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Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Moby Dick
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Moby Dick - Chapters 106-Epilogue
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Chapter 110 - Queequeg in his CoffinQueequeg becomes very ill, and asks that acoffin be made for him in the form of a canoe and puts his favorite belongings in it. He lies in it and closes the cover, and Pip dances around the coffin. Queequeg then feels better, remember things he has left undone, and determines that he is well again. He then decides he is super hungry and uses his coffin as a storage unit.
Chapter 111 - The PacificThe Pequod heads into the Pacific Ocean, which Ishmael remarks upon for its calm. Ishmael notes that Ahab stands looking out at the Pacific, but does not seem to notice its calmness—instead, he is hell bent on finding Moby Dick.
Chapters 112-114Chapter 112 - The Blacksmith
This chapter discusses Perth, the ship's blacksmith. who has become an alcoholic. Ishmael notes that the ocean calls broken men who long for death but can't kill themselves.
Chapter 113 - The Forge
Ahab asks the blacksmith to make a special harpoon to kill Moby Dick. He gives the blacksmith the stubs of the nails of racehorse shoes, the toughest steel known, with which to make the weapon. Ahab ends up making the harpoon himself. water. The scene ends with Pip’s laughter ringing through the ship.
Chapter 114 - The Gilder
Ishmael notes that the sea seems tranquil and dreamy but is really very ferocious. It looks gilt in the sunlight but that only disguises its danger.
Chapters 115-118Chapter 115 - The Pequod meets the Bachelor
The gloomy Pequod meets the super happy Bachelor which was chock full of whale oil.
Chapter 116 - The Dying Whale
The Pequod kills several whales, and they note that one of the dying whales turned towards the sun.
Chapter 117 - The Whale Watch
Fedallah foretells that before Ahab can die, he will see two hearses, one “not made by mortal hands” and one made of wood from America. Ahab thinks he is safe because he won't see a hearse out on the ocean. Fedallah also notes that he will die before Ahab.
Chapter 118 - The Quadrant
Back on the ship, Ahab holds up a quadrant, an instrument that gauges the position of the sun, to determine the ship’s latitude. He doesn't like its reading and so he destroys it and orders that the ship change direction. Starbuck and Stubb continue to have opposing views about Ahab and his ways.
Chapters 119-122Chapter 119 - The Candles
A typhoon hits the Pequod, and Ahab notices that the three masts of the ship have been touched with balls of flame called “corpusants,” which occasionally “arise during sea-storms” and cause the top of the masts “to look like candles.”
Chapter 120 - The Deck towards the End of the First Night Watch
Starbuck once again thinks Ahab is acting crazy, and thinks one of the sails should be taken down in the storm. Ahab complains that Starbuck seems to act like he is incompetent.
Chapter 121 - Midnight - The Forecastle Bulwarks
Stubb and Flask bring in the anchors upon Ahab’s order, and Stubb and Flask believe that Ahab will now pursue Moby Dick relentlessly until he is found. Flask thinks evil spirits have taken over the ship, but Stubb continues to joke as usual.
Chapter 122 - Midnight Aloft - Thunder and Lightning
Tashtego thinks to himself that sailors care more about rum than about the storm. He asks the sky not to thunder and for a glass of rum.
Chapters 123-127Chapter 123 - The Musket
The ship is finally moving, and when Starbuck goes down to tell Ahab this he finds him sleeping and a loaded musket by the door. He considers whether to just kill Ahab but decides he can't do it and puts the musket back. This is one of several times when Starbuck is clearly opposed to Ahab but can't actually go through with disobeying him (or in this case, killing him). He goes along with Ahab even though he thinks it will spell doom for the crew.
Chapter 124 - The Needle
Ahab wakes to find the needle of the compass have been turned around by the electrical energy of the storm, and that the ship is actually going east. Ahab decides to make his own needle.
