Moby-Dick discussion

Welcome back to those of you still swimming. This week the chapters are 90 to 101:

90: Heads or Tails
91: The Pequod meets the Rose-Bud
92: Ambergis
93: The Castaway
94: A Squeeze of the Hand
95: The Cassock
96: The Try-Works
97: The Lamp
98: Stowing Down and Cleaning Up
99: The Doubloon
100: Leg and Arm
101: The Decanter

I found this batch a funny mix. Some of the chapters were great, others technical.

I really enjoyed the sensuality of "A Squeeze of the Hand." Talk about double entendre.

I also loved the humor of the Rose-Bud chapter.

"The Castaway" was very intersting as well, featuring the ill-fated Pip.

happy sails....

For me, Melville's comment about Stubbs, which was not to be too hard on him because man is "a money-making animal" was among the most devastating comments in the novel, and it is a piece of Melville's vision

I didn't read, but saw the film, "A Perfect Storm" and one of the things that struck was just how dangerous fishing was. I always had the image of a Huck Finn like character fishing in a pond. But the fact that commercial fishing, today, with much better boats pursuing much less dangerous game, is surprisingly dangerous highlights the dangers the 19th century whalers faced.

I've seen that movie, too - what a harrowing storm that was. The sea is a place of extremes.

That chapter was indeed hilarious. It was refreshing, reminding me of the humor of the early chapters. I guess we loved to hate the French in the 19th century, too.

as to the dangers of the sea. I love this quote...

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”
― Vincent van Gogh