The Sphynx by tyler smith and jeff annis
Sphynx comes from the Greek work Sphinx, which means "to Strangle or hold." In Greek Mythology The Sphynx took the city of Thebes captive, eating the towns-people and terrorizing the city. The Sphynx did this until Oedipus completed the riddle which was given at hand. The Sphynx was believed to have the body of a lion, the head of a beautiful woman, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a serpent. This creature was also very large, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the city of Thebes, until that riddle was answered. The sphynx represents the whale in that Ahab cannot deal with the rest of his life until he himself deals with Moby Dick. When they kill a dead whale he talks to the whale asking it what kinds of things it had seen. This further proves his insanity because he is talking to a dead whale.
Sphynx Chapter 70 - Mark
The Sphynx, is a mytholigical charcter mentioned in chapter 70 of Moby Dick. The Sphynx, as known in Greek mythology, was the imfamous monster which held captive the city of Thebes until Oedipus set it free by solving the Sphnx's riddle, it had the head of a woman with the other features of a bird. The Sphynx also appears in ancient Egyptian history as the guardian of the Great Pyramids; it "symbolizes strength and wisdom" (http://guardians.net/egypt/sphinx/). The beheaded whale represents both of these "Sphynx's" in many ways. Firstly, both Sphynx's had heads which one wouldnt normally find on the body which they had, the whale in this chatpter is completely missing his head (or soon to be missing his head). Secondly, the Sphnyx mentioned in Greek mythology starved the city of Thebes untill it was finally defeated by Oedipus. In the same way, Ahab is unable to function normally until he knows that he has killed moby dick.
SPHINX KATE PENNEBAKER, KYLE SMITH, PAT COLLINS
Captain Ahab is known to have quite an eccentric personality, often coming across as quite odd at times. In chapter 70, he goes as far as trying to converse with a dead whale head in order to unveil the secrets of the ocean. During this "conversation," Ahab compares the whale to a sphinx. The comparison may seem unlikely, but the sphinx is known to be very intellectual and Ahab turns to the whale to gain some of the whales' knowledge of the depths of the sea. The sphinx is widely known throughout Greek mythology. In the story of Oedipus, he encounters a sphinx while trying to enter Thebes. The sphinx gives Oedipus two options: either Oedipus will answer her riddle correctly, he will be allowed to enter Thebes and she will jump off her rock or he will get the answer wrong and she will eat him. In the end, the sphinx jumps to her demise, deeming her honest and true to her word. The sphinx and the whale that Ahab chats with are similair in two ways: they are both intelligent and both represent an obstacle in one's life. In the story of Oedipus, the sphinx is an obstacle in his journey that he must overcome to achieve his ultimate goal. In Moby Dick, the whale in general represents an obstacle that Ahab must overcome; he will never be fully satisfied with his life unless Moby Dick is captured and killed. The sphinx and the whale are also similar because the sphinx is known to be very intellectually enlightened. Ahab compares the whale to a sphinx because he is seeking knowledge from the whale that will eventually aid him in accomplishing his ultimate goal.
The Sphynx (Chris Fitzer)
The Sphinx, which derrives from Greek word "to strangle or bind," is seeh a a lion with the head of a woman, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a serpent or dragon. She is a trickster whop brings devastation upon a city, such as Thebes, when she guards the city preventing anyone from entering or exiting the gates until her riddle is answered. This forces the people of the city to die from the starvation from the lack of trade. She, with the head of a human, cannibalizes the humans who incorrectly answers the riddle. This sphinx is a "plague" upon the city and an obstacle for those who are intending to enter the city. The sphinx is revered as intellegent, manipulative, and surreptitious. She is considered to be the basis of perversion in the female sex. When Ahab climbs aboard the deck after the decapitation of the whale, he speaks to it regarding it as the shinx of the seas. It was the first obstacle to pass in his journey deeper into the vastness of the sea. It guards the secrets of the deepest places in the oceans and holds the well-kept secrets of this watery-world. It guards this "city" where many have perished by drowning in its depths, just as the true sphinx's holds captive a city of dying people. This decapitated head seems to be capable of talking like the woman's head of a sphinx. Ahab, most likely knowledgeable in that the whale will not respond, is simply expressing this soliloquy to the whale only because it is the topic of his rant. Ahab intends to be Oedipus, the one capable of solving the riddle of the sphinx. If Ahab is able to understand the reasons behind whales actions, he will unlock the city, the depths of the ocean. From there he can finally fulfill his revenge and kill Moby Dick.
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus flees Corinth after hearing the prophesy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. While he intends to avoid this doom, by solving the riddle, getting rid of the sphinx, and saving Thebes, he actually ends up fulfilling the prophesy when he kills his father on the road and marries his mother, Jocasta, the king of Thebes. In that same sense, Ahab leaves Nantucket after hearing the prophesy from Elijah that Ahab will die on this voyage. Following the Oedipodian plot structure, by killing the whale and unlocking the gates of the ocean Ahab too will end up fulfilling the prophesy. Thusly he will die!
check it out! (end of chapter 73)
At the end of chapter 73, Fedallah stands in Ahab's shadow and looks past him to the whale's head. Fedallah looks repeatedly from the lines on his hand to the wrinkles on the whale's head. Fedallah is looking at the whale's head, but in particular the right whale's head. The Parsee, Fedallah, seems to occupy Ahab's shadow, which may symbolize that Fedallah occupies Ahab at times, and in order for Ahab to die, the Parsee will have to occupy Ahab. The shadows of Ahab and Fedallah seem to blend, making it seem as though Fedallah has ultimate control over the fate of Ahab or that Fedallah and Ahab are one. Together, Fedallah and Ahab lengthen their rule over the rest of the crew. In other words, Ahab seems to be the only one who is told by Fedallah what his fate will be. Fedallah is seeing his fate which is tied to the fate of the whale. Fedallah seems to own Ahab's soul. The shadows make it seem as Fedallah is Ahab and that Fedallah is a figment of Ahab's mind.
Ellen (and) Wagner, Kelly (the) Snyder, Anh (or) Nguyen, Melissa (but) Hamptoon!!!!
Ch. 70 Sphinx
The word “sphinx” means “to strangle” in Greek. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx held the city of Thebes captive, eating men and terrorizing the city, until Oedipus completed the riddle. The Greek sphinx posed great obstacles that Oedipus had to conquer. The whale does the same thing for Captain Ahab in chapter 70. It is kind of ironic that Ahab calls the Sperm Whale “sphinx” because obviously you can’t strangle something that doesn’t have a neck. The whale differs from the Sphinx in that the whale can not eat any more men because he is dead. Ahab sees this whale as an obstacle he must get over to move on with his life. He asks the whale what evils he has seen while exploring the great ocean, perhaps almost living vicariously through it. Instead of lashing out in hatred toward whales in general, Ahab almost treats the whale corpse reverently. But since the Greek Sphinx was known for her trickery, perhaps Melville is using this first slain whale as a foreshadowing to when the Pequod meets Moby Dick in later chapters.
Written by Caroline Ward
The Sphinx" Corinne McConnell, Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff
The name "sphinx" means "strangler." There was a single sphinx in Greek mythology, a demon of destruction and bad luck. The Greek sphinx was a creature representing incredible power and authority. She resided in Thebes and asked all passerbys this famous riddle: "Which creature in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three?"
Anyone unable to answer was killed, though finally the riddle was solved by Oedipus (the answer was man, for the record). After that the sphinx flung herself off of a cliff. Oedipus suceeded in, if you will, "conquering" the sphinx which is essentially what Ahab similarly tries to do.
The title of this chapter hints that perhaps Moby Dick is not simply a source of madness that Ahab feels inclined to chase, rather perhaps he is being "strangled" by Moby Dick. He is bound to the whale, and the whale to Ahab.
-Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff, Corinne McConnell
Ch. 70 The Sphynx-Jessica Huff
Chapter 70 is entitled the Sphynx which is named after a creature that is half woman and half lion with wings. This chapter is mostly dealing with the beheading of a whale, which is actually quite difficult to acheive.
According to Encylcopedia Mythica, "the Greek sphinx was a demon of death and destruction and bad luck." The literal meaning of the word 'sphinx' is Greek meaing "to strangle." The sphinx is most often associated with the story of Oedipus. Oedipus encountered the sphinx and was able to answer her riddle, which kept him from death. The sphinx would eat anyone who was unable to answer her question; however, Oedipus was able to answer the question, which led to the downfall of the sphinx.
Melville incorporates the "sphynx" into Chapter 70. The allusion to the sphynx is significant because in Greek mythology, the sphynx was omnious and meant almost certain death. The sphynx can be compared to an obstacle that is nearly impossible to overcome. In relation to Moby Dick, Moby Dick may be the "sphynx" or obstacle that Ahab has to overcome. More than likely, Ahab will not be successful in overcoming this omnious creature, which will most likely lead to his downfall and death.
-Jessica Huff
TOTAL DOMINATION-CHAPTER 36
4. From Chapter 36, select four difficult passages to research and to explicate. Use the sequence beginning with "Nantucket market! Hoot!" through the end of the chapter. What is Ahab doing in this passage? What is he creating?
"All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks" - Ahab is making the statement that everything is not as it seems, a common sentiment. He says that we all work from behind these masks and do not show our true selves.
"But look ye, Starbuck, what is said in heat, that thing unsays itself." - Ahab is saying that Starbuck should not be offended by what he is saying because it should be recognized that when someone says something in an emotional time of excitement, it should not be taken seriously. In other words, if someone gets carried up in the moment and says something offensive, you should not take it as such because of the situation.
"Stand up amid the general hurricane, thy one tost sapling cannot, Starbuck!" - Ahab is basically saying that one person going against the majority cannot expect to be taken seriously. In this case, Starbuck is the serious voice of reason among the emotionally charged crew. Instead of taking Starbuck seriously, Ahab simply casts him away as the one who does not fit and is not strong enough to withstand the pressure of others, and is blown away like a tiny "sapling".
"Speak, but speak!—Aye, aye! thy silence, then, THAT voices thee." - Ahab is stating that Starbuck's silence speaks for him when he does not answer Ahab's question of "From this one poor hunt, then, the best lance out of all Nantucket, surely he will not hang back, when every foremast-hand has clutched a whetstone?". Starbuck holds back and does not answer the question because of his intimidation, therefore prompting Ahab to make the statement that he does.
