Biblical and Mythological Allusions In Hermon Melville’s “Moby Dick” “An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.” (Thompson 1155). Writers often use biblical and mythological allusions to which their readers are familiar. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville constantly uses biblical and mythological allusions. With these allusions the reader understand the topic of discussion and is also exposed to the wisdom and knowledge that Melville possess. The first allusion appears in the first line of the