budd, Sailor
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Melville
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/whaling-biography-herman-melville/