One interpretation of the story "the lightning-rod man" is that melville is criticizing certain christian missionaries of the time. do you agree with this interpretation? if so, describe how you see this theme reflected in the story. if not, discuss a more prominent theme you see presented in the story.

The answer is yes. Melville is really criticizing the Christian Missionaries.

Explanation:

Because he uses many biblical, scientific, and mythological themes to built his  story. The lighting -rod man is a representation of the missionares, while the narrator represents Melville beliefs. The center idea of the story is that the christianism convertion is destroying the cultures, values, and customs established before. The convertion is not about real spiritually, but about imposing the missionaries way of living. The narrator tries to dissuade his neighbors from believing  in the lightining rod man, Melville believes in a God full of love and not in a God or religion imposed by fear.

evertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and too much distrust render him intolerable.

explanation: