14 Facts About Clarel

Clarel: A Poem and Pilgrimage in the Holy Land is an epic poem by American writer Herman Melville, originally published in two volumes.

Clarel is perhaps the longest poem in American literature, stretching to almost 18, 000 lines.

Clarel stays in a hostel run by Abdon, the Black Jew — a living representation of Jerusalem.

Clarel is initially amazed by the religious diversity of Jerusalem; he sees Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists walking its streets and recognizes their common faith in divinity.

Clarel speaks briefly with a Dominican friar traveling through the desert.

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Clarel eagerly listens to these conversations but rarely participates, unsure of whether his faith is being shored up or torn down by the debates.

Clarel seeks Vine out for companionship, but Vine's stoic silence resists interpretation, and Vine denies Clarel's request for more open talk.

Clarel saw a vision of John's heavenly city in the air, above the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In conversations among the pilgrims and monks, Clarel learns that no one has faith—not Vine, Rolfe, Belex, Lesbos—nor Derwent, whose professions until this point had been staunch.

Clarel cannot appreciate the monks' faith; he scoffs at the holy relics showed him by the abbot, considers several of the monks to be insane, and cannot believe that the holy palm tree is either holy or a thousand years old.

Clarel seems almost divine to them, as if he were a reincarnation of St Francis.

Clarel's faith is strengthened after his time with Ungar and Salvaterra, and he views the setting sun as an inspiring beacon.

All through the rituals of Holy Week, Clarel waits for a miracle: for Ruth to return from the dead as Christ did.

Clarel was still in doubt following his time in Jerusalem.