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.
posted by Mark Francis @ 1:54 PM
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