Higgledy-Piggledy Whale Statements

The narrative is back at full sail, as Ahab calls a meeting to discuss whaling and philosophy with the crew, and the Whale Statements team finds our new sign-off. He explains his purpose and the crew are on board, literally, except for First Mate Starbuck who thinks it’s stupid to try to get revenge on a whale. Ahab does not agree. We are extremely excited about how hard he does not agree. After that, we get soliloquies from Ahab, Starbuck, and Stubb, followed by a long scene of the crew partying and arguing. We round out the episode with a discussion of Modernist form, and why this whole sequence is written like a stage play. Next episode, we take a good long look at an important character in chapter 41, Moby Dick.

Today we have another grab-bag of a reading, getting us up to speed on a number of different topics relating to daily life on the Pequod. Ishmael introduces us to the role of the "specksynder", or chief harpooneer, and stakes out a clear Harpooners' Rights position. He characterizes Ahab as an ideal Kantian absolute monarch and also as The Divine Inert, whatever that is. A typical dinner (i.e. lunch) on the Pequod demonstrates the struggles of Flask's life as the third mate. At the top of the Pequod's mainmast, Ishmael daydreams of Platonic forms and risks sudden death. Next episode, in chapters 36-40, we learn the truth behind Ahab's journey of revenge and pledge ourselves with the rest of his crew to hunt the white whale.

This time, we talk about whales. Next episode, it's back to daily life on the Pequod in chapters 33-35.

This episode gets off to a leisurely start with some chitchat about video games and sailing, then we settle in for a nice long introduction to Ahab. The man who commands the Pequod makes his first appearance on deck and on the page, cutting an extremely dramatic figure. His ivory leg and mysterious mark fascinate us just as they do the crew of the Pequod. Poor Stubb meets with the wrath of this terrifying man and asserts his firm personal principle of "no thoughts, head empty". Ahab quits smoking in the most troubling way possible. We're treated to a very realistic recreation of someone telling you about a dream they had. At the end of the episode, we talk about the history of sexuality and the meaning of things unspoken.

Next episode, we dive into the pure unfiltered stuff we are here for, the whale statements themselves: chapter 32, Cetology.

Ben's favorite chapter, in less than a page, exalts Bulkington unto divinity, prompts us to go deep on the sublime, and begins a section of uncertainly defined time on the Pequod that will continue for our next several episodes. Ishmael puts on his lawyer hat and presents a comprehensive defense of whaling as a cool and good thing to do with your time, including one and only one claim he will admit is a guess, leaving us forced to take everything else he says as historical fact (?). We meet the crew of the Pequod, starting with a whole chapter on Starbuck, continuing with the other two mates, the harpooneers, and finally ending with a general picture of the crew, thus fully running the gamut of characters in this book from a three-dimensional New Englander with virtues and flaws to a list of barely-sketched racist caricatures.

Next episode, the man you've all been waiting for, the absolute ruler of this world, finally makes his appearance: it's all about Ahab in chapters 28-31.

Queequeg takes a fast day, to Ishmael's increasing consternation. We settle the "is Ishmael a universalist?" debate. Queequeg's job interview with the captains of the Pequod goes much better than Ishmael's. A mysterious stranger named Elijah gives vague warnings while Ishmael tries and fails to ditch him. We speculate on the dramatic exploits Ahab is suggested to have had. The crew of the Pequod outfit her for the voyage. Tili and Ishmael are both baffled by some dark figures, about whom Ben and Elijah will only foreshadow. Finally, everything is ready, and the Pequod begins her voyage.

Next episode, chapters 23-27 offer a pleasant assortment of whaling content and character sketches with barely any plot events.

Ishmael and Queequeg, now united by the bonds of matrimony, set out for Nantucket and thence to sign on to the Pequod. On their way to Nantucket, Queequeg relates a couple of funny stories and pulls off some heroic feats of strength. Ishmael gives us a brief introduction to Nantucket. The two stay at an inn where they enjoy multiple delicious chowders. The next day, invested with Queequeg's faith both religious and personal, Ishmael chooses the Pequod as their ship; Ben and Tili debate what exactly Yojo was going for in supporting this plan. Two captains of the Pequod show up, but the third and most famous remains in the wings, his presence felt only via foreshadowing. We discuss Hell and what Ishmael's relationship to the concept seems to be. Next episode, we read chapters 17-22, which take us all the way to the Pequod's departure at Christmas.

It's time to hear the good word! The good word is, as it turns out, mostly about whales. Wikipedia informs us that the book of Jonah has a setting, characters, a plot, and themes. We debate the moral points and the effectiveness of Father Mapple's sermon. Ishmael admires the contours of Queequeg's skull and the two of them get married. During the honeymoon, Queequeg tells his life story and explains how he became disillusioned with the ways of the Christian world.

Next episode, in chapters 13-16, Ishmael and Queequeg head to Nantucket and make the fateful choice to ship on the Pequod.

Sometimes it takes five whole chapters to cover one Sunday morning. Ishmael wakes up in bed with Queequeg and explains his feelings on this with possibly the worst analogy in the book. Queequeg uses his harpoon for everything he possibly can. We get a little tourism pitch for New Bedford, which of course segues right into a meditation on death. Ishmael arrives at a whaling-themed church, where he contemplates memorial stones and the concept of a church as a ship. Next episode, which will cover chapters 9-12, we'll hear the sermon and dive a little deeper into Ishmael and Queequeg's relationship.

Note: Ben's audio is kinda rough on this episode. Sorry about that!

This episode, we're reading the jumbo-sized Chapter 3: The Spouter-Inn. Ishmael comes in from the cold and instantly zeroes in on a chance for some art appreciation. Ben's favorite character makes his first of two appearances. We meet Queequeg, the mysterious harpooneer whose bed Ishmael must share, and discuss his awkward role as both central sympathetic character and racist caricature. Things get a little personal as Tili reveals the origin of her fear of whales. Next time: chapters 4-8 take us through the next morning and introduce us a bit more to New Bedford.