Monday, November 13, 2006

QUESTION 3 BY CAILIN LOYD

What is the purpose behind Ahab's long speech to Starbuck, when he talks about his past? CH132

Ahab knows that there is something not right about him or his obsession with Moby Dick, and he attempts to convey that message to Starbuck. He tells Starbuck,

"What is it, what nameless, inscrutable, unearthly thing is it; what cozening, hidden lord and master, and cruel, remorseless emperor commands me; that against all natural lovings and longings, I so keep pushing, and crowding, and jamming myself on all the time; recklessly making me ready to do what in my own proper, natural heart, I durst not so much as dare?"

This statement makes it clear that Ahab knows what he is doing, he just is so obsessed that he can do nothing to stop it, and he knows the perils he is putting his crew in by continuing to search for Moby Dick. However, even with the dangers, Ahab can not bring himself to turn the Pequod around due to the presence in his mind which drives him. Ahab also talks about his wife and son back in Nantucket to Starbuck, who uses this to try to change Ahab's mind about searching for Moby Dick. Ahab's purpose in telling Starbuck what's on his mind is his attempt to connect with his humanity; he knows he is going crazy and dragging his crew to his doom with him, but he wants to try to explain to Starbuck that if he could have it another way he would. This does not excuse his madness, it only helps him appear more human than in the rest of the book.


BY CAILIN LOYD

posted by Lisa @ 8:46 AM