im a bit confused of what could be the conclusion behind the following lines written by Melville in his LETTER TO NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, JUNE 1851.
the lines are:
A: “So the product is a final hash, and all my books are botches.”
is this mean that no one values or understands the stories he writes, thus his books are like thrash?
B: “I’m going to take him by his jaw, however, before long, and finish him up in some fashion or other.”
does this mean that without wasting and working hard enough to make his story a well-written one he shall just write it any way. cause no one bothers or appreciates a well-written story.
C: “Though I wrote the Gospels in this century, I should die in the gutter.”
he feels even though he has written gospels stories, he hasn't fail to make people understand it and understand its values.
please help by correcting my conclusions drawn from these lines that describes melville's feelings about his writing.
a. Hash is a mixture of stuff, with hunks of this and that showing. A botch is an embarrassing mistake. What this means is that he is irritated that Hawthorne calls his works hash, and an embarrassing published mistake. Hawthorne considered Melville works to be unpolished.
b. All it means is that Melville intends to finish Moby Dick.
c. It means Melville thinks he wrote the foundation works of literature of the century, but he wont be recognized for it in his lifetime.
omg looks like my understanding for these lines were very poor!!! :p thanx for correcting!
To understand the possible conclusions Melville may have been expressing in the lines you provided from his letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is important to interpret them in context. It is worth noting that interpretations of literary works can vary, and the author's intention may not always be definitive. With that in mind, here are alternative explanations for your conclusions:
A: “So the product is a final hash, and all my books are botches.”
This line suggests a sense of dissatisfaction with his own writing. The use of the word "hash" implies a jumbled or messy final result, while "botches" suggests that Melville perceives his books as imperfect or flawed. Rather than indicating that no one values or understands his stories, it could reflect Melville's self-criticism and a belief that he hasn't lived up to his own aspirations as a writer.
B: “I’m going to take him by his jaw, however, before long, and finish him up in some fashion or other.”
This line might indicate Melville's determination to complete a project or achieve his writing goals. The phrase "take him by his jaw" could signify a firm grip on the story or protagonist, while "finish him up in some fashion or other" suggests a willingness to see the writing through, even if it means doing it in a less refined manner. It might highlight Melville's commitment to writing, rather than a disregard for quality due to a lack of appreciation.
C: “Though I wrote the Gospels in this century, I should die in the gutter.”
This line presents a contrasting statement, suggesting a sense of frustration or despair. It does not imply that people fail to understand the values of Melville's writing, but rather the opposite — even if he were to create something as significant as the Gospels (referring to biblical texts), he feels that his writing still wouldn't be fully recognized or appreciated, leading to a potential tragic outcome. This reflects a sense of the artist's struggle or lack of recognition despite their perceived accomplishment.
Keep in mind that these interpretations are just possibilities, and without more context, it's challenging to definitively determine Melville's exact feelings about his writing.