Lisa Elizondo
Hannah Robinson- the sphinx
In Chapter 70 Ishmael discusses the importance and precision required in the beheading of the whale. THe most precious oil of the sperm whale is enveloped within its head. Stubb, who claims to only need 10 minutes to behead the large sperm whale caught, seems outrageously absurd idea. Stubb however follows through on his claim and beheads the whale rather fast. After this task is complete the rest of the crew goes down to the quarters for dinner; Ahab however goes aboard deck and begins to talk to the head of the sperm whale, beheaded by Stubb. Ahab compares the Sperm whale to a sphinx, implying that the whale holds many "unrevealed secrets". Ahab wants the whale to talk to him and tell him the secret things he has seen below the water; for the whale has "dived the deepest".
The sphinx has threatening as well as very intelluctual features. The sphinx is known to trick many even though he knows the truth of the questions asked. This reference of the sperm whale to a sphinx probably comes about from reading ofthe story of Oedipus. Oedipus encounters a sphinx guarding Thebes while trying to come into Thebes after hearing the prophecy that Oedipus is going to kill his father and marry his mother. The sphinx threatens Oedipus saying Oedipus has to either answer the sphinx's difficult riddle correctly or he will eat Oedipus. Luckily Oedipus answers the riddle correctly and the sphinx "cast" herself off the rock she was sitting on and perishes. As one can see from this encounter, the sphinx is very intellectual and whenever proven wrong it becomes extremely mortified and kills itself. The sphinx holds and knows many secrets of the world; Ahab is addressing the head of the sperm whale is hoping to discover the many mysteries of under the sea.
the sphinx interpretation by cailin loyd
THE SPHINX INTERPRETATION BY CAILIN LOYD
In Ch70, there are many inferences that can be made abuot Ahab and also a paradoxical idea about whales. Ahab, usually a stern, crazy man who is short-tempered, says things that are quite deep when he is talking to the decapitated whale head. The things he says are things that he assumes the whale has "seen" in its lifetime, of all of the evils on the sea. Ahab does not speak with hate toward the whale, but with a reverance of sorts. This brings about the paradox; Ahab hates the whale (Moby Dick) enough to devote his entire life to trying to kill it, but when he is in the presence of a whale body, he speaks as if the whale is something he respects and treats with the dignity of something god-like or beautiful. This ties in to the idea that Moby Dick reigns as the god figure in Ahab's mind, for he is consumed with Moby DIck and it dictates everything in his life.
BY CAILIN LOYD
"The Sphinx" - Emily Rew
In the chapter " The Sphinx" in Moby Dick, after beheading the whale, Ahab begins to talk to the whale head and ask it questions and commands it to talk about what goes on the the depths of the watery world and how it has seen the bones of those that have perished in there. This chapter relates to the greek mythology of the "Sphinx," a winged lion with the head of a woman who was a "unique demon of destruction and bad luck". In Oedipus, Thebes was plagued by a Sphinx who sat on a high rock or city wall and asked passerbys riddles. The Sphinx would also strangle those who could not answer the riddles it posed "coming from the Greek word "sphingo," to strangle, or "sphingein," to bind tight, based on its habit of strangling its victims." Oedipus suceeded in solving the riddle and the Sphinx, distraut, threw itself from the rock. The Sphinx was also considered as a symbol of death, destruction, and bad luck. In Moby Dick the whale can relate to the sphinx of Greek mythology in that both are full of riddles in the whale's case the "riddles of the deep" posed by Ahab. The whale can also be thought of as plagueing those on the ship by its bloody and ghastly appearance, especially Ishmael who has never been on the ship before. Also, in the book it says abotu the head that "It was a black and hooded head; and hanging there in the midst of so intense a calm, it seemed the Sphynx's in the desert."
This talks abotu the Egyptian sphinx in the desert of Egypt and the fact that it is a silent monument that sits there placidly and unmoving. This is much the same wiht the head of the whale because it is dead, unmoving, silent, and tells not where of where it comes from much like the Egyptian sphinx. Ahab trys to riddle out the mystery of the great whale head much liek historians try to riddle out the mystery of the Egyptain sphinx.
chapter 70-sphynx analysis
In Greek mythology, the Sphynx, the daughter of Chimaira, was part woman, lion and bird. She terrorized humans with her deadly riddles, but eventually Oedipus managed to have her outwitted and defeated. This can be paralled with the idea of how the whale terroized Ahab and was the cause of his great hunt for the whale. In the end, Ahab prevails and wins against the whale. The whale is witty and cunning, much like the sphynx. He uses this power of the mind to kill and eat man. The whale harasses the ships that come to kill him. The sphynx guards the passageway and protects it. Moby Dick appears to gaurd and protect the ocean from the men who want to hurt it.
- Kelsey Fritz and Molly Senkowsky
The chapter where Ahab talks to a whale head (70)
In this chapter, Ahab leans over and talks to the recently decapitated whale head. To summarize, he talks to the whale about all the things he has seen and witnessed, but has never said anything about it. This whale, who has swam deeper than any diver, has seen murders, but has said nothing about them. This implies that the whale is like a god of the sea. He is omnicient and sees everything that goes on, whether it be way deep down where no diver can swim, or atop it.
Ahab is telling the whale that he has seen all these things and he never told anyone, and now he never can because all he is now is just a head. The head seemed to contain a riddle, such as the sphinx that none have figured out, and now none can because all that is left is the head. Ahab feels pressed to solve the riddle that the whale presents, because if not, he will be killed just like those before him. Ahab ends up dying, because he is never able to solve this riddle of the deep. He is destined never to answer this riddle, and therefore destined to die. Although in truth, he isn't eaten or killed by the sphinx, the fact that he can't figure out the riddle foreshadows the death that is coming for Ahab. The hemp kills him, leaving the sea to swallow him and leave him for the fishes.
Ellen (and) Wagner, Kelly (the) Snyder, Anh (or) Nguyen, Melissa (but) Hamptoon!!! Happy All Hallow's Eve (Halloween)!!!
The Sphinx
"The name itself derives from the Greek word "sphingo," to strangle, or "sphingein," to bind tight, based on the Greek Sphinx's habit of strangling its victims." The Sphinx in Greek Mythology is regarded as a "demon of , devouring, destruction and bad luck." They were vicious, single-minded, and mysterious and enigmatic. "The development of this particular usage arose from the fact that "enigma" also derives from the Greek "ainigma," 'to speak in riddles.'" Unlike the Egyptian and Arabic Sphinxes which embodied strength, nobility, and wisdom, the Greek sphinxes were not benign toward humans. In Greek mythology, the sphinx was lion's body, eagle's wings, and a female's head and breast. http://www.sphinx-egypt.com/greek_mythology.htm
The whale is the malevolent sphinx to captain Ahab. The head that sits on the deck of the ship symbolizes the female head of the sphinx. The whale is the threat to be defeated, and if Ahab cannot outsmart it, the whale will devour him just as the sphinx would devour anyone who could not answer the riddle. Ahab considers the defeat of the whale as a test and his will to destroy this "sphinx" is so great he is risking everything just as Oedipus was determined to defeat the great sphinx. Another definition of the word "sphinx" is a puzzling or mysterious person. This definition of the word accurately describes Ahab's character and motives for the white whale.
Alissa Davis
The Sphynx- Lindsay Miller
To interpret the chapter in Moby Dick about the Sphynx is a slight feat. One must read into the words and extract the contextual meaning of it. Ahab speaks of the head of the leviathan beign a sphynx. Now, what is a sphynx? From Greek lore, a sphynx is a mysteriously creature that knows all, enjoys playing mind , and eats man. This is easily correlated to the whale. A whale could almost be viewed as the God of the Sea. Now, God is omniscient, all-knowing. Thus, it may be inferred that the whale is all-knowing. He mentions in his spiel how the whale sees the mutaneers drown their pirate comrade, watches as lovers drown together in the ocean, together to the end. He sees grand ships sink to the bottom of the sea and rust and rot. The whale sees all about the of man in the ocean. Furthermore, the whaleis like the sphynx because the whale kills man, just as the sphynx eats man. Lastly, the sphynx is mysterious, witty and nearly impossible to kill, much like the cunning whale, who is constanty evading the whaling vessels, nearly indestructable and very mysterious, impossible to read. In these ways, one may explicate the meanings behind the Chapter 70 of Moby Dick, The Sphynx.
Nantucket market! Hoot! (Chris Fitzer)
"forks out at the serpent-snapping eye" This statement arises in Ahab's speech attempting to arose the spirits of the sailors. He calls upon their vicious and devilish desires to seek the same revenge he seeks on Moby Dick. He calls on their energy and determination to be focused on his same goal.
"St. Vitus' imp"... St Vitus is the patron saint of dancing and comedy, and he protects against oversleeping. The festival honoring him involved ritual dancing which was trembling and seizure-like. This was taken to such an extent that he is also the patron saint of epileptics. an imp is either an evil spirit or demon, or it is a mischievous child or offspring. In that sense St Vitus' imp is most likely a devilish person unable to control their own movements.
"there is ever a sort of fair play herein, jealousy presiding over all creations" In this passage Ahab describes the nature over jealousy and revenge. If one thing is capable of injuring someone, that someone is equally capable of getting revenge of the same kind. Ahab claims that if the sun ever insulted him, he would strike it in response. According to that philosophy, because Moby Dick attacked Ahab, Ahab has the full right and capability of attacking him back and getting full revenge.
"Oh, my sweet cardinals! your own condescension, that shall bend ye to it." In this passage Ahab is using reverse psychology to get the sailors to help his mission. He tells them that it is by their own choice whether they should help him, because he will not force them to do it. But he makes the mission so appealing that it is hard for the naive sailors to refute. With flattery and charisma Ahab is able to persuade the crew to become as heated about killing MobyDick as he is.
Overall Ahab is using his orator-skills to motivate the crew into becoming as enthused about the voyage as he is. He uses various ploys and schemes, and thusly is able to persuaded them into following almost blindly. His transfixing charisma and charm drawn the crew into a mindless group of followers. In a sense he is creating an army of clones, slaves, or droids. This army of whalemen has been brainwashed into having the same malevolent feeling towards the whale and the same desire to see him dead. [I feel his tactics appear to have a Hitler-like quality, in that he uses his oratory skills to fool a group into blindly following him, because he has tricked them into believing what he wants is what is right: to kill the Jews or Moby Dick].
