What I found most interesting from the reading this week was the contents of chapter three. Ishmael’s borderline obsession with this ‘roommate’ seems to elude the rest of the contents of the novel. I haven’t read Moby Dick before, but the idea of obsession seems to be a common theme from what I’ve heard. Take, for instance, this line: “I was all eagerness to see his face, but he kept it averted for sometime” (p.23). Ishmael’s curiosity shines through on this page (or perhaps Melville’s), as the page takes on a run-on about this new character. His mind runs amuck, making assumptions about this new character and wanting to discover who he is. This type of mind-running is fairly normal, but this feels obsessive in the way it takes up a whole chapter, consuming Ishmael’s mind. What is he hoping for?
Another thing on my mind while reading this chapter was the letters from Melville to Hawthorne. That was good context to have before reading this. Many lines from this chapter felt very… suggestive. Ishmael’s fear of sharing a bed with this strange man could be interpreted as projection, or simply the social context of sharing a bed with a man. From page 23 as well, Melville writes “It’s only his outside; a man can be honest in any sort of skin.” Although this appears to be about honesty, I have my doubts. This seems to refer more to who someone is, as opposed to how they look, and put in the context of these men sharing a bed… just reminded me of the letters. This does go into what we talked about in class, as Moby Dick is often seen as the great American novel, masculine, man’s quest, etc but this beginning chapter seems to already delve into a psychological battle on many levels – obsession, sexuality, trust.
Hi Sophia, I also felt like last class really shaped the way I am reading this book. I never notice how obsession is not just part of Ahab’s character but Ishamael as well with the meeting of Queequeq, obsession is fundamental to more than just Ahab. I am looking forward to continue reading the book with this lens, both the spread of the obsessive theme and the undertone sexual aspects .
Hello Sophia, chapter three and Ishmael’s obsession with Queequeg was something I also found most interesting. Also seen on pg 23, Melville writes, “Now, while all these ideas were passing through me like lightning, this harpooner never noticed me at all.” As seen in the quote you provided and this one, I totally agree that Ishamel’s thoughts go past typical mind-running and into fixation. Ishamel is so eager to see the harpooner’s face and be noticed as well, and he has pretty much checked him out from head to toe and noticed every detail (from his tattoos, his tanned skin, what he had in his bag, etc), and yet the harpooner hadn’t noticed him at all. With the lack of acknowledgement from Queequeg, it seems to leave Ishmael a bit disappointed, and that disappointment deepens his obsessive curiosity. Also having the context of Melville and Hawthorne’s letters to each other did come in handy. While reading this chapter, I immediately thought of them and a question came to mind: Is Melville using Ishmael’s obsession with Queequeg as a way to explore his “obsession,” or rather, his feelings for Hawthorne?