“free will still free to ply her shuttle between given threads; and chance, through restrained in its play within the right lines of necessity, and sideways in its motions by free will, though thus prescribed to by both, chance by turns rules either.” (234)

It’s funny to me to bring up free will and remind us that it’s free to have it. When just before this, Ahab has taken over the mission and is now in control of these men for some gold… Melville is telling us that freewill is free; these men have free will and can use it as they please. That is still an option; they don’t have to go with Ahab and his wishes. Starbuck is the only one using freewill, which is the free thinking of his mind. play freewill in the right line of necessity, what is necessity to these men, we clearly see what Ahab necessity is but what about Ishmael. I could keep going on about Ishmael and how ghost like he is but has a lot to say.