An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Writers often use biblical and mythological allusions with which their readers are familiar. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville frequently uses biblical and mythological allusions. With these allusions, the reader begins to understand the topic of discussion and is also exposed to the wisdom and knowledge that Melville possesses. The first allusion appears in the first line of the novel. “Call me Ishmael.” (Melville1). Ishmael was the biblical son of Abraham and his servant Hagar. He was denied in favor of Isaac, the son of Abraham and his wife Sarah. An angel prophesied to Hagar. “His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him. » (Genesis 16:12). The name "Ishmael" has since become commonly used to refer to an outcast, which is appropriate since he is inexperienced in whaling and is considered an outcast by the other sailors of the Pequod. Another biblical allusion concerns the prophet Elijah and the captain. Ahab. Elijah WARNS Queequeg and Ishmael of Ahab. Ishmael says that he and Queequeg ARE aboard the Pequod because they have just "signed the articles" (Melville 68) and Elijah responds "All that concerns your souls there" (Melville 68). This conflict between Elijah and Ahab dates back to the Bible. I Kings describes the conflict between King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Elijah tells Ahab that "where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick their blood, even your blood" (I Kings 21:19), and that "the dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezrell" (I Kings 21:19). I Kings 21:19). 9:23 p.m.). This allusion is significant because it foreshadows the destruction of the Pequod. In Moby Dick, the names of the characters are not that different from the names in the Bible and the outcome of those characters is not that different either. Not only did Melville use a number of biblical allusions in Moby Dick, but he also used many mythological allusions. He used Greek mythology to describe the Queequeg tattoo. “The quilt cover, full of strange little variegated squares and triangles, and this arm entirely tattooed with an endless Cretan labyrinth of a figure” (Melvine 19). The Cretan labyrinth was the labyrinth that imprisoned the half-bull, half-human Minotaur. This adds immensely to the visual imagery of Queequeg. Being able to imagine this large black harpoon with a “Cretan labyrinth” (Melville 19), the reader has a more attractive and more specific image of him..