The Spirit Spout (Chris FItzer)
The "spirit spout" is a direct reference to the silvery spewing of water from Moby Dick's blow hole first viewed on the horizon by Fedallah. This viewing appeared to have awakened the spirits of the sailors and reencouraged them to stick to their original goal. This spout seems to transfix Ahab, so much so that he spends day and night on deck awaiting another sighting. Each time it tempts him, for it is the icon of his enemy teasing Ahab with his proximity. Night after night the spout taunts Ahab, which causes him to became more irritated and possibly even more determined to ultimately kill Moby Dick. Contrastingly, this spirit eventually died out in the sailors as they all became pessimistic as to whether or not Moby Dick could actually be caught. Their attitude change from a zealous excitement to that of mute depression, but even though Ahab's expression seemed to have saddened he never lost the hope that he would get revenge: he never lost his spirit.
Ahab's Soliloquy (Chris Fitzer)
Monomania is a severe form of paranoia in which the paranoid one has only one idea or fear. Emotional monomania is when the patient is seriously obsessed with only one thought or other thoughts relating to that one. These psychological paranoias can evolve to such a form that the patient has constant delirious visions of the one idea they are focused on. A commonly known form of monomania is Narcissism*, which is a personality disorder involving extreme vanity and total self-absorption. Many pyschiatrists believe that we are each born with our on monomaniac tendencies, just some of us are able to balance our lives better than others. For most people their obsession resides in their profession, as in Ahab's case. Ahab has an obvious case of monomania, in that all of his energy is focused into the capture and murder of Moby Dick, the whale that injured him. The revenge that Ahab seeks has engulfed his every move, turning him into a monomaniac. His soliloquy peaks at the statement "What I've dared, I've willed; and what I've willed, Ill do!" In that instance, Ahab gives into his monomania, and admits to the devilish madness that now controls him ["I'm demoniac, I am madness maddened"]. He becomes completely submissive to this desire to murder this illustrious white whale. But Ahab is not the only monomaniac aboard the Pequod. Ishmael had an insatiable desire the sail the seas, an obsession for adventure. This obsession is what drove him to choose this ship so that he could fulfill his monmaniac desires.
*Narcissism is the one monomaniac quality that scientists such as Freud believe that all humans are born with. For we all seem to look out for ourselves first, and for some of us we our one and only priority.
Starbuck's Soliloquy (Chris Fitzer)
In Starbuck's Soliloquy [Dusk] Melvilles uses allusions with the demigorgon and personification when describing Starbuck's soul, but his dominant trope in this chapter is the metaphor. Starbuck's exclamations at the frustrations he has toward Ahab and the crew are express through metaphors. This metaphor of the relationship between the sailors and the whale is simply a microcosm of the larger metaphor that is Moby Dick itself [macrocosm]. Overall Starbuck explains his relations with Ahab and his life on the boat through a simple metaphor which is intensified through the allusions, personification, and other tropes.
Question #7 By Alex Wikoff
In Chapter 42, the author goes into great detail about Moby Dick. The author does this using different poetic devices. It would seem that Moby Dick symbolizes power. Since Ahab seeks Moby Dick, we can conclude that Ahab is power hungry and is corrupted by the whale. In the Western Culture, the color white can symbolize power. If you will recall at the beginning of the Pequod's voyage Captain Ahab had the men drink from a cup containing some of his blood. In doing so it would seem that he has passed down his quest for power to the crew. The crew is now so focused upon the hunting down and capturing of the great white whale. Appearingly, Ahab has now passed down his quest for power to the crew of the Pequod. Thus is the whiteness of the whale.
-By Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff, and Corinne McConnell
The Tropes of "The First Lowering" (Chris Fitzer)
Melville seems to rather enjoy using tropes [literary devices, figures of speech] in his works. He are a few that are within the propted passage. The following are used in the description of the small vessels departure from the Pequod and journey into the turbulent sea, as stated in the paragraph beginning with "It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe."
"omnipotent sea" - personification
"eight gunwales" - synecdoche
"like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green" - simile
"Boundless bowling-green" - kenning, alliteration
"suspended agony of the boat" - personification
"knife-like edge" - kenning
"knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two" - metaphor
"opposite hill" - metaphor
""like a wild hen after her screaming brood" - simile
"charmed, churned circle" - alliteration
Fedallah (Chris Fitzer)
Fedallah, when traces back to ancestral Islamic roots, translate as "the ransom of God" or "in the hands of God." Fedallah was hired to be part of the crew by Ahab, because he believed that he was a prophet of sorts who would assist him in reaching his goal. In that sense, Fedallah, being "in the hands of God," is being guided by some divine power when he makes his predictions. He is said to come from a land, most likely in Asia, when tradition prevails and the modern philosophies and customs of the time have yet to seep into their culture. It is by these primitive cultural tradtions that Fedallah makes his predictions.
#s 1, 3, 5, 8, & 10 - Nathan Sheptock
1. Great Chain of Being - "classical and western medieval conception of the order of the universe, whose chief characteristic is a strict hierarchical system. It is a conception of the world's structure that was accepted, and unquestioned, by most educated men from the time of Lucretius until the Copernican and Darwinian revolution and the ultimate flowering of the Renaissance." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_chain_of_being)for the confused:vertical scheme is something kind of like this:- Riza (...j/k)- perfection (God)- angels- humans- beasts- fish- plants- rocksin the Pequod:the 'Higher-ups'- Captain Ahab -- the captain (obviously) and the 'king' or 'ruler' of the ship- Starbuck -- the Pequod's first mate, Ahab's right-hand-man- Stubb -- the Pequod's second mate- Flask -- the Pequod's third mategeneral groups- harpooners (Queequeg, Tashtego, Daggoo, Fedallah) -- incredibly skilled harpooner, vital to the Pequod's purpose (whaling)- n00bs (Ishmael) -- the newbies who don’t know what the h3ll is going on- entertainers (Pip) -- simply there for the crew's amusement... no purpose whatsoeverGreat Chain of Being - "classical and western medieval conception of the order of the universe, whose chief characteristic is a strict hierarchical system. It is a conception of the world's structure that was accepted, and unquestioned, by most educated men from the time of Lucretius until the Copernican and Darwinian revolution and the ultimate flowering of the Renaissance." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_chain_of_being)for the confused:vertical scheme is something kinda like this:- Riza (...j/k)- perfection (God)- angels- humans- beasts- fish- plants- rocksin the Pequod:the 'Higher-ups'- Captain Ahab -- the captain (obviously) and the 'king' or 'ruler' of the ship- Starbuck -- the Pequod's first mate, Ahab's right-hand-man- Stubb -- the Pequod's second mate- Flask -- the Pequod's third mategeneral groups- harpooners (Queequeg, Tashtego, Daggoo, Fedallah) -- incredibly skilled harpooner, vital to the Pequod's purpose (whaling)- n00bs (Ishmael) -- the newbies who dont know what the h3ll is going on- entertainers (Pip) -- simply there for the crew's amusement... no purpose whatsoever
3. The feeling of the numinous is an awe inspiring thing. Numina, the singular form of numinous, is a presence of the sacred spirit in all parts of creation. The feeling of the numinous is the "dread" of the unknown transcendent spirits. This fear is not from what such a spirit or divinity could do, but rather, the fear of its ability to do something far more powerful than any terrestrial creature and of its unworldly nature, of which we are unfamiliar. This phenomena is often referred to as "Mysterium Tremendum", or numinous dread.Ishmael experiences this feeling of the numinous in the novel Moby Dick. The Mysterium Tremendum is frequently characterized by three things: 1)-its absolute unapproachability, 2)-its power, 3)- its urgency or energy, a force which is most easily perceived in the "wrath of God." All of which, are felt by Ishamael as he is confronted by the awesome power of the sea and the horridness of Moby Dick. An abnormality,such as a great white whale known by all in the whaling enterprise, would certainly give one the feeling of the numinous, especially if that person is new to whaling in general, like Ishmael. Moby Dick certainly seems unearthly in its power and far more powerful and evil than any other earthly being.This numinous dread that Ishmael feels from the sea and Moby Dick will manifest itself. Later on in the book, the ship and crew's imminent and impending destruction, brought about by Captain Ahab's selfish desire for revenge, will be forshaddowed several times. The feeling of the numinous is an awe inspiring thing. Numina, the singular form of numinous, is a presence of the sacred spirit in all parts of creation. The feeling of the numinous is the "dread" of the unknown transcendent spirits. This fear is not from what such a spirit or divinity could do, but rather, the fear of its ability to do something far more powerful than any terrestrial creature and of its unworldly nature, of which we are unfamiliar. This phenomena is often referred to as "Mysterium Tremendum", or numinous dread.Ishmael experiences this feeling of the numinous in the novel Moby Dick. The Mysterium Tremendum is frequently characterized by three things: 1)-its absolute inapproachability, 2)-its power, 3) - its urgency or energy, a force which is most easily perceived in the "wrath of God." All of which, are felt by Ishmael as he is confronted by the awesome power of the sea and the horridness of Moby Dick. An abnormality, such as a great white whale known by all in the whaling enterprise, would certainly give one the feeling of the numinous, especially if that person is new to whaling in general, like Ishmael. Moby Dick certainly seems unearthly in its power and far more powerful and evil than any other earthly being.This numinous dread that Ishmael feels from the sea and Moby Dick will manifest itself. Later on in the book, the ship and crew's imminent and impending destruction, brought about by Captain Ahab's selfish desire for revenge, will be foreshadowed several times.The feeling of the numinous is an awe inspiring thing. Numina, the singular form of numinous, is a presence of the sacred spirit in all parts of creation. The feeling of the numinous is the "dread" of the unknown transcendent spirits. This fear is not from what such a spirit or divinity could do, but rather, the fear of its ability to do something far more powerful than any terrestrial creature and of its unworldly nature, of which we are unfamiliar. This phenomena is often referred to as "Mysterium Tremendum", or numinous dread.Ishmael experiences this feeling of the numinous in the novel Moby Dick. The Mysterium Tremendum is frequently characterized by three things: 1)-its absolute unapproachability, 2)-its power, 3)- its urgency or energy, a force which is most easily perceived in the "wrath of God." All of which, are felt by Ishamael as he is confronted by the awesome power of the sea and the horridness of Moby Dick. An abnormality,such as a great white whale known by all in the whaling enterprise, would certainly give one the feeling of the numinous, especially if that person is new to whaling in general, like Ishmael. Moby Dick certainly seems unearthly in its power and far more powerful and evil than any other earthly being.This numinous dread that Ishmael feels from the sea and Moby Dick will manifest itself. Later on in the book, the ship and crew's imminent and impending destruction, brought about by Captain Ahab's selfish desire for revenge, will be forshaddowed several times.The feeling of the numinous is an awe inspiring thing. Numina, the singular form of numinous, is a presence of the sacred spirit in all parts of creation. The feeling of the numinous is the "dread" of the unknown transcendent spirits. This fear is not from what such a spirit or divinity could do, but rather, the fear of its ability to do something far more powerful than any terrestrial creature and of its unworldly nature, of which we are unfamiliar. This phenomena is often referred to as "Mysterium Tremendum", or numinous dread.Ishmael experiences this feeling of the numinous in the novel Moby Dick. The Mysterium Tremendum is frequently characterized by three things: 1)-its absolute unapproachability, 2)-its power, 3)- its urgency or energy, a force which is most easily perceived in the "wrath of God." All of which, are felt by Ishamael as he is confronted by the awesome power of the sea and the horridness of Moby Dick. An abnormality,such as a great white whale known by all in the whaling enterprise, would certainly give one the feeling of the numinous, especially if that person is new to whaling in general, like Ishmael. Moby Dick certainly seems unearthly in its power and far more powerful and evil than any other earthly being.This numinous dread that Ishmael feels from the sea and Moby Dick will manifest itself. Later on in the book, the ship and crew's imminent and impending destruction, brought about by Captain Ahab's selfish desire for revenge, will be forshaddowed several times.
