Enter Queequeg
When Scott "Shoreline" Sime said he had read M-D, I asked him what his favorite parts were, and he had mentioned the part where Ishmael wakes up with Queequeg's arm draped over him--and I totally agree--I love the thought of two snuggled in like newlyweds.
Many of my favorite lines are in these first chapters--particularly as we experience Ishmael's rollercoaster ride of fear, ignorance, superiority, confusion, and vulnerability. Whenever I go to any kind of so-called diversity training, I think of this chapter, and wish we could read it instead of whatever the presenters have planned—or, really, better yet…we should turn everyone out alone on the streets with ragged boots and a threadbare coat, on a frigid December night in 19th century Massachusetts, point them in the direction of a seedy waterfront hotel, and let them discover they’ll have to share a bed with a harpooner (they’ll find out about the cannibal thing soon enough…)
I like that Melville doesn’t pull punches with his characters. Ishmael’s a great guy and all—and he has a good heart—but he thinks some awfully stupid things, as we all do when we are scared and feel the need to cling to social stereotypes or ideas that might provide comfort when we’re most vulnerable.
And yet, Ishmael figures it out in a few minutes. Whether this is testament to Queequeg’s nobility, kindness, and charisma, or to Ishmael’s openness, loneliness, or quest for knowledge, or all of the above, it’s hard to say. I love that even though prior to Queequeg’s arrival Ishmael couldn’t sleep and complained the mattress must be stuffed with corn cobs or broken crockery, after he gets over his fears and prejudices, and snuggles in with Queequege, he slept oh-so-soundly “ I never slept better in my life.”
“Ignorance is the parent of fear.”
“Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.”
Moby-Dick06 (technorati tag)
Many of my favorite lines are in these first chapters--particularly as we experience Ishmael's rollercoaster ride of fear, ignorance, superiority, confusion, and vulnerability. Whenever I go to any kind of so-called diversity training, I think of this chapter, and wish we could read it instead of whatever the presenters have planned—or, really, better yet…we should turn everyone out alone on the streets with ragged boots and a threadbare coat, on a frigid December night in 19th century Massachusetts, point them in the direction of a seedy waterfront hotel, and let them discover they’ll have to share a bed with a harpooner (they’ll find out about the cannibal thing soon enough…)
I like that Melville doesn’t pull punches with his characters. Ishmael’s a great guy and all—and he has a good heart—but he thinks some awfully stupid things, as we all do when we are scared and feel the need to cling to social stereotypes or ideas that might provide comfort when we’re most vulnerable.
And yet, Ishmael figures it out in a few minutes. Whether this is testament to Queequeg’s nobility, kindness, and charisma, or to Ishmael’s openness, loneliness, or quest for knowledge, or all of the above, it’s hard to say. I love that even though prior to Queequeg’s arrival Ishmael couldn’t sleep and complained the mattress must be stuffed with corn cobs or broken crockery, after he gets over his fears and prejudices, and snuggles in with Queequege, he slept oh-so-soundly “ I never slept better in my life.”
“Ignorance is the parent of fear.”
“Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.”
Moby-Dick06 (technorati tag)
posted by Erica at 5:19 AM
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