Section 5 was by far my favorite. The main reason is that there were almost no chapters dedicated to teaching the reader about certain process or objects that were common to whalers; the focus here was on the narrative. This contrast between the very detailed chapters seen on previous section and the narrative-focused chapters on section 5 is reasonable. Ishmael, through the previous sections of the book, explains in detail how the whaling business worked and why certain tools were used. On section 5, however, it is assumed that the reader already knows everything that was taught to them about the subject, so there is no need to have breaks between the narrative to explain certain terms. Therefore section 5 is filled with action, drama, suspense, and wraps up the book with an incredible ending.

            Something that I realized as I was reading through these final chapters is that the “real author” of this narrative is not Herman Melville, but Ishmael is the one who put this work together. After realizing that he was the only Pequod survivor (p. 569), he decides to write this story to keep Pequod and Ahab’s quest alive through this book. What is ironic is that although the crew physically died on the accident, they were immortalized as the story of Moby Dick lives on forever. Similarly to how Queequeq’s “hieroglyphic marks” about a “complete theory of the heavens and the earth” were engraved on the coffin life-buoy (p. 479), the story of Ahab and his crew was not lost but will be passed on.

            One of the characters that most caught my attention this section was Pip Bell-boy. I have already mentioned on my previous journals that he went from a cheerful sailor to a crazy prophet. This section, however, made me realize that he was on the path of becoming a “second Ahab”. Just like Ahab couldn’t let go of his past because of the whale that traumatized him, Pip couldn’t move on from the accident. On various occasions he reminds himself and the crew that Pip “died a coward” (p. 478) and that shame should be “upon all cowards” (p. 528). Although Bell-boy gave himself a new identity and was given a seat at the captain’s cabins (p. 527), he can’t never put Pip to rest. Both are haunted by their traumas, which ironically kills them; Ahab gets killed by the merciless Moby Dick, and Bell-boy, for the second time, gets his soul drowned for once and for all (p. 566-567).

As we approach the end the book, looking back, we can see some trends regarding what an object or place symbolizes in this narrative. One recurrent symbol that was emphasized in this section is the ocean. Ishmael describes it as the “dark side of this earth” (p. 424). His statement proves to be true on several chapters, as the ocean is always related to the misfortunes that strike the characters. One instance I would like to highlight is when Pip is all by himself on chapter 93 (The Castaway). After being abandoned by his crew for jumping into the water, Pip loses his sanity. It is described that Pip’s soul was “carried down alive to wondrous depths” (p. 415). Pip starts to see visions but is considered mad by his crewmates (p. 416). This passage portrays the idea that although the ocean is extremely big, it is really lonely, and that loneliness can change one entirely (“But the awful lonesomeness is intolerable” p. 415). Pip went from a very cheerful and festive sailor into a crazy prophet who claimed he saw God.

            Another chapter that caught my attention was chapter 100 (Leg and Arm). This chapter introduces Captain Boomer. Both him and Captain Ahab share a “common enemy”, which is Moby Dick, who took one of their limbs (p. 436). One would think that Captain Boomer, then, should be like Ahab, a restless maniac thirsty for vengeance. However, that is not the case. Although both share a common tragic past with Moby Dick, they differ on what should be done about. Ahab is blinded by his revenge, while Boomer learns his lesson to not mess with the White Whale. Here we have two pathways on how one deals with a great loss. Like Ahab, one can continuously remind themselves about his loss, and therefore never moves on. The other alternative is to be like Boomer, who lets his past go and decides to live happily. Each captain thinks of the other as crazy for not sharing the same point of view, and both depart.

            Lastly, I would like to highlight chapter 99 (The Doubloon). This chapter is important because it reveals a lot about each character regarding how they view the world. Ahab tells that the coin is “like a magician’s glass, to each and every man in turn but mirrors back his own mysterious self” (p. 430-431). Ahab sees everything as if they were himself; this symbolizes how Ahab is only focused on his own revenge. Starbuck sees the Holy Trinity and that the “sun of Righteousness still shines a beacon and a hope; this reveals his attachment to Christianity. Stubb focuses on the Zodiac Signs; this reveals an allegorical side of Stubb, who tries to seek a meaning in everything. Flask sees nothing but a gold coin, which contrasts with Stubb allegorical view. And the list goes on. The story conveys the idea that different people have different worldviews depending on their culture, traumas, etc. The theme highlighted here is how there is no such a thing as an exact answer; everyone can interpret something as they like.

