NCHS AP English Language

Queequeg and His Coffin-Libby Mary Elaine and Brett

How is queequeg and his coffin alike?

Notes:

Queequeg had an iron heart placed in the coffin along with a paddle with biscuits along the side of it, fresh water at his head, and he had woody earth at the hold of his foot and the peice of sail cloth as his pillow. Queequeg also had the tatoos on his body drawn unto his coffin. This enabled his story to be told even after his death.


After Queequeg decided he had gained enough strength to leave his coffin, he used it as a sea chest.


Queequeg's religious beliefs allow him to imagine death as a journey into his "natural realem." The sea, as explained earlier in previous questions, somehow draws everyone to attention of it no matter where. Whether the attention is directed towards serenity or danger, the ocean is a "home." Since the mallevolent spirit was brought into Queequeg's body, he was to be drawn back into his natural state. Queequeg took these possesions with him for more of a symbolic meaning rather than a comfort considering he was going to die. Although, because of the religious beliefs he posseses, death could be viewed as a comfort within itself with the idea of Queequeg traveling back to his natural state.


to be continued...

posted by Anonymous @ 2:58 PM