Typee · Question
How does Typee develop the theme of Civilization vs. Nature?
Answer
Typee by Herman Melville develops Civilization vs. Nature across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The book contrasts the perceived artificiality, stress, and moral corruption of civilized society with the simplicity, health, and happiness of the natural life led by the Typees, though this idyllic view is complicated by the discovery of cannibalism.
The contrast between the civilized shipboard life and the wild, natural allure of the Marquesas is highlighted.
The contrast between European 'civilization'—represented by warships, forged weapons, and military drills—and the simple bamboo huts of the Marquesans highlights the destructive imposition of so-called progress.
The contrast between the 'civilized' Christian soldiers' destructive behavior and the 'savage' islanders' initial hospitality is explored.
Evidence in the book
- Chapter I
The contrast between the civilized shipboard life and the wild, natural allure of the Marquesas is highlighted.
- Chapter III
The contrast between European 'civilization'—represented by warships, forged weapons, and military drills—and the simple bamboo huts of the Marquesans highlights the destructive imposition of so-called progress.
- State of Affairs Aboard the Ship
The contrast between the 'civilized' Christian soldiers' destructive behavior and the 'savage' islanders' initial hospitality is explored.
- VII
The narrator and Toby's struggle against the elements—rain, cold, hunger—highlights the harshness of nature compared to the relative comfort of the ship.
- VIII
The narrator and Toby struggle against the harsh natural environment—steep ravines, dense reeds, and torrents—while seeking refuge from the perceived savagery of the island's inhabitants.
- Perilous Passage of the Ravine—Descent into the Valley
The harsh, untamed environment of the ravine contrasts with the civilized world the narrator left behind, testing human endurance.
- Chapter XII
The narrator contrasts the 'wilderness' of the Typee path with the 'grand thoroughfare' of the valley, highlighting the tension between civilized order and natural chaos.
- XIV
The narrator contrasts the ease of Polynesian life with the struggles of European artisans, highlighting the gap between savage and civilized existence.
