Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas

Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas Summary

Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas is Herman Melville's second book, published in 1847 as a sequel to his debut, Typee. Drawing from Melville's own experiences, the novel chronicles the narrator's adventures aboard a whaling ship, a subsequent mutiny, and his explorations in Tahiti, offering insights into 19th-century Polynesian life and colonial influences.

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Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas Excerpt

Short Summary: Following his escape from the island of Nuku Hiva, the narrator joins a whaling ship, becomes involved in a mutiny, and explores the islands of Tahiti, providing a vivid portrayal of South Sea adventures and the complexities of colonial interactions.

"Upon gaining the deck, I found the vessel heading directly for the land, which was now plainly seen about seven leagues off. The wind had shifted; and, during the night, we had been standing off shore on the other tack. The island looked as if it had just emerged from the ocean: the sun was rising over its eastern shore, and the grey mists, after wreathing themselves into a thousand fantastic shapes, were being gradually lifted up, and scattered abroad. The interior, swelling into high, hazy ridges, and seen through long vistas of valleys and gorges, had a wild, mysterious look, heightened by the vague reports we had heard of its inhabitants. The shore was fringed with foam, the surf breaking over submerged coral reefs, which, like a network, guarded the land. Here and there, a deep, narrow opening, through which the sea rushed furiously, seemed the entrance to some secluded harbor; and, in two places, white cascades marked the face of the country, pouring down from the green heights into the sea."

As we drew nearer, the character of the island gradually changed; and, when at last we glided in between two headlands, and found ourselves in a beautiful bay, about four leagues in depth, the prospect was most enchanting. The shore sloped gently to the water; and, in the distance, the land rose in moderate elevations, which, swelling one above another, at last culminated in a lofty range of mountains, whose blue, undulating outline melted into the clouds. The landscape was diversified by groves of the cocoa-nut and other trees, scattered in picturesque groups; while here and there, open lawns, swept down from the hillsides to the water, affording glimpses far inland. The bay itself—smooth as glass, and clear as the air above—was alive with fish of every variety, revelling in the sunshine; and, occasionally, a shark, prowling about, would break the surface, and, turning on his side, display his white belly, as he shot down again into the depths."

Such was the scene that greeted us as we slowly glided toward the land; and, as I gazed, I felt a buoyancy of spirit which made me forget all I had endured. It seemed as if a new world were opening upon me, and that a new career was about to begin. The past was forgotten; and, with a heart bounding with delight, I turned to my companion, who stood by my side, and exclaimed, 'Typee! this is the very paradise of the Pacific!'"

This passage from 'Omoo' captures the narrator's first impressions upon approaching a South Sea island, reflecting Melville's rich descriptive style and his fascination with the exotic landscapes of the Pacific."