From the intimate relationships developments to the religious context of Jonah and the Whale, what stood out like a sore thumb was the mention of the chapel’s cemetery, “…there these silent islands of men and women sat steadfastly eyeing several marble tablets, with black borders, masoned into the wall on either side the pulpit.” (pp. 40-41) I wondered why Ishmael even read the content engraved on the stones. This early in the story and it’s already foreshadowing one of the worst possible fates… and so far we only have two characters. It’s not difficult to wonder what their future holds, but there’s always a tinge of hope that they wouldn’t. The narrator even included, “Yes, Ishmael, the same fate may be thine,” (page 42) which doesn’t help with the “hope” part.
Overall, I can see Ishmael, Queepeg, or both dying in some way, shape, or form, just because of the mention of the graves and Ishmael’s morbid curiosity. It would be a surprise if neither of them died, though I’d expect some shipmates’ deaths.
Moby-Dick
ECL 522: Fall 2025. Professor Pressman
Hi Zach, I also focused on that chapter/theme as well. I liked how you mentioned fate in your analysis, I feel like there has been so much foreshadowing/an immovable fate in this story before he even gets on board the ship. I hope neither of them die though, I like their characters too much!
Good point of focus here, as the novel does turn our attention to these memorials. Now I want to push you to consider WHY the novel does this, beyond foreshadowing. What might it be suggesting about/with/through this scene? What is important to note about HOW we, as readers, as invited to view these plaques?
–Take a look at Omar’s post, on the same topic, to continue your thinking here.
Hi Zach, I didn’t see these gravestones as a sign of foreshadowing. This is an interesting perspective. I remember earlier in the class we discussed that Ishmael, the narrator, kind of seems to fade into oblivion later in the book. So I wonder if this can be interpretted as a type of death. What I also found interesting from our discussion of these gravestones during class was the lack of bodies associated with these plaques, yet they take up so much visual space on the page.