The mates, gold, and relaxation at sea.
I would love to be like Stubb, the way Chapter 27 describes him.
He would hum over his old rigadig tunes while flank and flank with the most exasperated monster. Long usage had, for this Stubb, converted the jaws of death into an easy chair.
Completely at-ease in dangerous or threatening situations. I'm normally pretty laid back on the surface, some might say, and I'm glad that I present such a calm demeanor, but inside, its different.
And also, I loved this bit..
"..against all mortal tribulations, Stubb's tobacco smoke might have operated as a sort of disinfecting agent."
On to Chapter 28 - Ahab:
I took the full compliment of art history classes while I was at KU, (and jccc, for that matter), enough to have minored in it, so I thought I'd show you what Ishmael was talking about when he said:
"His whole high, broad form, seemed made of solid bronze, and shaped in an unalterable mould, like Cellini's cast Perseus."
The bronze may not have been so weathered when Ishmael gazed on this statue, and I'm sure Ahab didn't tote around the severed head of medusa (like Queequeg with his shrunken heads).
Chapter 30 - Cetology:
This is easily my least favorite part of the book. Maybe, if I was interested in marine biology, it would be good. Maybe not. The only saving grace this chapter has for me is its usage of old book formats. Folio, quarto, and such. Here's a nice little link that explains it all. It's almost as confusing as figuring out envelope sizes. A6, A4, and such.
Chapter 34 - The Cabin-Table:
What a crummy role poor King-Post gets. Wouldn't it be better if he were back among the crew, so he could at least eat his meals in peace, without fear of having to slam down his dinner? But isn't that the plight of all people who get better positions? The simpler times, they think of. And if he wasn't a mate, he'd hardly have his own boat and crew.
Chapter 35 - The Mast-Head:
"In the serene weather of the tropics it is exceedingly pleasant the mast-head; nay, to a dreamy meditative man it is delightful. There you stand, a hundred feet above the silent decks, striding along the deep, as if the masts were gigantic stilts, while beneath you and between your legs, as it were, swim the hugest monsters of the sea, even as ships once sailed between the boots of the famous Colossus at old Rhodes. There you stand, lost in the infinite series of the sea, with nothing ruffled but the waves. The tranced ship indolently rolls; the drowsy trade winds blow; everything resolves you into languor. For the most part, in this tropic whaling life, a sublime uneventfulness invests you; you hear no news; read no gazettes; extras with startling accounts of commonplaces never delude you into unnecessary excitements; you hear of no domestic afflictions; bankrupt securities; fall of stocks; are never troubled with the thought of what you shall have for dinner"
What a dream this would be. Thousands of miles away from the cares of the 'real' world. When Kelly and I were in Maine, such a relaxed feeling came over me, it could have been the most sublime that I've ever felt. I think this is in some small part due to being near the ocean. Most of it was probably post-wedding euphoria, not to mention being with my best friend, but there was something about the ocean that was so relaxing. And, since I've never been on a whaling voyage, this is the only thing I can compare it to.
From Chapter 36 - The Quarter-Deck:
"Look ye! d'ye see this Spanish ounce of gold? - holding up a broad bright coin to the sun - it is a sixteen dollar piece, men. D'ye see it?"
An ounce of gold in 1850 was worth 16 dollars. Since the US was still on the gold reserve back then, this wasn't an arbitrary price. A dollar note would get you a dollar in gold, if you so desired. Anyway, $16 worth of gold would only amount to about 1/33 of an ounce in today's world. Whereas, an ounce of gold is worth $571.60 (as of yesterday, anyway).
He would hum over his old rigadig tunes while flank and flank with the most exasperated monster. Long usage had, for this Stubb, converted the jaws of death into an easy chair.
Completely at-ease in dangerous or threatening situations. I'm normally pretty laid back on the surface, some might say, and I'm glad that I present such a calm demeanor, but inside, its different.
And also, I loved this bit..
"..against all mortal tribulations, Stubb's tobacco smoke might have operated as a sort of disinfecting agent."
On to Chapter 28 - Ahab:I took the full compliment of art history classes while I was at KU, (and jccc, for that matter), enough to have minored in it, so I thought I'd show you what Ishmael was talking about when he said:
"His whole high, broad form, seemed made of solid bronze, and shaped in an unalterable mould, like Cellini's cast Perseus."
The bronze may not have been so weathered when Ishmael gazed on this statue, and I'm sure Ahab didn't tote around the severed head of medusa (like Queequeg with his shrunken heads).
Chapter 30 - Cetology:
This is easily my least favorite part of the book. Maybe, if I was interested in marine biology, it would be good. Maybe not. The only saving grace this chapter has for me is its usage of old book formats. Folio, quarto, and such. Here's a nice little link that explains it all. It's almost as confusing as figuring out envelope sizes. A6, A4, and such.
Chapter 34 - The Cabin-Table:
What a crummy role poor King-Post gets. Wouldn't it be better if he were back among the crew, so he could at least eat his meals in peace, without fear of having to slam down his dinner? But isn't that the plight of all people who get better positions? The simpler times, they think of. And if he wasn't a mate, he'd hardly have his own boat and crew.
Chapter 35 - The Mast-Head:
"In the serene weather of the tropics it is exceedingly pleasant the mast-head; nay, to a dreamy meditative man it is delightful. There you stand, a hundred feet above the silent decks, striding along the deep, as if the masts were gigantic stilts, while beneath you and between your legs, as it were, swim the hugest monsters of the sea, even as ships once sailed between the boots of the famous Colossus at old Rhodes. There you stand, lost in the infinite series of the sea, with nothing ruffled but the waves. The tranced ship indolently rolls; the drowsy trade winds blow; everything resolves you into languor. For the most part, in this tropic whaling life, a sublime uneventfulness invests you; you hear no news; read no gazettes; extras with startling accounts of commonplaces never delude you into unnecessary excitements; you hear of no domestic afflictions; bankrupt securities; fall of stocks; are never troubled with the thought of what you shall have for dinner"
What a dream this would be. Thousands of miles away from the cares of the 'real' world. When Kelly and I were in Maine, such a relaxed feeling came over me, it could have been the most sublime that I've ever felt. I think this is in some small part due to being near the ocean. Most of it was probably post-wedding euphoria, not to mention being with my best friend, but there was something about the ocean that was so relaxing. And, since I've never been on a whaling voyage, this is the only thing I can compare it to.
From Chapter 36 - The Quarter-Deck:
"Look ye! d'ye see this Spanish ounce of gold? - holding up a broad bright coin to the sun - it is a sixteen dollar piece, men. D'ye see it?"
An ounce of gold in 1850 was worth 16 dollars. Since the US was still on the gold reserve back then, this wasn't an arbitrary price. A dollar note would get you a dollar in gold, if you so desired. Anyway, $16 worth of gold would only amount to about 1/33 of an ounce in today's world. Whereas, an ounce of gold is worth $571.60 (as of yesterday, anyway).
posted by scott at 8:32 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home