Tag Archives: cannibal

Queequeg: The Hero

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Very much like previous chapters, Ishmael continues to point out/ describe Queequegs’ savage like tendencies and/ or features in Chapter 13. Pointing out things like “…he showed his filed and pointed teeth.” (P. 66), “… the brawny savage..”(p.66), and “…seen swimming like a dog…”(p.67) Even the young man who made fun of Queequeg behind his back called him “..the devil..”(p.67) after being picked up and thrown up by the devil himself. Melville continues to write about Queequeg in this manner to keep his savage momentum going, to paint a picture of what this man looks like and what he seems to be as a person, just to reveal the kind of man he ACTUAlLLY is—beyond what is written to describe him.

For example, after had been insulted by that young man and by the captain, Queequeg is quick to save not only the boat but the young man as well after being thrown off the boat. Just after his grand gesture, he is thanked and praised for saving the day and now Queequeg is a hero. When a few minutes ago he was a devil and a cannibal who was threatened to be killed. If he were to be as malicious as he was labeled, wouldn’t he have done absolutely nothing to save that man? Melville uses this moment to guide us into understanding the difference between believing what others might say about someone vs who that person is and the kind of morals they stand for even if it does not equate to the label they carry.

While what he did gained the respect and kindness from the others on the boat, Queequeg did not seem to care for their praise as Ishmael says he, “…only asked for water—fresh water— something to wipe the brine off; that done, he put on dry clothes, lighted his pipe…” (p. 68) Queequegs request followed by his thought that “We cannibals must help these Christians.” (P.68) Concluding that the division between the kind of person you are does not reflect what he is labeled as. For Queequeg, he sees Christians as helpless— needing the support of savages like him regardless if they are aware of it or if they want it whereas Christians most likely see people like Queequeg as dangerous and the opposite of who they would consider as helpful. When in a boat full of people, who may or may not have been Christians, the only person to jump to save the young man was a cannibal.

Chapter 13: People Watching Back in the 1860s

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When I was reading the beginning of chapter 13, this line which Ishmael blessed us with made me curious. “As we were going along the people stared; not at Queequeg so much – for they were used to seeing cannibals like him in the street, – but at seeing him and me upon such confidential terms. But we heeded them not, going along, wheeling the barrel by turns,…” pg. 64. What could this mean for both men and how people view them both?

Was it so common in the US, during the 1830s or 40s, to see cannibals roaming the town streets? Were they minding their own business or were they sceaming and wanting to find their next victim to eat. The fact that the towns people were going about their days as normal seeing Queequeg if he was by himself strolling down the street. But then when both Ishmael and Queequeg were walking together down the road they stared and were most likely concerned for why Ishmael was with this cannibal.

Were cannibals known to be sole survivors of themselves and were not typically seen with other people or was it the fact that Ishmael was a normal looking man with this savage creature that was Queequeg. Were the people of the town racially profiling both men or were they just being cautious and wanting to make sure that Ishmael doesn’t end up being the next name in the obituary paper. From the time period which the book takes place I can see how this challeneged the norms of that time, especially seeing two men who are distincively different together like this.

Maybe people of the town had seen them both many times before walking around together or even eating together. The fact that they also shared a room at the inn would be skeptical too but both Ishmael and Queequeg just kept going through the streets of the town not caring what others might have been thinking of them. Their dynamic was not common and how close they had gotten so close, sleeping in the same bed and even Ishmael calling them “married” at one point. They have shared many moments together so far throughout the story and I wonder how thier dyamic will either stay the same or even change while being aboard the Pequod.