amanda1035’s Blog

Moby Dick is finally mentioned. Ahab explains to the crew his main goal in this whaling trip, telling them that he will hunt Moby to all ends of the Earth. He first doesn’t explain why, but when asked he says it is first about vengance, but when questioned further he reveals that he thinks Moby Dick is the representation of evil. I thought this shows a little about the American character and our cravings for revenge. The crew kind of noticed that Ahab’s a little crazy and that their adventure to come would be an interesting one. Stubb and Starbuck both argue with him saying his reasoning is wrong and it won’t be efficient or economical.

Chapter 37 starts the first of three soliloquies. Ahab is talking about the crew’s opinion of him and his prophecy to hurt Moby Dick in some drastic way. One thing he said that I thought was interesting was, “all loveliness is anguish to me, since I can ne’er enjoy. Gifted with the high perception, I lack the low, enjoying power; damned, most subtly and most malignantly.” (143) I thought this was a very thoughtful line in the book. By having too much perception, or always thinking about things way to much, and not seeing them simply, he misses out on the beauty of simplicity. It’s something we don’t realize is so important and so nice.

Then the play sort of chapters start? It was weird. I don’t know what he was thinking when he did this. But I think its funny that a little sailor challenged Daggoo. Not smart. I’m excited to see if that goes anywhere.

~ by amanda1035 on September 17, 2008.