5. Sunset is a short chapter with Captain Ahab's soliloquy. Along with delusions of persecution (by "bullies"!) and of grandeur, he imagines himself crowned with the legendary Iron Crown of Lombardy.
The Iron Crown has a narrow band of iron about three-eighths of an inch in it, supposedly be beaten out of one of the nails used by the crucifixion. According to legend, the nail was given to Emperor Constantine I by his mother Helena, who found Jesus' cross.
In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte had himself crowned King of Italy at Milan in splendor and magnificence. Sitting on an extravagant throne, and going up to the altar, he took the iron crown, and put it on his head, and said "God gives it to me, beware those who touch it".
^^Answers.com (rephrased and condensed)^^
Though persecuted, he feels 'crowned' and backed by prophesy. He is determined to find and 'dismember' Moby Dick - just as Moby Dick dismembered him.
Monomania is an excessive concentration on a single object or idea. According to poestories.com. Ahab most certainly has this psychological condition with his obsession over Moby Dick.
8. First of all, what the heck is a trope?? Well, according to dictionary.com it is a NOUN!!! wow... It can be defined as "any literary or rhetorical device, as metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony that consists in the use of words in other than their literal sense". In Layman's terms this means that a trope is a word or phrase that describes something in a nonliteral way. (Ex: 'You are such a chicken!!' or 'He can be such a couch potato... *shakes head*')Now that we know what a trope is, let's find five of them in this paragraph, shall we?
"It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe! The vast swells of
the omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow roar they made, as they
rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless
bowling-green; the brief suspended agony of the boat, as it would
tip for an instant on the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that
almost seemed threatening to cut it in two; the sudden profound
dip into the watery glens and hollows; the keen spurrings and
goadings to gain the top of the opposite hill; the headlong, sled-
like slide down its other side; -- all these, with the cries of the
headsmen and harpooners, and the shuddering gasps of the oars-
men, with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing down
upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after her
screaming brood; -- all this was thrilling. Not the raw recruit,
marching from the bosom of his wife into the fever heat of his first
battle; not the dead man's ghost encountering the first unknown
phantom in the other world; -- neither of these can feel stranger
and stronger emotions than that man does, who for the first time
finds himself pulling into the charmed, churned circle of the hunted
sperm whale."
1. "...they rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green..."Simile: rolling waves against ship vs. rolling balls on a playing field2. "...the headlong, sled-like slide down its other side..."Simile: ship's downward path after hitting a wave vs. a sled-like slide3. "...with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after her screaming brood..."Simile: the Pequod's sails vs. a wild hen4. "...the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two;"Simile: edges of waves vs. the edge of a knife5. "...the brief suspended agony of the boat..."Personification: the boat is given the human trait of being in agonyFirst of all, what the heck is a trope?? Well, according to dictionary.com it is a NOUN!!! wow... It can be defined as "any literary or rhetorical device, as metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony, that consists in the use of words in other than their literal sense". In Layman's terms this means that a trope is a word or phrase that describes something in a nonliteral way. (ex: 'You are such a chicken!!' or 'He can be such a couch potato... *shakes head*')Now that we know what a trope is, let's find five of them in this paragraph, shall we?"It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe! The vast swells ofthe omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow roar they made, as theyrolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundlessbowling-green; the brief suspended agony of the boat, as it wouldtip for an instant on the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, thatalmost seemed threatening to cut it in two; the sudden profounddip into the watery glens and hollows; the keen spurrings andgoadings to gain the top of the opposite hill; the headlong, sled-like slide down its other side; -- all these, with the cries of theheadsmen and harpooneers, and the shuddering gasps of the oars-men, with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing downupon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after herscreaming brood; -- all this was thrilling. Not the raw recruit,marching from the bosom of his wife into the fever heat of his firstbattle; not the dead man's ghost encountering the first unknownphantom in the other world; -- neither of these can feel strangerand stronger emotions than that man does, who for the first timefinds himself pulling into the charmed, churned circle of the huntedsperm whale."1. "...they rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green..."Simile: rolling waves against ship vs. rolling balls on a playing field2. "...the headlong, sled-like slide down its other side..."Simile: ship's downward path after hitting a wave vs. a sled-like slide3. "...with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after her screaming brood..."Simile: the Pequod's sails vs. a wild hen4. "...the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two;"Simile: edges of waves vs. the edge of a knife5. "...the brief suspended agony of the boat..."Personification: the boat is given the human trait of being in agony
10. In chapter 51, also called the Spirit-Spout, Fedallah, while taking his turn as the night watchman, spots a “silvery moon-lit jet” which Ahab assumes is a sign of Moby Dick. As any whaler would know, unlike fish, whales don’t have gills; instead they obtain their oxygen from air, like humans. Also, as any whaler would know, whales don’t have noses, like humans; instead they have a spout, which is used to expel the oxygen depleted air from their lungs when the whale wishes to replenish his or her supply of oxygen. This spout fills with water while the whale is submerged, so when the whale resurfaces and exhales, the air forces the water in the spout out, forming what at night, would appear to be a “silvery moon-lit jet”. Of course, one can’t necessarily reason that the jet belongs to Moby Dick, it could belong to any whale, but Ahab just isn’t a very reasonable person. Ahab and his crew desperately attempt to follow the mysterious jet, but it eludes them for the remainder of the night. In fact, night after night the crew of the Pequod spots the elusive jet, but like a ghost, it’s never seen more than once before vanishing until the next night, thusly earning the nickname “Spirit Spout”. The crew of the Pequod, realizing that the jet could be any whale, begin to realize that their captain is probably insane (what took them so long?!?!?!), and view the jet as a sign of their impending doom.
Question #7 - Nathan Sheptock
Chapter 42 seeks to illustrate why Moby DickÂs most profound physical characteristic, the whiteness of his complexion, evokes inIshmaell, above all other attributes, a Âvague, nameless horrorÂ
which at times by its intensity completely overpowered all the rest. With this belief in mind, he attempts to characterize the true spirit of the whale through various allusions of the color white in nature, history, society, and the unexplainable. These various examples can be characterized in terms of their ability to bring to mind a sense of shear power, strength, and influence; fear; or unexplainable supernaturalism.
Power, strength and influence: the kings of Pegu and Siam, the Austrian empire, Greek mythology, various portrayals of Christianity, the Iroquois religion, the Roman empire, the White, Bloody, and Byward towers, the white prairie horse, white polar bear, and white shark, the Albatross, the white sea and mountains, and the shear white quality of Nature itself.
Fear: the Albino man, the White Squall of the Southern seas, the White Hoods of Ghent, the tall pale man of the Hartz forests, the Âwhite veil of horror and woe over the city of Lima, the midnight seas of milky whiteness, the shrouded phantom of the whitened waters, or the snow-capped Andes as it looks to the Peruvian natives.
Supernaturalism: The ghosts and phantoms of the Southern seas and milky fog-waters, the Âmarble pallor of the dead which appalls the gazer, and the pallid horse upon which Death (as stated in the Book of Revelations) sits.
These three allusions which the whiteness of the whale embodies may seem impossible by many to be able to coexist within a single solitary being. This, above all else, is what appears to mystify and Ishmael Ishmael the most. That one single animal can be granted with so much power, the power to terrify, mystify, and influence wholly all those who merely set eyes on its shear whiteness. Although it may Ishmael Ishmael that Moby Dick has been somehow granted with this awesome influence, it is merely a collection of the values and ideals which individuals throughout time have placed upon the characteristic of the whaleÂs whiteness. One manÂs view of the color might evoke power and majesty, while anotherÂs might evoke only fear. It is in truth, then, that Moby Dick does not embody one single, true aspect, because that one, true aspect can never and will never be known. In better terms, his whiteness embodies and signifies all aspects within the universe which the color itself holds.
Question #4-Jessica Huff
Chapter 36 uses many difficult passages to convey Melville's point. In this chapter, Ahab is really trying to get the crew enthusiastic about killing Moby Dick. He seems to be really playing it up and trying to excite them, so they will be willing to help him. Ahab also seems to be creating an atmosphere which encourages the harpooners to kill Moby Dick.
One of the difficult passages that Melville employs is "'God keep me!-keep us all!'... Ahab did not hear his foreboding invocation" This passage gives the reader a premonition that something omnious will happen. Starbuck is calling upon God to keep them safe, which Ishmael refers to this as a "foreboding invocation" giving the reader a definite sense that something bad will end up happening, yet leaving the reader to ponder what.
A second passage is Ahab's statement "I'd strike the sun if it insulted me." Ahab declares this after being called blasphemous. This short passage gives the reader the insight that Ahab is very vengeful and will react whether he should or not. In this example, obviously, Ahab would be unable to get revenge on the sun, if the sun had wronged him; however, he implies that he would do everything in his power to get revenge. This also makes the reader realize that Ahab is so focused on revenge that he might put the crew in danger if it will help him get even.
