Journal 4

Lucas Lorimer                                  Ch. 81-107 July 30(day written), 2019 Journal #4

            Throughout these chapters there is a lot of talk on Moby Dick. In these chapters the Pequod meets many different ships and to each one Captain Ahab asks them all if they have seen the white whale. He is obsessed with his goal and he will not be swayed. Throughout these questionings of the different ships we learn more and more about the white whale. Through the stories of other sailors Moby Dick’s power grows in our imaginations.

            As these chapters go on whaling has changed in my perspective since the beginning of the book. I realize that more and more whaling is not so atrocious a thing. Maybe that is just me falling victim to the way the book is written but due to all the negative press that whaling receives nowadays I think that it has influenced the world to be really angry at whalers. Reading this book, though, had changed my mind. I feel like whaling is more noble now.

            Maybe my thoughts on this topic are situated only to that timeframe where technology was not advanced enough and killing a whale was like a war were there are o predetermined winners. A fair battle, it could be called. Nowadays what with the advances of technology killing whales has become easy and it is not something would call noble.

            Chapters that would aid me in changing my mind were chapters like “The Honour and Glory of Whaling” were the greatness of battling whales compelled me to change my way of thinking.

            Another interesting thing was the issue of Ahab’s leg which when slightly damaged is thrown away and he orders the creation of a new one. This reminded me of the ruthlessness of Ahab and how focused he is on his goal that anything that stands in his way or shows signs of weakness will be thrown out.