NCHS AP English Language

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

posted by Lisa @ 12:10 PM