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Chapter 26 and 27 of Herman Melville’s classic – Moby Dick. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. Visit this page for the complete collection to date: Finding Melville’s Whale. Knights and Squires A fearless man is far more dangerous, and the first mate, Starbuck, will … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Knights and Squires (Chapter 26 and 27)” »
Chapter 24 of Herman Melville’s classic – Moby Dick. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. Visit this page for the complete collection to date: Finding Melville’s Whale. The Advocate Poetry is ill suited for whaling. Society burns on the blood of whales yet spurns the … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: The Advocate (Chapter 24)” »
Chapter 18 of Herman Melville’s classic – Moby Dick. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. His Mark And so Ishmael and Queequeg board their ship and meet their three-fold captain, but one third of their holy host is missing, the ghost. The captains demand … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Chapter 18 – His Mark” »
Chapter 17 of Herman Melville’s classic – Moby Dick. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. The Ramadan No peace for pagans nor god-fearing men, they are all broken. So, without judgement, He leaves Queequeg to his tribal sabbath. At the end of the day, … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Chapter 17 – The Ramadan” »
Nested within the story of Ishmael, Queequeg, Herman Melville, and Moby Dick are four Coffins. The first two are within the story itself – Peter Coffin, the innkeeper who unites Ishmael with Queequeg, and Queequeg’s Coffin, built on premonition of death, that carries Ishmael to safety after the Pequod is destroyed. These two coffins bookend the epic voyage of the Pequod and it’s crew, but their occurrence parallels two other Coffins, and the fate of the whaleship Essex.
Thanks to everyone who’s followed along with us on our journey through the maritime classic – Moby Dick. I hope the pace is not too slow or too fast for anyone.
For those just joining us, we’re reading through Moby Dick a few chapters a week. You can follow along with your own copy or use the excellent Power Moby Dick website, complete will full text and annotations. Updates are posted every Tuesday and Thursday, with occasional Sundays. Each update includes a short summary (in verse) of the chapter. Reproduced below are the entries from chapters 1 through 16:
Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: The first 16 chapters” »
Chapter 5 of the classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville, summarized in verse. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. Breakfast In good spirits Ishmael seeks his breakfast. The bar room filled with whalers, tired from their night ashore, cheerful and bountiful. Shore-leave echoes in … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Chapter 5 – Breakfast” »
Chapter 4 of the classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville, summarized in verse. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. The Counterpain He awoke to find the great harpooner’s arm draped over him. The patchwork tattoos became his comfort. Not wanting to rouse the sleeping … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Chapter 4 – The Counterpain” »