Another passage in this chapter is when Ahab says "Drink, ye harpooners! drink and swear... Death to Moby Dick! God hunt us all, if we do not hunt Moby Dick to his death," Ahab is making the harpooners promise that they are going to kill Moby Dick. He is also offering them alcohol to celebrate their acceptance. He is really setting the atmosphere for determination and forcing the harpooners to promise to kill Moby Dick. Essentially, he is making the harpooners want to kill Moby Dick and imposing his selfish problem on the harpooners.
A fourth difficult passage in this chapter is Ahab's statement that his "vengence will fetch a great premium here." In this part of Ahab's speech he is trying to encourage the harpooners to kill Moby Dick because he is offering them a great reward. He is offering the harpooners monetary reward because earlier he was talking about money being their measure. This passage is similiar to most of the rest of the chapter in which Ahab is trying to get the harpooners psyched about killing Moby Dick and making them feel that it is something that they want to do and not just that he wants them to do.
Question #10 The Spirit-Spout -Jessica Huff
Chapter 51 is titled "The Spirit-Spout," which refers to this "jet" that Fedallah sees. Fedallah spots what he describes as a silvery jet, which is water shooting up from a whale. This becomes a continuous sight for the Pequod's crew. Ishmael believes that this "jet" is coming from Moby Dick and considers it alluring. Ishmael calls this sight a "spirit-spout" because it was a jet of water coming from the whale's (Moby Dick) blow or spout and because he seems to believe that this is the way that the spirits tempted the crew.
-Jessica Huff
Question #8 Tropes-Jessica Huff
Chapter 8 employs the use of multiple tropes. It uses analogies, kennings, similes, onomatopoeias, alliteration, and much more. Some examples of tropes used in this chapter include:
-"omnipotent sea" (personification)
-"bowling-green" (kenning)
-"like a wild hen after her screaming brood" (simile)
-"Not the raw recruit, marching from the bosom of his wife into the fever heat of his first battle; not the dead man's ghost encountering the first unknown phantom in the other world" (analogy)
-"charmed, churned" (alliteration)
-Jessica Huff
QUESTION NUMBER 4 BY CAILIN LOYD
4. CH 36, 4 difficult passages.
1. "While the mate was getting the hammer, Ahab, without speaking, was slowly rubbing the gold piece against the skirts of his jacket, as if to heighten its lustre, and without using any words was meanwhile lowly humming to himself, producing a sound so strangely muffled and inarticulate that it seemed the mechanical humming of the wheels of his vitality in him."
This passage suggests that the only form of vitality in Ahab at this point is when he is working on a ship, or thinking about MOby Dick and how he wants to find him. Ahab's only life is a subtle essence which is not happy or full of life or joy but slow and dismal, at only a monotonous tone.
2. "I am game for his crooked jaw, and for the jaws of Death too, Captain Ahab, if it fairly comes in the way of the business we follow; but I came here to hunt whales, not my commander's vengeance. How many barrels will thy vengeance yield thee even if thou gettest it, Captain Ahab? it will not fetch thee much in our Nantucket market."
Starbuck's statement encompasses the mood of the crew who are too afraid of Ahab to question his all or nothign approach to finding Moby Dick. He questions Ahab in that he wants to know if Moby Dick was worth the effort, if his sales in the Nantucket market would bring them enough profit. He even mentions the fact that the only reason they are chasing Moby Dick is because of Ahab's vengeance.
3. "In vain!" cried Ahab; "but, maybe, 'tis well. For did ye three but once take the full-forced shock, then mine own electric thing, THAT had perhaps expired from out me. Perchance, too, it would have dropped ye dead. Perchance ye need it not. Down lances! And now, ye mates, I do appoint ye three cupbearers to my three pagan kinsmen there—yon three most honourable gentlemen and noblemen, my valiant harpooneers. Disdain the task? What, when the great Pope washes the feet of beggars, using his tiara for ewer? Oh, my sweet cardinals! your own condescension, THAT shall bend ye to it. I do not order ye; ye will it. Cut your seizings and draw the poles, ye harpooneers!"
Ahab exhibits his patience in killing Moby DIck, because he praises the harpooners for their effort in harpooning the whale. This shows that Ahab puts great values on the harpooners and sees that they are key for killing Moby Dick and therefore getting his vengeance.
4. "Now, three to three, ye stand. Commend the murderous chalices! Bestow them, ye who are now made parties to this indissoluble league. Ha! Starbuck! but the deed is done! Yon ratifying sun now waits to sit upon it. Drink, ye harpooneers! drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow—Death to Moby Dick! God hunt us all, if we do not hunt Moby Dick to his death!" The long, barbed steel goblets were lifted; and to cries and maledictions against the white whale, the spirits were simultaneously quaffed down with a hiss. Starbuck paled, and turned, and shivered. Once more, and finally, the replenished pewter went the rounds among the frantic crew; when, waving his free hand to them, they all dispersed; and Ahab retired within his cabin."
Ahab rejoices with the crew even though they did not kill or capture Moby Dick, and the crew is left frantic and confused. He then retires to his cabin and instructs the crew to go about their business.
BY CAILIN LOYD
Question 7-Robbie Stephens, Patrick Hennessy, Vic Tompkins
Allusions of White
Religion
-Peace
-Virgin
-Nuns
-New beginning
-Doves(peace)
-Death(in Asian countries)
-Color of bones
-Paleness of death
Cultural
-Paleness(implied that you did not do work, in other words that you were rich)
-Neutrality
-Surrender
Natural
-Cliffs of Dover
-Snow
-Artic
-Mountains
-White Seals
-Polar Bear
-Limestone
Robbie Stephens, Patrick Hennessy, Vic Tompkins
Question #9 Fedallah-Jessica Huff
Chapter 50 starts to introduce the reader to Fedallah, a quite mysterious character. Although the reader does not learn much about Fedallah in this chapter, he is able to pick up an eery feeling about Fedallah. According to Gales Herman Melville Encyclopedia, Fedallah's name literally means "sacrifice or ransom of God." Gale's Herman Melville Encyclopedia continues to explain that this name is fitting for Melville's character Fedallah because he offers his life to destroy Ahab, which he sees as a sacrifice to better the crew. Fedallah is sacrificing his life to help the rest of the ship. In essence, Fedallah really is living up to the Arabic translation of his name.
-Jessica Huff
Question #7 Allusions-Jessica Huff
Chapter 42 devotes itself to trying to describe Moby Dick in depth. It begins to examine the significance of Moby Dick especially since he is a white whale. Melville used many allusions to help the reader develop a sense of Moby Dick. This chapter is filled with allusions that can be categorized mainly into four categories: political, religious, cultural, and natural.
Political
-The old kings of Pegu
-The modern king of Siam
-The Hanoverian flag
-The Austrian empire
-Whitsuntide marshal
-Pizarro
Religious
-Persian fireworshippers
-Greek mythologies
-The great Jove himself
-The sacred white dog of the Iroquois
-The Great Spirit of the Iroquois
-Christian priest
-The vision of Saint John
-Adam
-Protestant
-White friars and White nuns
-The veil of Christian's deity
Cultural
-Romans
-Red Men of America
-White Steed of the Prairies
-Xerxes
-Froissart
-White Hoods of Ghent
-White Tower of London
-Byward Tower
-Bloody (Tower)
-The fairy tales of Central Europe
-The tall pale man of the Hartz forrest
-The imps of Blocksburg
-The native Indians of Peru
-The willful travelers of Lapland
Natural
-White polar bears
-White sharks
-Albatross
-Coleridge's poetry
-Albino man
-Nature
-White Mountains
-White Squall
-Blue Ridge
-White Sea
-Yellow Sea
-New England colt
-Black bison of Oregon
Overall, the reader begins to see the importance that Moby Dick's whiteness plays. Moby Dick's coloring induces mized emotions similar to the polar bear and the white shark. All of the animals are considered dangerous and ferocious, yet the coloring is white, which is the color of "celestial purity and love." Because of the enormous difference between the emotions experienced at the sight of the white whale, it seems even more frightening. People are unable to handle these emotions and fear it. This chapter also points out the power that Mody Dick has based upon all of the political allusions. In conclusion, this chapter gives the reader a better idea of Moby Dick.
-Jessica
Question #6 Central Trope
Chapter 38 is a soliloquy by Starbuck that uses an allusion. This allusion is the central trope and is rather important and fitting. Starbuck alludes to a demogorgon in reference to "the white whale" or Moby Dick. A demogorgon is a demon prince or pagan god and is associated with the underworld. This allusion is quite fitting because everything on the ship revolves around Moby Dick, even though it revolves around him in a negative way. Moby Dick could be described as a demon prince because everyone dislikes him, but because of his extreme powerful they are afraid of him and full of awe. Additionally, they are trying to overthrow his power, yet like a prince or a god, it takes many people (the whole crew of a ship) to accomplish or better yet attempt this feat. Moby Dick symbolizes a strong, powerful, and demonic creature, as alluded to by Starbuck. Therefore, Melville's choice of an allusion as the central trope in chapter 38 was very fitting.
-Jessica Huff
Question #3 Numinous-Jessica Huff
Numinous is a divine power or an unobtainable supernatural feeling. In previous chapters, the reader becomes aware of Ishmael's numinous experience as a young boy. Ishmael compares it to Queequeg's arm placed upon him. He further describes it as an indescribable feeling and said that if he could possibly get out of this supernatural grip, then maybe he would be able to free himself. Although the definition of a numinous defines it as a comforting experience, Ishmael seemed anything but comforted during his recollection, yet he seemed to yearn to get away from the divine hold on him. This numinous experience most probably serves as a foreshadowing. It is quite probable that Ishmael may get trapped, just as he was trapped by the supernatural force, yearning to break free, but unable. This future event could easily be Ishmael's downfall if he is unable to escape while trapped. Furthermore, Ishmael may very likely get trapped in the ship. The reader gets a sense that something bad will inevitably happen to the ship based upon different references to disaster, like the prophet sensing destruction and the painting of the ship destroyed by a whale. Ishmael's numinous experience likely serves as a forewarning of Ishmael's fate.
