“You cannot hide the soul” (pg 55).
These are my favourite chapters of the book. In this chunk of reading, we begin to see Queequeg’s character develop through Ishmael’s eyes. Queequeg, a Pagan covered in tattoos, who shaves with his harpoon, and spears the rarest steak from himself at breakfast, is quite the oxymoron. At face value you wouldn’t agree, but as Ishmael learns more about his shipmates earnest and sweet nature, you could begin to see what I’m talking about. Despite Queequeg’s outward appearance, Ishmael becomes increasingly aware of Queequeg’s generosity and good heart. When talking of Queequeg’s manners and desires, Ishmael says that there was something almost “sublime” in it. We often use this word when describing nature’s beauty or destruction, not someone’s character. I found this fascinating as this is considered a strong word. For something to be “sublime”, it can be grand, magnificent, or even awe-inspiring. Upon looking the word up, this “sublime” can also be used to describe someone’s attitude as “extreme” or “unparalleled”.
You are very right to note the importance of the word “sublime.” You have a great insight here: “When talking of Queequeg’s manners and desires, Ishmael says that there was something almost “sublime” in it. We often use this word when describing nature’s beauty or destruction, not someone’s character.” I would like to see you push this towards a So What, as I think you can– WHY does the novel compare Q to nature, or use the language of Romantic poetry/philosophy to describe him? What is at stake in this surprising word choice? Keep going.. as you are on to something, perhaps even a midterm essay!
Hi Marley! I thought your post this week was super interesting. My favorite thing about literature is the very intentional use of words and the connotation behind them so your point about the use of the word ‘sublime’ was extremely fascinating. The way in which Queequeg was described through the eyes of Ishmael was extremely fascinating to me throughout these chapters too where he would call him a savage and then immediately juxtapose that word by also calling him gentle. I definitely need to go back and read even closer these chapters because, as shown through your post, the word choices by Melville seem to be even more intentional than I thought reading it through the first time.
Hello Marley! I like your observation of this choice of diction Melville makes. It’s really easy to miss things like these but I’m glad you pointed it out. As you noticed it, I think the word was chosen specifically because of it’s usage being more related to nature. In class, Athena mentioned how she noticed Queequeg was called “royal,” which was a word also used to refer to whales in the Extracts. I think your observation is one more instance of Queequeg being very subtly compared to the wild but beautiful whale. Finally, you point out how Ishmael changed his mind about Queequeg upon getting to know him despite his “scary” appearance. I think we can parallel this with what might also be our first impression of a whale: scary at first but so beautiful once you care to look closely.