Definition of Mood
Just as the tone and style spans a wide range, so too does the mood of Moby-Dick, which reflects the scope of the novel in its ranging from the light-hearted and humorous to the weighty and tragic. While the mood flips frequently throughout, it is also possible to identify a trend in the movement of the mood in the novel, with the beginning having a more sprightly sense of adventure compared to the tragedy and poignancy of the ending, which details the final sinking of the Pequod. This shift in mood is reflective of Ishmael’s own journey in the novel, with the hope and wonder that characterizes his setting out on his voyage gradually interrupted by the more reflective and melancholic sentiment that Ishmael is forced to take on by his witnessing of mass tragedy.