-Jessica Huff
Question #2 Ahab's Mark-Jessica Huff
Ahab has a "mark" or scar from head to toe. Although readers are unable to determine where the scar comes from, it serves a purpose. The scar is meant to protect Ahab, just as Cain's mark protected him. Cain's mark can be compared to a tribal mark, which purpose was to protect tribal members from murder. These tribal marks served as a deterrent from murders because they would see the mark and realize that the person would be avenged. Similarly, Ahab's mark could serve as a sign to warn Moby Dick that if he kills Ahab, that there will be a whole crew ready to kill him. Therefore, this mark is very important in protecting Ahab from Moby Dick; however, the origin of the mark is far less important
-Jessica Huff
Question 1 Pequod's hierarchy-Jessica Huff
The Great Chain of Being is a medieval concept that arranges the universe based upon an order of hierarchy, controlling everything- elements to divinity. If anything in the Great Chain of Being changes order, everything will be thrown off and result in chaos. In descending order, the Great Chain of Being is as follows: Divinity (i.e. God, Angels, Spirits), Humans (i.e. King, lords, merchants, commoners, peasants, slaves), Animals (i.e. wild beasts, domesticated, birds, fish, insects, snake), Plants (i.e. oak tree, grasses, yew tree), and Elements (i.e. gold, lead, dirt). This entire chain makes up a macrocosm, while each link, such as humans, makes up a microcosm. The Pequod is a microcosm that is comparable to humanity in the Great Chain of Being. In descending order, this is the hierarchy of the Pequod: Ahab (the king), first shipmates which include Starbuck, Stubb and Flask (lords), the harpooners which include Queequeg, Tashego, and Daggoo (businessmen or merchants), the experienced crew (common people), inexperienced crew including Ishmael (peasants), and the servants (slaves). Just as every other organization, the Pequod has a distinct order of hierarchy that must be followed to keep order and avoid chaos and disaster.
-Jessica Huff
Electronic Portfolio (Questions 1-10) - Ellen, Kelly, Anh, Melissa
1) Create a vertical scheme of the Pequod’s hierarchy using the concept of the Great Chain of Being:
Captains/Owners – Ahab, Bildad, Peleg
1st mate - Starbuck
2nd mate - Stubb
3rd mate - Flask
Harpooners – Queequeg, Tashtego, Daggoo
Blacksmith - Perth
Crew – Ishmael, Pippin, Fadallah, Bulkington
Steward - Dough-boy
The cook - Fleece
2) Research and discuss Ahab’s “mark” (cf. the Mark of Cain). Closely read and constellate Ahab’s major qualities.
Ahab’s “mark”
Physical
From a whale
Wants revenge
Divides him in half from “crown to sole” literally from his head to feet, non-literally from the crown on his head, to his soul inside of him
He is not protected by his mark, not condemned, but rather he is set apart
Foreshadowing – because hunting the whale has become his life, it is now his because his revenge has become his downfall.
Cain’s mark
To protect him from anyone trying to kill Cain from his brother, Abel (not physical)
Marks him as a sinner
Paradoxical mystery – even though he sinned greatly, God is still protecting him
Gets exiled
3) Rework your notes and research on the numinous into a coherent argument that demonstrate how Ishmael was touched by the numinous and what the implications of this might be.
Our website for Numinous is http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/gothic/numinous.html
Numinous is something spiritual. In other words, it is anything that is non-secular and holy. It often inspires a sense of awe in the person experiencing it.
Ishmael’s childhood numinous experience and his incident with Queequeg are parallel in their principium individuationis, or the way in which the individual knows things as phenomena. Ishmael himself compares the two experiences though, the former he remembers with “the most awful fears” (29), and the latter he thinks of as a “comical predicament” (29).
When Ishmael was a child, he was climbing up the chimney, like the sweep he had seen do a few days earlier. His stepmother pulled him out by the legs and sent him to bed around two o’clock on June 21st the summer solstice. He eventually fell asleep and when he awoke the light that was there when he had drifted off was replaced by darkness. He felt as if he had a hand placed in his. Though he knows now that there could never have been a hand in his, he still wonders what he felt. Now, he feels an overwhelming sense of deja vu and numinous as he feels the same thing happening except that this time there really was a hand thrown over him. There was an arm over his body, over the counterpane.
4) From Chapter 36, select four difficult passages to research and to explicate. Use the sequence beginning with “Nantucket market! Hoot!” through the end of the chapter. What is Ahab doing in this passage? What is he creating?
Our four passages are:
1) p. 174 - Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented, like geological stones, with the peculiar mark of his walk. Did you fixedly gaze, too, upon that ribbed and dented brow; there also, you would see still stranger foot- prints - the foot-prints of his one unsleeping, ever-pacing thought.
2) p. 176 - Receiving the top-maul from Starbuck, he advanced towards the main-mast with the hammer uplifted in one hand, exhibiting the gold with the other, and with a high raised voice exclaiming: Whosoever of ye raises me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw; whosoever of ye raises me that white-headed whale, with three holes punctured in his starboard fluke - look ye, whosoever of ye raises me that same white whale, he shall have this gold ounce, my boys!
3) p. 178 - "Nantucket market! Hoot! But come closer, Starbuck; thou requirest a little lower layer. If money's to be the measurer, man, and the accountants have computed their great counting-house the globe, by girdling it with guineas, one to every three parts of an inch; then, let me tell thee, that my vengeance will fetch a great premium here!"
4) p. 179 - Receiving the brimming pewter, and turning to the harpooners, he ordered them to produce their weapons. Then ranging them before him near the capstan, with their harpoons in their hands, while his three mates stood at his side with their lances, and the rest of the ship's company formed a circle round the group; he stood for an instant searchingly eyeing every man of his crew. But those wild eyes met his, as the bloodshot eyes of the prairie wolves meet the eye of their leader, ere he rushes on at their head in the trail of the bison; but, alas! only to fall into the hidden snare of the Indian.
What is Ahab doing in these passages?
1) In this passage Ahab is pacing around a spot he has evidently paced around before because there are marks on the floor from his leg.
2) In this passage Ahab is encouraging or bribing the men to get him the white-headed whale.
3) In this passage Ahab bribes the men with a piece of pure Spanish gold and telling them that his vengeance has reached its peak.
4) In this passage Ahab is in a way forming a cult or maybe a religion with the harpooners.
What is Ahab creating?
Captain Ahab is creating or making a 'blood oath' with the harpooners in order to get him the white-headed whale.
5) Chapter 37 “Sunset” – This is a soliloquy. What is the essential statement Ahab makes? Research Ahab’s psychology with regard to monomania.
The essential statement that Ahab makes is “The part to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run” (183). Ahab’s psychology is that he must kill Moby Dick because he is obsessed with Moby Dick. He has monomania because he is focused only on Moby Dick and he knows that it has been prophesized that he will be killed because of Moby Dick. Regardless of this fact, his monomania has taken him beyond that where nothing can stand in his way, because he only wants one thing, and that one thing is Moby Dick. He does not care whether or not he hurts someone in the process, he’s so enveloped with trying to get Moby Dick, he does not respond to what happens around him. Monomania is where one is focused on one thing and nothing else and will not let anything else stand in its way. His monomania has taken him far and because of this, it will be his and he does not want to acknowledge that. Ahab refuses to acknowledge the fact that Moby Dick might be his downfall and instead, pursues after Moby Dick until it leads to his death. His mind has been completely enveloped with Moby Dick.
6) Chapter 38, Starbuck’s soliloquy. What is the central trope that Melville employs and why is it appropriate?
"What is the central trope that Melville employs and why is it appropriate" you ask, well I’ll tell you. According to Wikipedia, “In literature, a trope is a familiar and repeated symbol, meme, theme, motif, style, character or thing that permeates a particular type of literature". It goes on to give examples such as a mad scientist, or a dark stormy night, which are used as a basis for many literary works. So too does Moby Dick have many tropes sprinkled throughout its many chapters. Chapter 38 is no exception. One trope that is present is Ahab as a controlling tyrant. In this chapter, Starbuck soliloquizes about how he knows that Ahab will eventually fall and take Starbuck with him, but he also knows that he will help Ahab until the end because he is inextricably bound to him. So too are the subjects of a tyrant bound to him until he falls, though maybe for different reasons.
7) Chapter 42. “The Whiteness of the Whale.” Read. Table talk. Categorize all the allusion by type. (You create the categories.) What do you conclude about the meaning of Moby Dick?
Countries/Places/Time
Lima – cannot ever decay completely, cannot be covered by green and will forever be white. People are always finding new ruins of Lima, and it can never be left in peace. White represents new. (210)
White hoods of Ghent
White tower of London – tell about the ‘imagination of an untraveled American” (209)
White Mountains of New Hampshire and the White Sea are both more terrifying than other places because they are white
Peru – snow covered Andes – Are huge and very white and would be terrifying to get lost in.
Scenery of the Antarctic seas
Cultures/People
Native Americans – the white belt of Wampum which symbolizes deepest honor
The white man is though of as superior to other colored men
Romans – white stone marked a joyful day
Iroquois sacrifice ad White Dog
Christian priests ‘derive the name of one part of their sacred vesture, the alb or tunic” (205)
Albino man – he is ‘loathed by his own kin and kith’ and his whiteness makes him ‘more strangely hideous than the ugliest abortion.’ (207-208)
Animals
Jove incarnated a snow-white bull
Polar bear – the whiteness makes the bear all the scarier
White Shark – because they are white, our horror of them increases
Albatross – ‘unspotted whiteness’ and ‘vast archangel wings’ are used to describe the bird when Ishmael first sees it. It entrances him, and he is drawn to it.
White Steeds of the Prairies – induces fear and respect because of its majesty and color. For both the albatross and the white steed, there is a strange glory in them.
The albino whale itself is a symbol. Whale = Moby Dick
The color itself
Enhances beauty
“royal pre-eminence in this hue”
Innocence of brides
Benignity of age
Majesty of justice
Spotlessness and power
“White forked flame help at the holiest on the alter”
Redemption
Honorable
Sublime
Sweet
Associated with the dead and dying, and also with ghosts.
Ishmael gives an example of a man who is sailing in another and does not feel safe until he is back in blue waters again.
Symbolizes ‘the very veil of Christian Deity’ (212)
But also Atheism
It both a lack of color and a joining of all the colors
Indefiniteness
8) Chapter 48 “The First Lowering” – Go to the paragraph beginning “It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe.” Find five tropes.
The first of the five tropes found in The First Lowering is “the omnipotent sea”. In most literary works that take place at sea, the sea is viewed as dangerous and intimidating, simply because of it vastness and depth. In the Greek culture, the sea is controlled by the god Poseidon. As a gad he is omnipotent, and can make the sea calm and harmless, but also make it into a violent storm. The latter is what the crew of the Pequod is braving in this chapter. In this context, the trope of the omnipotent sea is used to fight against the crew as they search for the white whale.
