Journal #1 – Luca Nakata

In the page of the book (starting at chapter 1) we can already see Melville’s very interesting descriptions. For example: “driving off the spleen”, “growing grim around the mouth (alliteration too)”, etc. (p.14) His word choices and vocabulary in general are really fun to read and describe everything so perfectly, so it’s easy to picture the story in your mind while you read it. Another great example is in the phrase: “Tell me, does the magnetic virtue of the needles of the compasses of all those ships attract them thither?” (p.15)

            Queequeg is also such a funny and good character to use in the beginning of the story. He’s the perfect companion to Ishmael, which talks a lot, so he just sits there and listens. It’s like he’s the brawn and Ishmael, the brains, a classic stereotype. Queequeg is also kind of like a comic relief. The setting in the beginning is all dark and gloomy, and he sounded scary at the start, but then transitions into a respectable gentleman, which is ironic (p.35). This savage cannibal suddenly turns into a polite friend to Ishmael. 

            I like how Melville depicts Christianism through Ishmael. In the chapter where Queequeg fasts for Ramadan (p.76), Ishmael completely respects what his friend is doing and won’t judge him just because he isn’t like him. Maybe like Voltaire, he is criticizing Christians because a lot of them try to force their views and opinions down people’s throats. Here, Ishmael says that Christians should be charitable towards other’s views, and not think that we are superior to them. He handled that perfectly and had a humble and kind attitude.