Moby Dick Journal #2

In Chapter 28, the author names the title “Ahab”. Ahab is easily perceived as an important character in the story of Ishmael’s journey. Throughout the chapter, the author describes the intimidation of Ahab’s character. “Every time I ascended to the deck from my watches below, I instantly gazed aft to mark if any strange face were visible; for my first vague disquietude touching the unknown captain, now in the seclusion of the sea became almost a perturbation.”  (Melville, pages 119-120) The author uses metaphors to express his emotions and what he encounters in his journey.

            In Chapter 40, the author turns this chapter into a script-style type of writing. He writes who specifically says each line, and what are their actions according to what’s going on in the story. My interpretation for this sudden change of writing style is for the reader to be involved in the other characters’ reactions. The characters were dancing and showing off their different nationalities. Pip says a long important line towards the end of the chapter as he is “shrinking under the windlass”, which shows that he is afraid due to the conflict between the sailors and was asking God to “have mercy on this black boy down here”. (Melville, page 175)

            Melville uses many allusions to explain a situation or a character. For example, as he is describing Captain Ahab, he uses the allusion to Greek mythology. “His whole high, broad form seemed made of solid bronze, and shaped in an unalterable mould, like Cellini’s cast Perseus. (Melville, page 121) Also, we see different examples of allusions in Chapter 32, “Cetology”. There are allusions to whale authors as shown in page 130.