4 Major Differences
Meeting the ships:
During the course of the novel, the Pequod encounters many different vessels which represent different stories, or rather the progression of Captain Ahab. The film only has the Pequod interact with the Samuel Enderby and the Rachel. Even though the other ships serve necessary purposes in the book, they do not necessarily have to take up valuable film time for the already lengthy movie.
actual chase of Moby Dick:
In the book, the final pursuit of Moby Dick is a long-awaited three day affair. For timing purposes, the film makes these three days into about 5 minutes. Numerous boats go out from the Pequod, and basically Fedallah dies first from drowning, which happens in the book, then Ahab jumps outs and dies, while Moby Dick attacks the little boats and smashes them all. Somehow, Ismael manages to stay alive, keeping afloat with the coffin Queequeg doesn't have to use anymore, which leads into the next difference.
Queequeg's coffin as a floatation device:
In the book, the coffin made for Queequeg magically pops up from the "vortex" created by the sinking of the Pequod. Ishmael must have a floatation device, and in both the novel and the movie the coffin serves this purpose. However, in the film the coffin miraculously surfaces from the water literally a foot away from Ishmael in the middle of the ocean, pretty far away from the the Pequod.
Nailing the flag:
Ahab tells Tashtego to nail a red flag to the top of a mast so that other ships can recognize the pieces of the boat when it sinks. Tashtego grabs a fiesty bird that is mocking him while the ship is sinking, (623-624) which symbolizes a "bird from Heaven" going down to hell (the Pequod sinking). Ahab wouldn't let the ship go down without some of his input, his control.
Written by: Caroline Ward, Lisa Elizondo, Amy Coates
posted by Caroline Ward @ 5:31 PM
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