The second trope is “the knife-like edge”. This trope is used to show the gravity of the situation. Instead of the boat merely riding over the waves, it “tips…on the knife-like edge” (238). As one would imagine, being on the edge of a knife is no pleasant thing. Neither, apparently, is being on the Pequod at this particular point in time.
One of the most common tropes in Moby Dick is the mention of white, or in this case “ivory”. That the Pequod, which is what ivory is referring to, should be related by this term to Moby Dick is very interesting. It would imply that neither is very different from the other. Oh, they’re not exactly the same by any means; perhaps that is why uses ivory instead of white. But the comparison is present and is used to describe the Pequod as it battles the storm.
One other trope found in this chapter is the allusion to a “raw recruit, marching from the bosom of this wife into the heat of his first battle”. This scenario is often in literary works where young men leave the comfort of a home, mother, or wife to go off to war or battle. However scared or worried the young man is about leaving, it is always lost in the heat of the fight or battle. In this chapter, it is said that though this is present, this is not the most exciting part of the ride.
The part that is the most ‘thrilling’ is the chasing of the ‘hunted Sperm Whale’ – which is, incidentally the final trope. This trope actually originates from Moby Dick, and is used in other literary works. The infamous white whale and the chase to hunt it down are often alluded to to represent a futile chase that is destined to failure.
9) Chapter 50, what does Fedallah’s name mean? http://members.cox.net/ramero/melville.htm
The character of Fedallah appears at a glance to be merely a fire worshiping Parsee, and not a vital character. He is often viewed as an evil genius who is in league with Ahab. But quite on the contrary, Fedallah prophesizes about Ahab’s and eventually leads him to it. His prophecy, “hemp only can kill thee” comes true when Ahab is strangled with a hemp rope. In her book, Melville's Orienda, Dorothee Finklestein traces Fedallah’s name back to an Islamic word meaning "ransom of God”. His namesake is later proved when he sacrifices himself to satisfy his deity, and by his sacrifice kills Ahab. Finklestein also notes that hemp is made from, which can be related to the word for “assassin”, which is what Fedallah proves to be.
10) Chapter 51, what is the “Spirit-Spout”? You deduce this based on your reading and research you would care to do.
The Spirit-Spout is the water spout from the blow whole of Moby Dick. It is first noticed by Fedallah while he was on watch at midnight. Fedallah announced that he saw a “silvery, moon-lit jet” (p 253). It is seen once that night and not seen again for a few days. Every time the crew sees the “Spirit-Spout” it disappears before they can turn the Pequod towards it.
Ellen (and) Wagner, Kelly (the) Snyder, Anh (or) Nguyen, Melissa (but) Hamptoon - B Period
#4 Passages and Explanations
1. "'Vengeance on a dumb brute!' cried Starbuck, "that simply smote thee from blindest instinct! Madness! To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.'"
Starbuck is yelling at Ahab at how bad an idea he has. Starbuck has a pretty prudent head on his shoulders, and he is trying to persuade Ahab to forget about his horrible idea to seek out one whale in the entire ocean. Starbucks sees it foolish to seek revenge on an animal that probably does not even know what revenge is. Whales are smart creatures, but Starbuck is saying in this case to be the bigger man, or at least the bigger "being." Starbucks thinks Ahab is mad for endangering the crew and only thinking of himself and his wishes.
2. "Talk to me not of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me."
This quote is part of Ahab's response to Starbuck's accusation above. Ahab wants to be courageous and persuasive in leading his crew to the white whale. He claims that if even the powerful sun insulted him he'd seek revenge. He is kind of just talking to seem more powerful here, I think. Obviously messing with the sun will result in inevitable loss, pain, suffering, humiliation. The sun parallels Moby Dick in a sense here, because Moby Dick has already gotten away from Ahab once before, so why can't he do it again? Moby Dick should be as powerful to Ahab in his eyes, because he IS a threat, like the sun. Ahab is too ignorant and revengeful to care.
3. "The crew, man, the crew! Are they not one and all with Ahab in the matter of the whale?"
This quote refers to Ahab saying to Starbuck about how everyone else in the crew agrees, so why is Starbucks the only person not satisfied? Ahab is using the "peer pressure" tactic to get Starbuck to go along with his plan. He is also using the Socratic Method by asking a question that assumes a "yes" answer. Starbuck's natural reply would be that, oh my gosh, he is wrong and that seeking out Moby Dick is the only way to proceed. But of course, Starbuck is too smart for that and has the crew's best interests at heart.
4. "'Drink and pass!' he {Ahab} cried, handing the heavy charged flagon to the nearest seaman. ... 'Steward, refill!'"
Ahab's quote and that paragraph ^ is Ahab telling the crew about hunting down Moby Dick, the whale who tore off his leg. The crew probably think this is a good idea, to show that whale who's boss. Of course the crwe stand behind their enigmatic captain's orders, the harpooners getting their iron rods ready, etc. This is Ahab's way of getting hsi crew pumped for this suicide mission, in a sense. He passes around alcohol and has the servant fill it up once it's emtpy; it's a celebration in honor of the destruction of Moby Dick. The crew believes Ahab when he says it's a good idea, but Starbuck, and perhaps Stubb and Flask, know better. They do not say anything, however, because then the crew would not have as much honor for their captain.
Written by Caroline Ward
QUESTION NUMBER 8 BY CAILIN LOYD
8. CHapter 48- FIND 5 TROPES.
"It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe! The vast swells of the omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow roar they made, as they rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green; the brief suspended agony of the boat, as it would tip for an instant on the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two; the sudden profound dip into the watery glens and hollows; the keen spurrings and goadings to gain the top of the opposite hill; the headlong, sled-like slide down its other side;—all these, with the cries of the headsmen and harpooneers, and the shuddering gasps of the oarsmen, with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after her screaming brood;—all this was thrilling."
1. "on the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two" - This is a trope of a cut, or knife being compared to the sharp waves.
2. "profound dip into the watery glens and hollows"- This compares the dip in the waves to the glens and hollows on land.
3. "with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a wild hen after her screaming brood" This is a trope for teh Pequod being liek a mother hen gathering her group, as the Pequod is gatherine the waves up in the sea.
4. "they rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green" This compares the gunwales on teh ship to the gigantic bowls on a bowling green.
5. "the keen spurrings and goadings to gain the top of the opposite hill; the headlong, sled-like slide down its other side" This compares the riding of the waves by the ship to the climbing of a hill, going up one side and smoothly down the other.
BY CAILIN LOYD
tropes are figures of speech and you needed to identify them as such. 3/5
Part 10 "The Spirit Spout" Emily Rew
As they sail towards the tip of Cape Hope around Africa, one night a silvery spout of a whale is spotted by a crew member. The crew tries to follow this spout and sets full sail towards it, but as the hours grow long no sailor spots the spout again and the men retire. But night after the night the spout is spotted and but the crew continues to follow it in search of Moby Dick becaus they believe the spout is his. Ishamel also fears that the spout "were treacherously beckoning us on and on, in order that the monster might turn round upon us, and rend us at last in the remotest and most savage seas." Ishamel fears that the spout is just leading them into a trap. But the spout is also called the "spirit spout" because it gives especially Ahab and the men hope that they are going in the right direction. Ahab fears tha the may be misdirected though as the ghostly spirit spout seems a misdirecting thing to follow in light of the heroic aspirations he has for the voyage. The part of this voyage is also gloomy and emphasizes this wiht the quote explaiing how Ahab is split between hsi heroic ideas and the ghastly spirit spout: "While his one live leg made lively echoes along the deck, every stroke of his dead limb sounded like a coffin-tap. On life and death this old man walked."
Question #3: Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff & Corinne McConnell
Melville was a lover of foreshadowing; he loved to tie in themes from one section of the book with another.
When Ishmael is brushed by the numinous, one might be able to brush it off as merely a "creepy" event. Perhaps Ishmael simply has a heightened awareness of that which is other-worldly, but with careful consideration the reader will easily see the connection between this encounter with the numinous and the overall omnipresence of the numinous in the remainder of the novel.
Dr. Kelley L. Ross said ". . .only reason connects us to the transcendent and that sensation is only a subjective and confusing factor that distracts and distorts reason: sensibility, our passive relation to objects, is the mark of our imperfection." Perhaps Melville was highly aware of this statement and this incident with Queequeg and Ishmael in bed and the numinous was merely a foreshadowing of the implications of the numinous regarding the white whale. The whale "becomes whatever the viewer sees, through his subjective senses."
http://www.lapetitezine.org/lloyd.html
http://www.friesian.com/eliade.htm
-Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff & Corinne McConnell
QUESTION NUMBER 7 BY CAILIN LOYD
7. The "Whiteness of the Whale"
Allusions in Chapter 42, the "Whiteness of the Whale"
KINGS
1. "even the barbaric, grand old KINGS OF PEGUplacing the title "Lord of the White Elephants" above all their other magniloquent ascriptions of dominion"
The
2. "the modern KINGS OF SIAM unfurling the same snow-white quadruped in the royal standard"
EMPIRES
1. "the HANOVERIAN flag bearing the one figure of a snow-white charger"
2. "the great AUSTRIAN EMPIRE, Caesarian, heir to overlording Rome, having for the imperial colour the same imperial hue; and though this pre-eminence in it applies to the human race itself, giving the white man ideal mastership over every dusky tribe"
PEOPLE/TRADITION
1. "for among the ROMANS a white stone marked a joyful day"
2. "the innocence of brides, the benignity of age; though among the RED MEN OF AMERICA the giving of the white belt of wampum was the deepest pledge of honour"
3. "though in many climes, whiteness typifies the majesty of Justice in the ermine of the JUDGE"
4. "contributes to the daily state of KINGS AND QUEENS drawn by milk-white steeds"
5. "Most famous in our Western annals and Indian traditions is that of the White Steed of the Prairies; a magnificent milk-white charger, large-eyed, small-headed, bluff-chested, and with the dignity of a thousand monarchs in his lofty, overscorning carriage. He was the elected Xerxes of vast herds of wild horses, whose pastures in those days were only fenced by the Rocky Mountains and the Alleghanies."