At this point in the narrative, it is no surprise to me that the author decides to constantly emphasize how mysterious whales are to men. On chapter 70 (The Sphynx), Ahab questions to the decapitated head of the Sperm Whale as if it was a “Sphinx in the desert” (311). Sphinxes are known to be extremely wise, and perhaps even omniscient. In addition to that, Ahab says that the whale, “of all divers, hast dived the deepest” (311). I believe this chapter conveys that idea that, even though Ahab and his crew are very experienced whalers, they still have lots to learn about the deep ocean world, and that’s why Ahab jokingly asks the “Wise Whale”. This idea of whales being mysterious creatures is also carried out on chapter 79 (The Prairie). Ishmael applies the study of physiognomy and phrenology, which claims that one’s traits can be explained by their facial expressions and formation of the skull, on the whale. However, he comes to the conclusion that the interpretation of the reading depends on the reader (348), so this study cannot be objectively used. Melville uses irony to ridicule those fields of science that were so prevalent at his time. He does that by saying that great linguists, such Champollion and Sir William Johnson, couldn’t even “read the simplest peasant’s face in its profounder and more subtle meanings” (348).

            As we approach the end of the book, Melville continues to add foreshadowing in to keep up the suspense that was already established in the previous chapters. This section, however, I believe he started to be more direct when it comes to his foreshadows. In chapter 71 (The Jerroboam’s Story), we have a sailor who claims to be the archangel Gabriel (315). He “solemnly warns the captain [Ahab] against attacking the White Whale” (316), and guarantees that Ahab will end up dead just like the “blasphemer” who was killed by Moby Dick (“thou art soon going that way.” 318). Ishmael, at the end of the chapter, says that “many things were hinted in reference to this wild affair” (319), showing that this prophecy is bound to happen. Another instance of a not so subtle foreshadowing can be seen on chapter 74 (The Sperm Whale’s Head – Contrasted View). Ishmael talks about how sperm whales have their eyes located on the same place humans have their ears, therefore they can see what is on their sides but are unable to perceive what is directly in front of them. He emphasizes it by warning that it should be “remembered by the reader in some subsequent scenes” (331). My prediction is that when they finally meet Moby Dick, the whale’s peripheral view is going to play a huge role on deciding who is going to come out as the winner.

            Something that caught my attention in this section is how Ishmael used “technical chapters” (those in which he describes the processes, tools, and important terms in whaling) to make deep and philosophical points. On chapter 58 (Brit), he contrasts the safety of land to the dark, and “masterless ocean” (276). He, then, makes an analogy saying that the human soul is a “verdant land” that is surrounded by an ocean of the “horrors of the half known life” (276). The analogy is expanded when Ismael admires the whale, whose thick skin protects it from the ocean (chapter 68, 308). He envies the whales and wishes that mankind would “model thyself after the whale” (308), implying that he wished his soul wouldn’t suffer from its surrounding just likes the whales.

Although “Moby Dick” is classified as a novel, the authors decides to incorporate other genres of writing in some chapters; each genre is used to achieve its own goal. Chapter 32 (Cetology) is similar to a science paper, where Ishmael feels the need to explain to the audience about different species of whales. It seems like a science paper because not only does he define what is considered a whale, but he also classifies them into major groups (Books) and then into small species group (Chapters) on page 133. Another genre that is assimilated into the narrative is that of a play. This genre of writing can be seen primarily on chapter 40 (Midnight, Forecastle). Chapter 40 starts with stage directions (169), which is a strong indication for a play-like writing. In addition to that, the format of dialogue is changed in order to look more similar to a play. I believe the author decided to stray from his normal writing format because he wanted to emphasize the festiveness in the boat to create a “calm before the storm” mood. This mood however would end after their first encounter with a whale in chapter 48 (The First Lowering).

