• American Studies
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.27-56
• /
• 2020

This paper attempts to interpret the meaning of nine gams in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. It approaches the topic from an organizational identity perspective. It is the theory which asserts the importance of the reference group in the formation of group members' organizational identity. This paper views the gams as the reference groups for the sailors of the Pequod and shows what meanings or questions each gam presents to them. It divides the nine gams into three groups according to their functions in the organizational sense. This paper argues that the extremely dangerous quest of the Pequod is not led by the captain only, but the sailors, who are given many chances to make their decisions after having gams, eventually choose to obey and follow their leader. The tragic end is partly what they choose, after all.