RELIGION
1. "though even in the higher mysteries of the most august RELIGIONS it has been made the symbol of the DIVINE spotlessness and power"
2. "by the PERSIAN fire worshippers, the white forked flame being held the holiest on the altar"
3. "in the Greek mythologies, Great Jove himself being made incarnate in a snow-white bull"
4. "though to the noble Iroquois, the midwinter sacrifice of the sacred White Dog was by far the holiest festival of their theology, that spotless, faithful creature being held the purest envoy they could send to the Great Spirit with the annual tidings of their own fidelity"
5. "though directly from the Latin word for white, all CHRISTIAN PRIESTS derive the name of one part of their sacred vesture, the alb or tunic, worn beneath the cassock; and though among the holy pomps of the ROMISH FAITH, white is specially employed in the celebration of the Passion of our Lord; though in the Vision of St. John, white robes are given to the redeemed, and the four-and-twenty elders stand clothed in white before the great-white throne, and the Holy One that sitteth there white like wool"
6."The Romish mass for the dead begins with "Requiem eternam" (eternal rest), whence REQUIEM denominating the mass itself, and any other funeral music. Now, in allusion to the white, silent stillness of death in this shark, and the mild deadliness of his habits, the French call him REQUIN."
These allusions range from secular KINGS to religious practices and leaders.
Chapter 51 (Question 10): Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff & Corinne McConnell
The spirit-spout in Moby Dick is a phatom whale that tricks the inhabitants of the Peqoud into believing that it is Moby Dick, the whale they are searching for.
Chapter 36 (Question #4): Rebecca Hall, Alex Wikoff, Corinne McConnell
Chapter 36 has been called the most important chapter in the novel, here we not only learn of Ahab's real purpose in presiding of the voyage, but we are also given a hint at the extradordinary lengths to which Ahab will go to dominate and hold control over the white whale (power).
Here I have analyzed four difficult passages in Chapter 36 and attempted to explain them to the best of my abilities:
"Hark ye yet again- the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. . ."
In this long passage, Ahab hints at his desire to conquer the very structure of nature. Starbuck insists that the white whale is no more than a "brute," attacking Ahab merely out of instinct and no real desire to cause any undue harm tothe captain. Here Ahab insists that all living creatures are merely "masks," and beneath that mask lurks the power that Ahab thirsts to obtain. Here is the pivotal point in the book in which we learn that the mission of the Peqoud is not merely a, if you will, "routine" whale hunt but rather it is a chase conducted in order to satisfy Ahab's thirst for power. Considering the end of the novel (the sinking of the ship), perhaps the author strives to make a remark on the state of man: man strivesfor power, but power indeed corrupts.
"But in his joy at the enchanted, tacit acquiescence of the mate, Ahab did not hear his foreboding invocation. . . "
First, a few definitions:
acquiescence-> agreement or consent by silence
cordage-> fiber or wire ropes
After Starbuck's mutter "God keep me -keep us all!" there is is a foreboding wind after Starbuck silently, though not happily, agrees to follow Ahab in his hunt for Moby Dick. Ahab is too engrossed in Starbuck's agreement that he misses what the authorat first dubs as a "sign"-the wind blows coldly and fills the sails, a "subterranean laugh" roars from somewhere deep withinthe ship. The author then calls it not a sign, but a prediction. Then, not a prediction but a but a "verification of thegoing-ons." Here we see blatant foreshadowing-something undoubetdly is going to go wrong.
"Now, three to three, ye stand. Commend the murderous chalices. . ."
With a drop of his blood mixed in the drink of the crew, Ahab implores the crew to drink. Recall the "blood-sister pact" frequently featured in movies, etc. Ahab creates a sort of grave promise between him and the crew, and the mission isno longer simply his quest but his crews' as well. Ahab's madness runs through his veins. Think of the common saying "it's in his blood." By giving the crew a drink that is diluted with his blood, he is passing his madness and his thirst for power onto the rest of the crew. They will never be the same.
"Nantucket market! Hoot! But come closer, Starbuck; thou requirest a little lower layer. . ."
"By girdling it with guineas:" 252 pence = 21 shillings = 1 guinea. Starbuck is more concerned with the integrity of the ship, in fact, he appears to be the only one concerned with the profit the Pequod will wield.
-Rebecca Hall, Corinne McConnell & Alex Wikoff
Part 9 "Fedallah" Emily Rew
Fedallah is a Persian fire worshipper that is part of the crew that oversees the lowering of the boat and his appearance is striking, he wears a turban made out of his own white hair and wears a black outfit. The crew fears Fedallah and thinks that he may be the devil himself and Ishamael figures out that the reason Ahab had made visits to the bottom of the boat was because he was keeping extra crew down there. Fedallah's name in Hebrew has the origin "ransom of God." the ransom theory in Christianity is one in which God tries to decietfully bribe or trick Satan. God does this because" the devil lost his dominion over mankind by unjustly trying to extend" his control to a sinless Christ in addition to humanity." Maybe Fedallah will try to extend to much power over Ahab through his prophetic visions and dreams or will try to trick Ahab, since both Fedallah and Ahab have somewhat of a devilish personality. Fedallah's name adds even more to the thoughts that Ishamel has abotu him being a demonic person. Ahab also says the crew believes him to be a demoniac and "madness maddened."
Categorizing Allusions [#7] (Chris Fitzer)
Chapter 42 contains many allusions, most of which relate to whales or the whiteness of Moby Dick in particular. The whale provokes a sense of danger and adventure, but the white nature of Moby Dick offers a quality of celestial purity, but this stark whiteness creates such a contrast that it evokes fear. The unusual natue of Moby Dick's white coloration almost requires this dept of description. The categories of the allusions are...
POLITICAL- Old Kings Of Pegu, modern Kings of Siam, Hanoverian flags, Austrian Empire, Whitsuntide marshal, tearless Lima, Pizarro
CULTRAL- Romans, Red Men of America, Latin, Coleridge's poems, Xerxes, Froissart, White Hoods of Ghent, White steed of the Praires, White Tower of London, Byward Tower, Bloody Tower, fairy tales of Central Europe, tall pale man of the Hartz forests, Albino man, ghosts, grim reaper, whooping imps of the Blocksburg, native Indian of Peru, woodsman of the west, travelers of Lapland
NATURAL- white polar bears, tropical white sharks, Nature, Rocky Mountains, Alleghanies, Albatross, Southern Seas, White Mountains of New Hamshire, Virginia's Blue Ridge, White Sea, Yellow Sea, peaceful valley of Vermont, New England colt, black bison of Oregon,
RELIGIOUS- Persian fire worshippers, Greek mythologies, Great Jove's incarnation of a white bull, White Dog of the Iroqouis, Great Spirit, Christian proests, Passion of the Lord, Vision of St John, Adam, White Squall, Protestant Faith, White Friar, White Nun, veil of the Christian's Deity
question 5 by jeff annis
Ahab's essential statement was that noone would cause him to stray from his path. He continues to be paranoid about the whale and starts doubting some of his crew. Monomania is a term that talks about one's obsession with a certain subject or idea, which in the case of Ahab is of course the whale. He repeats himself numerous times to the point where he sounds like a madman, always talking about seeking revenge without swerving like his soul was nailed on a track with iron nails"whereon my soul is grooved to run."
Question #5 Kate Pennebaker
Question #5 “Sunset”
Monomania is a disorder in which a person lets one thing control their life; it controls everything they think and everything they do. It is obvious that Captain Ahab has a severe case of monomania. His behavior is obsessive. He only cares about one thing, which is the capture and destruction of Moby Dick. This is a very unhealthy behavior because when someone only thinks about one particular thing, that thought controls everything else and it impairs their judgment because they do things that they normally would not. It is one thing to have goals but Ahab does not have a goal; he has something much more than that. He ultimately believes his life will be a failure if he does not avenge Moby Dick. This behavior would be categorized as highly monomaniac without a doubt. The soliloquy is in some way a foreshadowing of events to come because either Moby Dick will be defeated or Captain Ahab will ultimately defeat himself.
Question #4 Kate Pennebaker
Question #4
1. "Nantucket market! Hoot! But come closer, Starbuck; thou requiresta little lower layer. If money’s to be the measurer, man, and the accountants have computer their great counting-house the globe, by girdling it with guineas, one to every three parts of an inch, then let me tell thee, that my vengeance will fetch a great premium here!”
This quote is talking about how Starbuck disagrees with Ahab about the purpose of the voyage. He feels that the whole voyage is to make money and if they catch Moby Dick he will make a really good profit. Starbuck also feels that they need to try to catch more than one whale for monetary purposes. Obviously Ahab disagrees because in his mind the only purpose of the voyage is revenge.
2. “I meant not to incense thee. Let it go. Look! see yonder Turkish cheeks of spotted tawn- living, breathing picture painted by the sun. The pagan leopards- the unrecking and unworshipping things, that live; and seek and give no reasons for the torrid life they feel! The crew, man, the crew! Are they not one and all with Ahab, in this matter of the whale? See Stubs! He laughs! See yonder Chilian! He snorts to think of it. Stand up amid the general hurricane, the one tost sapling cannot, Starbuck!”
In this quote, Ahab is talking to himself about how angry he is with Starbuck and the fact that he can not agree or understand Ahab’s personal purposes for going on the voyage. He makes a comparison about how even the pagans and the Turks can understand and relate to him. This is important because he is saying that the unruly characters who are so different from him can understand him better than a civilized person like Starbuck. He is irate and confused.
3. “In vain! Cried Ahab; “but, maybe, ‘tis well. For did ye three but once take the full-forced shock , then mine own electric thing, that had perhaps expired from out me. Perchance, too, it would have dropped ye . Perchance ye need it not. Down lances! And now, ye mates, I do appoint ye three cup-bearers to my three pagan kinsmen there- yon three most honorable gentlemen and noblemen, my valiant harpooners. Disdain the task? What, when the great Pope washes the fete of beggars, using his tiara for ewer? Oh, my sweet cardinals! Your own condescension, that shall bend yet to it. I do not order ye; ye will it. Cut your seizings and draw your poles, ye harpooners!”
In this passage, Ahab tries to strengthen his relationship with the harpooners by filling their weapons with liquor and blood. He wants to get closer with them so that they will work harder to catch Moby Dick. He says that he and everyone else will fail in life and fail in the eyes of God if they do not catch Moby Dick. He is trying to get closer to them and relate to them so ultimately they can relate to him and “inspire” them to achieve his own goal of avenging Moby Dick.
4. “'Vengence on a dumb brute!', Cried Starbuck, 'That simply smote thee from blindest instinct! Madness! To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.'"
This quote is expressing how angry Starbuck is with Ahab. To put it bluntly, he pretty much thinks Captain Ahab is crazy and stupid. He is angry that the whole voyage revolves around Moby Dick and thinks that Captain Ahab is selfish and dumb for only going after a single whale.
