What does this line in MOBY DICK mean?

still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting, mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all.





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especially the PHANTOM OF LIFE.. what does that mean? thank you! :)

What does this line in MOBY DICK mean?
It means that "life is but a dream", the outer world is an illusion (see Shakespeare, Buddhism, etc). By believing in the illusion, we chase a dream and this is our human torment. We are attracted to the image, want to know what is beyond but cannot grasp the real meaning. It is "key to all" because chasing an illusion explains most human motivation. Also, we want to make sense of things and we are forever looking for the true meaning of life, which remains a mystery. So, the great adventure in life is trying to solve the mystery - which is impossible.


The specific story of Narcissus (Greek mythology) is also about falling in love with yourself, in a negative way, becoming obsessed with yourself, which will end badly. Hence the psychological term "narcissism". It is also about appearances, outer beauty, which in itself is meaningless and will trick those who take it too seriously.
Reply:The ungraspable phantom in life is wanting what we can't have or can't having what we want. In the case of Narcissus he drowned chasing his own reflection. Capt Ahab's fate was to drown chasing the idea that revenge on that SOB whale would compensate him for his lost leg. Neither the reflection or the revenge was graspable (obtainable). Even if Ahab had caught MD it wouldn't have satisfied. Get rid of "wanting" and the phantom disappears.