Metamorphosis of Ishmael in Moby Dick In Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Ishmael undergoes drastic changes in his personality and the way he views life. Ishmael learns to accept different people and learns to get along with people he would never want on land because of their appearance. On earth, worldly affairs are important, but by undertaking a voyage on the Pequod, Ishmael learns to hide the importance of these affairs and free himself from the restrictions imposed by earthly society. Ishmael found a place more beautiful and more peaceful than any other place on earth by traveling over the ocean. The changes Ishmael underwent from the land to the sea were beneficial to him. Once Ishmael began traveling on the Pequod, he stopped judging people based on their appearance. When Ishmael discovered that a harpooner (Queequeg) would be his bedfellow, he was afraid to sleep in the same bed with this savage. "Even a peddler of heads, perhaps the heads of his own brothers. He might take a fancy to him, for God's sake! Look at that tomahawk" (Melville 31)! This passage explains that Ishmael searches through Queequeg's valuables to find out what he is like instead of meeting Queequeg first and finding out what kind of person he really is. It is not possible to truly know another person without delving deep into the other's mind. “I pay this particular compliment to Queequeg, because he has treated me with such civility and consideration, while I have been guilty of great discourtesy;” (Melville 35). This quote exemplifies Ishmael's new understanding that he should not judge people by their physical characteristics and habits. He discovers that these savages can be kind and hospitable even as they harpoon whales and sell heads for a living. B...... half of the sheet ......le 442). Ishmael talks about how the Pacific Ocean was all he asked for. With the ocean, Ishmael found meaning in life and now saw what life is all about. He went on this journey to find meaning and beauty in life, and the ocean is where he found it all. For Ishmael, there is no place more suitable for him than the blue, rolling ocean. Ishmael has changed from being unhappy on land and now happy at sea. While at sea, he increased his morality, found happiness, and discovered the beauty of life and nature. These changes that Ishmael went through while on the ocean were all for the better. As one finds true love in a partner, Ishmael found his true love in the ocean. From land to sea, Ishmael transformed into a better and happier man. Works Cited: Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.