Chapter 125 - The Log and Line
The log and the line is a bob attached to a rope that is thrown out of the boat at set intervals, as a way of measuring the ship’s progress and speed over time. Ahab orders the crew to throw the bob into the sea, but they note that it is almost broken. They do it anyways at his command, and it breaks as expected. Ahab asks Pip for help and he replies with bizarre comments and is called a crazy loon. Somehow the craziness in common forges a bond between Ahab and Pip.
Chapter 126 - The Life-Buoy
At this point of the voyage, everyone is going rather stir crazy, and the crew members think that a bunch of noisy seals sound like drowned men. A man falls overboard and they fail at rescuing him with the life buoy, and the buoy escapes the ship, representing yet another bad omen! Queequeg's coffin is ironically fashioned into the new life buoy.
Chapter 127 -The Deck
Here we encounter another chapter written as if it was a play. The carpenter complains about making a coffin into a life buoy and Ahab notes that he is as “unprincipled as the gods” for doing so. Pip at this point just seems to follow Ahab around, and the two discuss the situation.
Chapters 128-132Chapter 128 - The Pequod meets the Rachel
This chapter really demonstrated Ahab's obsession as he learns that the Rachel has encountered Moby Dick and has lost a boat that included the captain's son in it. Ahab refuses to help find the boat because he doesn't want to waste time in the hunt.
Chapter 129 - The Cabin
Ahab next abandons young Pip, telling him he has to fight the shite whale. Pip responds that he will not abandon Ahab even though he has been abandoned by Stubb in a whale hunt in the past.
Chapter 130 - The Hat
At this point of the journey Ahab has ascended the mast and is looking for Moby Dick himself. A sea hawk grabs his hat and flies away with it, dropping it in the remote distance in the sea. Another omen?
Chapter 131 - The Pequod meets the Delight
The Pequod next encounters the Delight, which lost five men to Moby Dick the prior day. Ahab tries to steer his ship away so that they don't hear the sound of the bodies being dropped from the Delight into the water.
Chapter 132 - The Symphony
Ahab remarks to Starbuck that he has spent 40 years on the sea, and 3 on land, essentially leaving his wife as a widow with a living husband. Still, he cannot be convinced to abandon his mission.
Chapters 133-135Chapter 133 - The Chase - First Day
Ahab claims he sees the white whale first, and claims the doubloon, noting that it was always meant to be his. The whale boats pursue Moby Dick at last, and Moby Dick bites Ahab's boats into two pieces, sending the crew into the ocean. The Pequod picks up the crew.
Chapter 134 - The Chase - Second Day
On the next attempt to kill Moby Dick, the crew of the whale boats manage to harpoon him, only to have the whale tangle them up in their own lines. Moby Dick then smashes into the boat, dumping everyone into the sea again. The Pequod rescues everyone except Fedallah, who is missing. Ahab's leg is broken again, but still he refuses to abandon the hunt.
Chapter 135 - The Chase - Third Day
On the third and final try to kill Moby Dick, Ahab says goodbye to the Pequod and to Starbuck. The whale destroys two whale boats, but Ahab's remains. Ahab sees Fedallah's corpse tied up against the whale with the harpoon lines, and thinks this is the first of the two hearses he will see. Moby Dick then attacks the Pequod itself, and Ahab realizes that it is the Pequod that is the second hearse. Ahab then launches his harpoon towards Moby Dick once more, only to get caught up in the line and thrown into the sea, where he then drowned. The Pequod sinks into the ocean, with Tashtego fast to the mast until the last possible moment.
EpilogueIshmael is the only man on the Pequod left to tell the tale, as he has used Queequeg's coffin as a buoy and is rescued by the Rachel, which was still looking for its lost men.
I loved this end section - lots of powerful moments which pulled the whole thing together:Ch.113: allusions to the shields of Achilles and Aeneas, I thought, as Ahab has his harpoon forged for his battle with the whale. Also the flames around the heads of Ascanius and Lavinia in the Aeneid, reappear in ch.119 as the masts are lit up like vast candles.
Ch.117: the prophesies of the conditions of Ahab's death reminded me of Macbeth, and various folktales that use a similar device of a 'hero' who considers himself safe... until his misreading of the terms foreshadowing his death are revealed.
