I love this Ziki - thanks! Your criticism of Melville's writing reminds me of what has been said of Sinclair's writing about socialism (sorry to use the word!) in The Jungle. Sinclair certainly got tired and dispirited by having to write a different ending to placate publishers, perhaps Melville had the same problems? There is almost a case to be made for separating MD into two volumes, one to cover all the facts about whales and whaling to be published alongside the story of the voyage and hunt as a sort of glossary? Perhaps there is an author out there who could undertake this enormous task - Fanuzzir?
I know better than to take the bait and attempt such a thing. Part of this is Melville's long-windedness and ambition for the book--Ziki is right in saying that he does loose touch with characters in these long digressions on the facts of whaling. There's such a Shakespearean drama to his characterizations that makes the narrative all the more precious when he does get back to it. Then again, I do know that Melville was trying to write something like an encyclopedia, not just of whaling but of knowledge, mystery, and theology, in this novel. He enjoyed making the most unlikely, grubby enterprise--oil drilling--into a perfect illustration of these; at the same time, he wanted to dwarf the human beings who pursued their daily grind in the larger scope of human enterprise that whales and whale hunts have always represented in literature and religion. No one seems aware of these divergent and conflicting contexts--except Ahab. He is the one who always sees the big picture, who tries to elevate whatever little ritual of whaling or item of personal history into a story for the ages. He's most like Melville in this regard, but Melville has the wit to deflate himself every now and then. Just not enough for most of us.
I only realised today, when reading an article on the American coffee shop chain Starbucks in my Sunday paper that Laurel was referring to those shops!!
They aren't as common over here, although I have seen one or two in London. Were they named after Moby Dick's Starbuck?? 0
They aren't as common over here, although I have seen one or two in London. Were they named after Moby Dick's Starbuck?? 0
pmath wrote:
Would "Stubb's" have been a better choice than "Starbucks?""What has he in his hand there?" cried Starbuck, pointing to something wavingly held by the German. "Impossible!--a lamp-feeder!"
"Not that," said Stubb, "no, no, it's a coffee-pot, Mr. Starbuck; he's coming off to make us our coffee, is the Yarman; don't you see that big tin can there alongside of him?--that's his boiling water. Oh! he's all right, is the Yarman."
"Go along with you," cried Flask, "it's a lamp-feeder and an oil-can. He's out of oil, and has come a-begging."
Laurel wrote (here):
Starbuck is the man for me. I'll bet he would even bring me coffee.
