Chpt 16 analysis - Hannah Robinson
"Pequod"
When Ishmael arrives in Nantucket he ventures out to find a whaling boat to sail on. The boat he decides to sail and work on is called the Pequod. Pequod was named after the Algonquian-speaking Pequod tribe of Native Americans who live in New England but where annihilated by the Pequod War. The name "Pequod" for the boat of Ishmael and Queequeg may possibly foreshadow the events the crew and captains will encounter while at sea. This Pequod is jointly owned; the major owners are Captain Ahab, Captain Bilbad, and Captain Peleg. The smaller owners are unspecified citizens mostly "widows and orphans" of men who died at sea.
"Captain Peleg"
Captain Peleg is one of the main owners of the Pequod. Captain Peleg is the main man whom Ishmael consults in trying to get a job as a sailor on the Pequod. Peleg is a biblical name one of the two sons of Eber in the lineage of Jacob. It means "split" in Hebrew. This "split" could describe the ownership of the boat or possibly a split in the crew to come. (Peleg is also a Quaker)
"Captain Ahab"
Captain Ahab is another main owner of the Pequod; however, Ishmael never meets this captain. The background of this name is from the Bible. Ahab was a hostile and violent king of Israel. Ahab is negatively influenced greatly by his wife Jezebel to stray away from God to pagan worship and to stone men because Jezebel. Before Ahab is able to repent for his deeds he is killed in battle just as a prophet foretold. This name Ahab has much negative and frightening meaning behind it which might instigate some of the feelings Ishmael feels and thinks about Ahab even before Ishmael meets him.
"Captain Bildad"
Captain Bildad was the other third major owner of the ship "Pequod". Bildad is the man Ishmael finally is examined by to see if he is worthy to serve on the Pequod. Bildad is also the one who trys to give Ishmael 725th or 700th lay; however Pequod changes the lay to something much more reasonable. Bildad means son of contention. Bildad is a shunite in the Bible one of Job's three friends. Bildad's intent in talking to Job in the Bible is consolation but he becomes an accuser asking what Job has done to deserve God's wrath. This accusing might be characterized in Bildad's extreme Quaker religious beliefs; he might condemn nayone who does not follow his beliefs or talk as he does.
"Quaker"
Quaker is a certain religion commonly called the Religious Society of Friends. This religion had no creeds or hierarchical structures, rather they believe every person has a direct and personal relationship with God without a priest or minister, friends in Quaker religious are the "inner light", and the nature of God is love. Knowing this Quaker religion is good background because all three captains of the Pequod are Quakers. This religion affects their everyday life: how they speak and the choices they make. "dost thou" is and example of the Quaker way of speaking. This articulation of the English language is based off the 17th century English translation of the Bible; which Quakers study often.
"Yojo and Queequeg"
Yojo is Queequeg's pagan wood idol who says the Ishmael should be the one to chose the boat on which they will sail. This pagan idolatry may cause problems to come with the Quaker captains of the boat.
posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 6:49 PM
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