The use of foreshadow is very apparent in this section. One example of that is when one sailor claims to hear a weird noise (195) on chapter 43 (Hark!) and assumes that there is an intruder hiding in the ship. The same sailor says that he heard Flask talking about the same subject (196). We later find out that those hiding men were the “five dusky phantoms” mentioned at the end of chapter 47 (The Mat-Maker, 215). Another example of a foreshadow can be seen in Starbuck’s hesitancy to agree with his captain’s motives for this voyage. He says that he enlisted to “hunt whales and not his commander’s vengeance” (161). Their first and unsuccessful whaling experience (223) see in chapter 48 shows how deadly and destructive whales can be. My prediction is that they are going to find Moby Dick, and she will ultimately destroy the crew, which would confirm Starbuck’s warnings about how unwise it would be to chase Ahab’s revenge.

Going along with this conflict between Ahab and Starbuck, two chapters that stood up for me were chapter 37 (Sunset) and chapter 38 (Dusk). The reason why I highlighted them was because both chapters mirror each other in structure and content, but what makes them different is the point of view of the narrator. Sunset shows Ahab’s soliloquy, where he acknowledges that his crew thinks that he is crazy; he even admits that he is “demoniac” and “madness maddened”. (166). He says that Moby Dick is fated to struck down by him in the same way Ahab was fated to lose his leg. On the other hand, it is Starbuck’s turn to have a soliloquy in Dusk. Starbuck reveals his worries about chasing the whale; Starbuck doesn’t want to carry out his captain’s mission, but he is conflicted because he “feels that he must help him to it” (167). What I found interesting is how the title of each chapter summarize what the chapters are about. “Sunset” and “Dusk” are basically the same thing, but there is a very small, yet important difference. “Sunset” is when the sun sets down to the point where you can’t see it anymore. This symbolizes how Ahab is going to end his quest by killing Moby Dick, and therefore put an end on his “day”. “Dusk”, however, is when the night period is just about to begin. Starbuck doesn’t feel like that is going to be a good idea; he thinks that going after Moby Dick is not going to be the end of their “day” but only the beginning of their disastrous “night”.

Moby Dick is known for being a book in which the plot revolves around the hunting of a whale. The narrator foreshadows his encounter with the great beast even in the first chapter (6). Melville decides to continuously refer to the whale throughout various parts in this first section. Some examples can be seen on chapter 3 (The Spouter-Inn), on 9 (The Sermon), and on chapter 16 (The Ship). On chapter 3, Ishmael tries to describe the “very large oil-painting” that caught his attention (10). His final guess about what is happening in the painting is that a whale is responsible for the destruction of the ship. I believe that the fact that Ishmael can’t quite comprehend the painting (11) symbolizes how mysterious whales were to him, considering he didn’t have any prior experience with them. On chapter 9, Father Mapple uses the story of Jonah and the “Big Fish” to preach. Chapter 16 (The Ship) shows how Captain Peleg describes how that “monstrousest parmacetty” took Captain Ahab’s leg (71). I think that the reason why Melville overuses the imagery of a monstrous whale is to build up the plot and make the readers want to keep on reading.

            Melville uses various rhetorical terms in his book, which makes the reading experience more enjoyable. One example happens when the narrator describes Pequod (68). Personification can be seen when the pronoun “she” is used to address the ship. Simile can also be seen when she is described like a barbarian Ethiopian emperor. I believe that the sailors were so attached to their ships that they viewed her as if she was part of the family, and that is why they personified the ship the way they did. In same chapter, there is also a part where a pun is used, which caught my attention. When Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad were discussing what lay they should give to Ishmael, Captain Bildad quotes the Bible saying, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth—” (76). The word “lay” is first used as a noun that refers to the fraction of the payment one would get after getting a whale, but when Captain Bildad says the same word, he refers to the verb. As for me, I really enjoy when authors use a couple of lines in order to make a subtle joke (even if they are not really funny).

            Two chapters that stood out for me were chapters 24 (The Advocate) and 25 (Postscript). According to what the narrator says, being engaged in the whaling industry was something dishonorable and to be ashamed of. The narrator however, effectively counters those assumptions. He uses historical facts to show how whaling aided the economy from the colonies (108) and how it helped the establishment of Australia (109). Another strategy used to make his point stronger is that the narrator mentions possible counter-arguments the opposition might have and address them individually (109-110).