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Ishmael takes on Whaling
Ishmael after a long time of searching finally decides to take on whaling. -
Chapters 1-9
Ishmael starts the book off with Call me Ishmael. -
Chapters 10-21
An intense bond begins to happen between Queequeg and Ishmael. They become best buds. -
Chapters 22-31
These chapters introduce the other men aboard the ship and begin to describe what the ship had on it. The ship is very diverse in terms of the people on it. Many people up there are from different countries but that doesn’t stop the ship from running properly. The structure of the ship is divided by color. The officers are white, while all the other races are sailors. -
Chapters 32-40
Chapter 32 introduces cetology, or the study of whales and other related sea creatures. The main focus of chapters 32-40 are the study and science of whales, the intricacies of the whaling business, and Ishmael’s extensive knowledge of these two topics. These chapters also contain the introduction of Captain Ahab, the ship captain whose leg was ripped off by the whale Moby Dick. -
Chapters 41-47
During chapters 41-47 Ishmael compares the legend of Moby Dick to his experience of the whale. Ishmael explained that Ahab lost his leg when he tried to attack Moby Dick. Ishmael explains what Moby Dick meant to him during the voyage. He begins consulting whiteness as a symbol of virtue, nobility, and racial superiority. To him, the color white multiplies the terror when it is attached to any object that is already terrible itself, such as a shark or polar bear. Ishmael talked about Ahab’s attem -
Chapters 48-54
In these chapters Ishmael talks about Ahab’s has an unhealthy obsession with Moby Dick the whale. Ahab considers the whale with mystery and superstition. Elijah, the “prophet”, talks about how there are ghosts or devils on Captain Ahab’s ship. -
Chapters 55-65
These chapters give us a representation on how the whales look. Many people questioned the drawings accuracy of the whales. They also encountered many whale hunts in this chapter. -
Chapters 66-73
This set of chapters focuses on the act of catching, killing and collecting resources from the whales. Chapters 66-73 describe how inhumane and/or disrespectful the profession of whaling really is. In one of the chapters, Ishmael warns the men that it is unwise to disturb the carcass of the dead whale, as it’s spirit is not at rest. -
Chapters 74-81
In chapters 74-81 Ishmael gives a lesson on cetology. Ishmael described the sperm whale as having more character than the right whale, as well as a pervading dignity based on the mathematical symmetry of its head. He explains more about the right whale. Ishmael said that the whale’s head, like many other things in nature derives its strength from its flexibility and ability to be compressed and change shape. -
Chapters 82-92
In these chapters Ishmael describes the whales features; his spout and its tail. Then he described their class of a school of whales. Then Ishmael explains that the history of whaling is rife with heroes, prophets, and even gods. “Perseus, St. George, Hercules, Jonah, and Vishnoo! there’s a member-roll for you! What club but the whaleman’s can head off like that?” -
Chapters 93-101
In chapters 93-101 it’s more of the same, they catch more whales but Ishmael is starting to learn how to clean the whales and the process that the crew has to take process the oil they get from the whale. You could also say that Ishmael found out what true happiness was and it is nothing like trying to achieve goals but something more standard or stable such as cleaning whales with his crew mates and processing the oils from a whale. -
Chapters 102-114
This section of chapters covers the struggles of Ishmael as he tries to represent the whale in its entirety. Ishmael also continues to work on his book about skeletons, bones and souls. Ishmael spends a section of these chapters measuring the whale and gathering information to tattoo the whale’s measurements on his body. This is his way of representing the whale. -
Chapters 115-125
Everything starts to decline in these chapters. Ahab starts to take all control over the ship. He listens to no one and only does what he feels is right. He throws away the quadrant, refuses to put up the lightning rods, makes his own compass, and breaks the log and line. All these things are needed for the Pequod to function properly. His actions anger his crew especially Starbuck who is deciding whether or not to kill Ahab in his sleep. -
Chapters 126-132
Everything starts to decline in these chapters. Ahab starts to take all control over the ship. He listens to no one and only does what he feels is right. He throws away the quadrant, refuses to put up the lightning rods, makes his own compass, and breaks the log and line. All these things are needed for the Pequod to function properly. His actions anger his crew especially Starbuck who is deciding whether or not to kill Ahab in his sleep. -
Chapters 133-135
Ahab gets his long awaited meeting with Moby Dick. He had looked for the whale over a year. When the whale comes he plays with them and later becomes as an angry god to Ahab. He tries to punish him for his arrogance. Ahab dies. The whale wins. Ishmael survives. -
End Of Book
Hip Hip Hooray
