Summary As the Pequod leaves the Indian Ocean and enters the straits of Sunda (dividing Sumatra and Java) bound for the China Sea, Ishmael discusses the habits of whales that move in schools and how they are governed. He then considers some of the laws of property that apply to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 87-90Summary and Analysis Chapters 82-86
Summary Ishmael discusses the honorable profession of whaling and certain aspects of cetology. He is pleased, if a bit humbled, to belong to the “emblazoned” fraternity of whalers, whose honor is supported by history and legend. Ishmael defends the historical possibility of Jonah’s story, discusses an aspect of the whale […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 82-86Summary and Analysis Chapter 81
Summary Continuing with its voyage, the Pequod soon comes across the German whaler Jungfrau, Derick De Deer captain. The Jungfrau has had no success hunting whales and desperately needs to procure some oil for its own use. It has not encountered the White Whale. Ahab is disappointed but supplies the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 81Summary and Analysis Chapters 74-80
Summary Ishmael compares the heads of the sperm and right whales. He sees the sperm whale’s forehead as an extremely efficient battering ram while the massive tun of oil in the sperm whale’s head reminds him of the Heidelberg Castle wine cask, which has a capacity of 49,000 gallons. Tashtego […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 74-80Summary and Analysis Chapters 72-73
Summary In order to attach the blubber hook to a captured whale, a harpooner is lowered to the leviathan’s back as it lies nearly submerged alongside the ship. In this precarious position, the harpooner’s safety relies on his attachment, by a “monkey-rope,” to a crewman on deck. Flask explains to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 72-73Summary and Analysis Chapter 71
Summary As the Pequod’s crew works on the whale, another Nantucket whaling ship, named the Jeroboam, approaches. Its captain and some of the crew come nearby in an open boat. There is a “malignant epidemic” aboard the Jeroboam so the captain refuses to board Ahab’s vessel. In addition, the stranger […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 71Summary and Analysis Chapters 67-70
Summary The account of the aftermath of the hunt continues as the crew uses blocks and tackles, harpoons, and other slicing devices to harvest the “blanket” of blubber from the whale. The whale’s head is removed because that is where the valuable spermaceti can be found. With a small whale, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 67-70Summary and Analysis Chapters 61-66
Summary In these chapters, Ishmael gives an account of a successful hunt and its immediate aftermath. Spotting a large sperm whale about 100 yards from the boat, the crew springs into action. Stubb’s boat makes the kill, and the second mate celebrates with a whale steak for supper. Stubb harasses […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 61-66Summary and Analysis Chapters 55-60
Summary Ishmael considers assorted depictions of whales in art, disapproving of most but conceding that some are more nearly accurate. Returning to the story, the Pequod comes upon “vast meadows of brit,” upon which the right whale feeds. As the ship heads for Java, Daggoo, on watch, spots a great […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 55-60Summary and Analysis Chapters 52-54
Summary Ishmael defines “gam” and comments on the Pequod’s first two gams of this voyage. The initial opportunity for communication with another ship is aborted when the captain of the Albatross drops his speaking trumpet in strong winds. The second ship, the Town-Ho, oddly features a crew that consists, primarily, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 52-54