Ch.123: Starbuck's monologue over killing Ahab and his hesitation seems to be another allusion to Macbeth faced with killing Duncan.
Melville's control over the last chapters, keeping them short and driven, is tremendous. We can feel the fated end drawing closer...
For me, the ending (I've never read this before or seen the films so while I guessed the ending, I didn't know it) helps to make sense of Ishmael's digressionary chapters about whales: he is as obsessed as Ahab was, has, arguably, lost more - and strives to make some kind of sense out of the nature of the whale through a variety of schemes: looking at it mythically, through art, via biology, anatomy etc. Ultimately, though, there is no sense, life happens...
Also, how moving those early chapters are from the view of the end as Ishmael re-lives his friendship with Queequeg in the face of its loss.
I really loved this book!
Roman Clodia wrote: "I loved this end section - lots of powerful moments which pulled the whole thing together:Ch.113: allusions to the shields of Achilles and Aeneas, I thought, as Ahab has his harpoon forged for hi..."
After all that reading, the ending happens so fast! I had to slow myself down deliberately so I could picture all the action, and I could do that because, as you pointed out, Melville gave us all that detail.
I can't believe you didn't know how it ended. But really, it's Ishmael's story far more than Ahab's. And Queequeg really was a great guy, wasn't he?
If anyone is interested, I suggest Nathaniel Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea," the history of the true story on which Moby Dick is based. I've read it. Five stars! Not as long as Moby Dick, but fascinating, in a sick way. This is also a movie, but I have not watched the movie.
From discussions I've had with others, it seems just about everyone who makes it all the way through Moby Dick thinks it's a fantastic book. And it is. But it is also daunting!
Dianne wrote: "Chapters 112-114Chapter 113 The Forge
Ahab asks the blacksmith..."
What a deeply atmospheric and disturbing chapter. I'm wondering if anyone felt this chapter was very reminiscent of so many forging scenes from legend all the way up to the present. It's a classic retelling of the making of a magical weapon.
One that almost everyone knows is the forging of the rings from the novels of Tolkien. And Tolkien was inspired by old Norse legends.
The legend that resonates the most with me is from the Norse tales about Siegfried (Sigurd). There are a lot of legends of Siegfried that appear in many different tales, but some consistencies thread through them. Siegfried's father Sigmund was killed by Odin, and his sword was broken. Siegfried's mother kept the pieces and gave them to Siegfried once he was grown. Siegfried forged the sword himself (in some versions, only Siegfried was strong enough to wield the great forging hammer); it's power was so great that Siegfried used it to slay the great dragon Fafnir, who was impervious to other weapons.
And here in this chapter, the forging of a powerful weapon is again reenacted. Ahab completes the forging of his harpoon, made with metal difficult to work with. He then annoints and tempers it with the blood of "heathens", imbuing it with dark magic. All in preparation to wield it against an immense creature of great size and power.
And then at the end of the chapter, this:
"This done, pole, iron, and rope - like the Three Fates - remained inseparable, and Ahab stalked away with the weapon...". The Three Fates, or Norns, figure heavily in the Norse legends.
I found the comparisons very compelling.
When I was singing professionally, one of the tenors I performed with had performed the title role of Siegfried in Wagner's opera. It was a favorite role and one he loved to talk about.
Chapter 114There is such a quiet, elegiac tone to this chapter. This quiet, almost wistful sadness. This unsustainable, but wished and prayed for, beauty and peace.
As Starbuck said when he gazed into the golden water:
"Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe."
I just finished. I've been so caught up in the story, I'm emotionally drained right now. I have to process it a little and will be back because there are some incredible chapters here.Wow, what a book.
Paula wrote: "Dianne wrote: "Chapters 112-114Chapter 113 The Forge
Ahab asks the blacksmith..."
What a deeply atmospheric and disturbing chapter. I'm wondering if anyone felt this chapter was very reminisce..."
Disturbing, all right. If anyone wasn't certain Ahab was a nutter yet, they'd know when they got to this chapter.
