Call me Ishmael.
The narrator introduces himself with memorable simplicity.
"Call me Ishmael," the opening line of Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," is one of the most famous openings in American literature. It introduces the enigmatic narrator, Ishmael, who invites readers into a sprawling narrative of adventure and obsession. The simplicity and directness of the line contrast with the complex and symbolic nature of the novel that follows, which explores themes of identity, fate, and existentialism. The line's ambiguity regarding Ishmael's true identity and its straightforward appeal have intrigued scholars and readers alike, making it a subject of literary analysis and a culturally iconic phrase that resonates with themes of voyage and discovery.
Example Sentences
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick
This is the famous opening line of "Moby-Dick," first published by Richard Bentley in London in 1851.
