When you meet someone new, maybe the best thing to do is not to "judge a book by its cover", but don't do it because there is a possibility in the world we live in ? Not just relevant today, judging based on physical attributes dates back to the 1850s, when enslavement of Africans was justified on the grounds that whites had lighter skin color. Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick explores the theme of race and how it relates to status. Melville expresses the hierarchy of society with whites at the top, expressing their superiority over non-whites, but at the same time sheds a positive light on non-whites, in some cases portraying them as more worthy of respect. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Moby Dick shows the ignorance of white people through the stereotypes they create about non-whites and their belief that any skin color deviating from the color white is considered “savage”. When Ishmael initially meets Queequeg, originally from Kokovoko, he relies solely on the composition of Queequeg's skin to determine whether or not he was worthy of being a roommate. Ishmael observes and determines: “What a face! It was dark, purplish, yellow in color… studded with large blackish-looking squares… it makes a terrible bedfellow; he fought…falling among the cannibals” (Melville 23). These three hypotheses that Ismael immediately made were based on a “story” he heard from another man, and he is simply applying the same negative associations to a stranger with certain marks on his body. Soon, however, although somewhat skeptical of Queequeg's reliability at first, Ishmael chooses this "former cannibal" as his "other half" and avoids clinging to his first impressions. This shows that not only did whites have a strong opinion towards non-whites, but any man who overcame this barrier might be able to find himself wrong in the stereotype. It also shows that a man's bodily characteristics may not reflect his personality, but influence white men because they believe that lightness makes them more superior, effectively influencing how non-whites are treated. towards non-whites they portray unconditional white superiority and non-white subjugation, and whites as thoughtless. The hierarchy of workers is determined by race; the Pequod is made up of men of many races, but the whites sometimes abused their power. For example, Stubb's cook was the negro Flask, and one night Stubb interrupted his sleep only to tell him that his shark dish had not been cooked well: "Stubb... shouted..." Cook, you cook! -- set sail this way!" The old black man... woken from his warm hammock... "don't you think this steak is a little over the top?" (321). Stubb has woken his chef for a trivial matter and Flask couldn't do anything about it. This shows that non-whites think they have the right to do anything to benefit themselves, even if it means a violation of non-whites or an inappropriate act. Stubb maintains his right to "power." commanding Flask simply for his own amusement and exerting his own importance before Flask's In the speech that Flask gives to the sharks, he implies that Stubb is also somewhat similar to the shark, and misaligns with Stubb's thoughts that himself. he is exclusive in his abilities to do what he wants without being penalized. Furthermore, the same man, Stubb, has received a black boy, Pip, who is frightened and periodically jumps off the ship, and Stubb warns him not to do so. He states, “Stay in the boat, Pip, otherwise not.