Chapters 16-22

[peter_coffin]

Shipmates! My profoundest apologies for the tardiness of this post. RL got a little crazy and I totally forgot about my sacred duty. Oh well, have at 'em.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I feel as though I ought to have more to say about these chapters, what with Queequeg's Ramadan, and Ishmael's choice of the Pequod, and of course the mysterious Ahab. And what in the world does one do with Elijah?

I wonder whether Ishmael's uneasiness about the Ramadan - and Lent - is something that will come up again later: that obsession, any obsession, is unhealthy, whether it's for religion or money or vengeance.

The bits I find most amusing in these chapters are Peleg and Bildad's coordinated trickery over Ishmael's share, and Aunt Charity going to-and-fro with useful things and leaving improving copies of the metrical psalms behind her. The most unnerving is learning that Ahab has a wife and child; I suppose they wouldn't see him much, but...brrrrr.

[(Anonymous)]

I thought the contrast between the preacher and Queequeg vs the prophet and Peleg/Bildad was interesting. Sincerity and openness vs...not.