CH99: "The Doubloon" and human nature

Within Moby Dick, Melville created his own microcosm, in which to stage a tale of adventure and philosophy. This microcosm came in the form of a whaling ship, The Pequod, and her crew represented the many races, cultures, and backgrounds present in the world. Throughout the novel, Melville contrasted the various ways in which different crew members interpret the "world" -- within the bounds of the Pequod and, philosophically, on a higher level to represent …

…any theory completely. Any conclusions drawn in a search for meaning will almost certainly say more about the one forming the conclusions than the one being concluded upon. This is evident in Chapter 99, "the Doubloon", wherein the characters come to their own individual conclusions about life and their present situation onboard the Pequod. Through this chapter, Melville demonstrates the variety of interpretations that can be concluded from a simple object, such as a golden doubloon.