"Wow, what a book," indeed. Exactly what I thought when after so many attempts I finally got caught up in it and read it all the way through the first time, and this time.
Moby Dick is a long, sometimes arduous voyage. But when I finished the first time, it reminded me of how sometimes in our lives situations come up that are somewhat beyond our control, and we have no choice but to ride out the storm. And whether the resolution is satisfactory or not, riding the storm made us a little more mature, or compassionate, or made us think about our values, and whether our moral compass is pointed in the right direction. We grow during the storm.
But how do you decide what to read next when you've finished a book so long, so full of symbolism, so sensual, informative, and fulfilling? Aye, matey, that's the question.
I didn't read anything for a couple of days after I finished. I tried to, but nothing clicked. Anything I tried to read...well, I had to go back and read again. I was just so immersed in MD, it was hard to come to surface again.I'm hoping House of Government will get me back in the swing of things.
Paula wrote: "I didn't read anything for a couple of days after I finished. I tried to, but nothing clicked. Anything I tried to read...well, I had to go back and read again. I was just so immersed in MD, it was..."Frustrating as they are, I call those moments blessings! They're what make reading FUNdamental.
I just finished the book, the second half listening to the audiobook. I apologize for not checking in with each set of posts and commenting, but not only was I gone on vacation last week, but I had a hard time remembering things that I wanted to comment on when listening to the audio. Some books are great on audio, but for me, I would have preferred to read this all the way through on print.Anyway, now I know how it ends. Like Roman Clodia, I had a feeling of how things ended, but wasn't completely sure. And yes, the ending happened so quickly, especially on audio when I couldn't slow down the narrator. I might need to go back and reread the last three chapters.
I loved Ahab's hat being taken by a hawk and then dropped in the sea so far off. ha!
As for the book as a whole, I have mixed feelings. I loved the beginning where we get to know Ishmael and Queequeg, and of course I loved the ending because that is what the entire book was leading up to. The sections which I read on the whale classifications and such were great too. But some of the later chapters that I listened to that had more philosophical musings were more difficult for me to pay attention to on audio. I think if I had not had a month break and switch in reading format, I might rate the book higher. As it stands, though, I'm somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. Now I'm curious about the movie.
Linda wrote: "I just finished the book, the second half listening to the audiobook. I apologize for not checking in with each set of posts and commenting, but not only was I gone on vacation last week, but I had..."It's no easy task reading it the first time. Congratulations! Now you can ask people if they have ever read Moby Dick and enjoy the looks on their faces :)
Hummingbirder wrote: "It's no easy task reading it the first time. Congratulations! Thank you! I love checking classics like this off my list. It always feels very satisfying. :)
10 more chapters 🐳
Stephanie wrote: "10 more chapters 🐳"You can do it!
Lorna wrote: "Linda, im like you and want to watch the movie. I wanted the patrick stewart bbc production but netflix didnt have on disc."I've never watched this movie. Is it good?
Linda wrote: "I just finished the book, the second half listening to the audiobook. I apologize for not checking in with each set of posts and commenting, but not only was I gone on vacation last week, but I had..."woo hoo! congrats linda! I also thought the ending was rather rushed. There are so many magnificent parts of this text, but since it is not plot driven I think audio would be tough!
Paula wrote: "I didn't read anything for a couple of days after I finished. I tried to, but nothing clicked. Anything I tried to read...well, I had to go back and read again. I was just so immersed in MD, it was..."How's it going Paula? House is a unique bird, I think you also have to be in the mood for it.
Hummingbirder wrote: "Paula wrote: "Dianne wrote: "Chapters 112-114Chapter 113 The Forge
Ahab asks the blacksmith..."
What a deeply atmospheric and disturbing chapter. I'm wondering if anyone felt this chapter was ..."
why our next classic chunkster read, of course!
The 1956 film of Moby Dick directed by John Huston is very underrated in my opinion. It is spectacular-looking - Huston and cinematographer Oswald Morris, shooting in color, tried with notable success to capture the look of 19th Century whaling prints.Some people don't like Gregory Peck's Ahab, but I think he is fine. Richard Basehart is a wonderful Ishmael. The early scene with Orson Welles as Father Mapple is memorable.
