NCHS AP English Language

Queequeg's coffin- L. Mill and E. Rew

Discuss Queequeg's coffin: its purpose, what it becomes symbolically.

Ishmael and Queequeg develop an odd symbiotic relationship almost instantaneously. Ishmael is depressed and feeling restless. He spends the night at Spouter's Inn, needing a sailing job, and Peter COFFIN, the owner of the inn, assigns him to share a room with a savage because they have no vacancies. Thus, through a Coffin, even if it is a person, they meet. Furthermore, Queequeg, in a way, saves Ishmael at the beginning. He is nowhere to go; he is feeling to the world. Then, Queequeg arrives, and they start this partner relationship that is very admirable. The novel ends with Ishmael and Queequeg's relationship ending as well. However, paralleling to when they first met, when they are broken apart at last, there are many correlations. Through a coffin, they part once more, Queequeg going down with Moby Dick, Ishmael staying up with the coffin. Also, the coffin, which was designed for Queequeg, saves Ishmael once more. Queequeg's coffin is symbolically Queequeg and even at the end, he rescues Ishmael again by beign his liferaft. This demonstrates what Queequeg's coffin is symbolically. It is Queequeg and its purpose is to save Ishmael in the end.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 9:42 AM