NCHS AP English Language

Ch 73-Jessica Huff

(This is make-up work from Wed. I was helping with the liturgy)
In Chapter 73 of Moby Dick, the last paragraph discusses Ahab and Fedallah. In this chapter, Ishmael writes that Fedallah's shawdow blends into Ahab's shadow, making it appear as Fedallah does not have a shadow. Additionally, Fedallah's shadow is said to lengthen Ahab's shadow. The fact that Ishmael bothers to include Ahab and Fedallah's shadow is important. As discussed in class earlier, a shadow is the part of a person that they suppress and attempt to conceal. Therefore, when it is stated that Fedallah's shadow lengthens Ahab's shadow, it implies that Fedallah's hidden weaknesses add to Ahab's weaknesses and make Ahab's weaknesses more apparent, hence the lengthening of his shadow. In conclusion, this chapter points out that Fedallah's concealed negative qualities are not visible, yet they make Ahab's more obvious.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 9:16 PM