Patrick wrote: "The 1956 film of Moby Dick directed by John Huston is very underrated in my opinion. It is spectacular-looking - Huston and cinematographer Oswald Morris, shooting in color, tried with notable succ..."thank you Patrick! What are your takeaways from the novel that you can share? How would you rate this book among classics you have read?
Thanks, Patrick! I think I picked the wrong movie. I have one on hold from the library from 2011 with William Hurt as Captain Ahab, but it hasn’t come in yet. There were many options and I may have been hasty in my choice. I’m going to see if I can find one of the movies you suggested instead.
Ah...OK. It’s just the one film you mentioned, Patrick. My library does have it so I’ll watch that one instead.
Dianne wrote: "Paula wrote: "I didn't read anything for a couple of days after I finished. I tried to, but nothing clicked. Anything I tried to read...well, I had to go back and read again. I was just so immersed..."So much business travel, I've been dead tired. House is a great book but I couldn't keep up with the schedule 😞.
I know how that is Paula! Re the House schedule, yeah that is an aggressive timeline but as NF I thought it would flow quickly. Hope things lighten up for you soon.
I read the book years ago and adored it. I should re-read it but didn't have the time right now (because of too many other books in progress). But I did follow the comments here. Did anyone here read an edition with the Rockwell Kent illustrations? They are wonderful.
Anyone in the mood for more (but lighter) Melville might try Redburn, which is dèlightful and very entertaining.
Anyone in the mood for more (but completely crazy) Melville might try Mardi and a Voyage Thither.
Patrick wrote: "I read the book years ago and adored it. I should re-read it but didn't have the time right now (because of too many other books in progress). But I did follow the comments here. Did anyone here ..."
thanks Patrick! glad you were with us :) I googled the rockwell kent illustrations and posted a few, they really are remarkable. I don't know what edition that it is, or even if it is still available.
One of my favorite pastimes is collecting less famous books of very famous authors. I will definitely try to track down the ones you mention!
The Kent illustrations accompanied Modern Library editions over the years. They seem to be selling for quite a lot of $$ at Amazon!
Patrick wrote: "The Kent illustrations accompanied Modern Library editions over the years. They seem to be selling for quite a lot of $$ at Amazon!"that's terrible! although they are probably worth it.
I think my library edition had those illustrations. They were beautiful indeed!! They reminded me of Gustave Dore's for The Diving Comedy but with more of a ... fellow's graphic novel vibe to them. They added to the story & really drove home the point that this an adventure book for boys ... grr!!! (or men too.) Hopefully, there'll be a reprint edition with them. Perhaps they're out of copyright now? If so, it's our job to increase a demand for Moby Dick & publishers are sure to roll in & help ^.^In the Heart of the Sea --- I've added it to my TBR. I watched the movie and thought it was good. Not great, just Hollywood good (not Hollywood bad... that's always a travesty to fall for one of those!! Always leaves me feeling robbed, too!)
As a writer, Melville's ok in my books. heehee! I'll check out the other books by him.
House of Government ... I'm shuffling along, more or less on schedule. I basically didn't read anything last month. Moby Dick crushed the 'ole reading brain!! It was so hard to concentrate afterwards.
Oh, I forgot to mention ...Dianne, your pics for all these threads are stellar. Moby Dick himself would be proud in all his ponderous glory ^.^
Biblio....In the Heart of the Sea was captivating and incredible. The movie by comparison was awful. I actually listened to it on audio and found myself walking a little further. I need more good audiobooks that keep me movingStephanie
I'll just leave this link to the clip here ..."Picard's White Whale"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeGMH...
Stephanie wrote: "Biblio....In the Heart of the Sea was captivating and incredible. The movie by comparison was awful. I actually listened to it on audio and found myself walking a little further. I need more good a..."I thought perhaps In the Heart of the Sea had been read by some, but I made a comment about it a while ago and hadn't heard other comments. I have not seen the movie, but I can't imagine Ron Howard directing a film that shows this story. It was quite shocking. Cannibals! Nathaniel Philbrick's history books read quite like modern novels. That was the first work of his I read, and I was gobsmacked!
