In Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," the concept of hell is depicted as originating from a seemingly trivial cause—a poorly digested apple dumpling. This imaginative analogy suggests that hell, as an idea, stems from something mundane and perhaps humorous, illustrating how our interpretations of suffering are often exaggerated and rooted in personal experiences.

Furthermore, the quote implies that over time, this initial notion of hell has been passed down through generations, much like a hereditary condition. The mention of "Ramadans" references the fasting practices that can lead to discomfort, symbolizing how our cultural and spiritual practices can breed negative perceptions, culminating in a collective notion of suffering that persists through time.