Hummingbirder wrote: nyone is interested, I suggest Nathaniel Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea," the history of the true story on which Moby Dick is based. I've read it. Five stars! Not as long as Moby Dick, but fascinating, in a sick way. This is also a movie, but I have not watched the movie
I could not agree more about The Heart of the Sea. Now that I’ve finished Moby Dick I might listen to it again.
Stephanie
Linda wrote: "Hummingbirder wrote: "It's no easy task reading it the first time. Congratulations! Thank you! I love checking classics like this off my list. It always feels very satisfying. :)"
I totally agree
Hummingbirder wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Biblio....In the Heart of the Sea was captivating and incredible. The movie by comparison was awful. I actually listened to it on audio and found myself walking a little further. ..."Sorry just saw the other comment today. I was trying hard not to read any spoilers as I finished the book. But now I am finished.
Stephanie
I am finally finished with this epic tome and can mark it off my book bucket list. I really enjoyed the beginnng of the book and the end of the book. I too had no idea how it ended and I did not predict the ending One character that has not received much mention is Pip. I thought it was interesting that he seemed to keep turning up in al his craziness whenever Ahab was contriving his plans. I could not figure out why Ahab was so tolerant.
Overall I’m glad to have read this book. I see it’s merits as a great work of literature. I did not particularly like it. And I promise I will never read it again though I may watch the movie
Thanks for dragging me along! Thanks Dianne for the great pictures and summaries.
I started House but ehhh not really for me. I’ll look forward to the next classic pick
Stephanie
Stephanie wrote: "I am finally finished with this epic tome and can mark it off my book bucket list. I really enjoyed the beginnng of the book and the end of the book. I too had no idea how it ended and I did not pr..."I'm glad you finished. I didn't think I'd read it again, either, and am not suggesting you should. I did find the discussion enhanced my reading experience. Whether I commented or not, other people's comments did help me notice things I might otherwise have missed.
And you mention Pip. I remember thinking about Pip the first time I read it. Poor thing was a step down from cabin boy. I don't know why Ahab tolerated him. Really, he had no business being on the ship; too young and unskilled. But he had a sweet temperament. I felt, on first reading, Ahab's tolerance was a sign his heart was not stone cold altogether, because Ahab also bemoans the fact he married a much younger woman and made her a widow and their son an orphan by virtue of spending nearly every day of his life at sea.
He clearly felt guilty about his wife and son. Maybe favoring Pip, the least among the crew, assuaged his guilt.
You know what I cannot read? The Last of the Mohicans. It's way harder than Moby Dick!
Reading the Chunksters
Books mentioned in this topic
Redburn (other topics)Mardi and a Voyage Thither (other topics)
Chapter 106 - Ahab's Leg
Ahab attempts to jump from the Pequod to the Samuel Enderby and somehow manages to splinter his ivory leg. The ship's carpenter fashions a new one out of a whale jawbone. Ishmael notes that Ahab was not very visible at the beginning of the voyage partly due to embarrassment out of another false leg injury that he had sustained.
Chapter 107 - The Carpenter
Ishmael introduces the carpenter in this chapter, and he seems to be a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. While he seemed to have a simple, mechanical view of all things, he spent a "great part of the time soliloquizing."
Chapter 108 - Ahab and the Carpenter
In this chapter, Ahab and the carpenter discuss in play form the formation of Ahab's new leg. Ahab talks about how he feels phantom pains in his missing legs, and the carpenter notes that he is a strange man.
Chapter 109 - Ahab and Starbuck in the Cabin
Starbuck finds out that the oil casks on the ship are leaking, and advises Ahab that the ship should stop until they fix the problem. Aha becomes irate and dismisses Starbuck, and Starbuck backs down. Still, later Ahab listens to Starbuck and the ship stops so they can fix the leaks. Why do you think Ahab listened to Starbuck in this instance?