Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added example(s)
Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
* AccidentalInnuendo: It was noted even at the time it was published that some of the symbolism and word choices were a bit suggestive, which Melville apparently didn't notice until later pointed out to him.
to:
* AccidentalInnuendo: AccidentalInnuendo:
** It was noted even at the time it was published that some of the symbolism and word choices were a bit suggestive, which Melville apparently didn't notice until later pointed out tohim.him.
** Moby Dick is a white sperm whale with a name synonymous with a slang term for the penis.
** It was noted even at the time it was published that some of the symbolism and word choices were a bit suggestive, which Melville apparently didn't notice until later pointed out to
** Moby Dick is a white sperm whale with a name synonymous with a slang term for the penis.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* HarsherInHindsight: Ishmael doesn't believe whaling is a threat to the whale as a species since, unlike shooting buffalo, whaling was (at the time) dangerous, time-consuming, and it wasn't unknown for ships to spend months at sea only to come back empty handed. The book was published in 1851; the first practical harpoon cannon was invented in 1863. He also used the elephant surviving thousands of years of hunting as an example; much like whales, elephant populations have plummeted to endangered levels in the intervening years.
to:
* HarsherInHindsight: Ishmael doesn't believe whaling is a threat to the whale as a species since, unlike shooting buffalo, whaling was (at the time) dangerous, time-consuming, and it wasn't unknown for ships to spend months at sea only to come back empty handed. The book was published in 1851; the first practical harpoon cannon was invented in 1863. He also used the elephant surviving thousands of years of hunting as an example; much like whales, elephant populations have plummeted to endangered levels in the intervening years. Also, it's now understood that European elephants, mammoths, mastodons, and numerous other elephant species were driven extinct precisely because of human predation and habitat destruction over that time period, and the handful of declining species that are left are the only survivors.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost crew members -- among them his own son -- he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.
to:
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost crew members -- – among them his own son -- – he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.
Changed line(s) 61 (click to see context) from:
** In the ''Reader's Digest: World's Best Reading'' edition, Thomas Fleming states in the Afterword that critics scoffed at the idea of someone going as far as Ahab did, and everyone around simply obeying...until they lived through UsefulNotes/WorldWarI.
to:
** In the ''Reader's Digest: World's Best Reading'' edition, Thomas Fleming states in the Afterword that critics scoffed at the idea of someone going as far as Ahab did, and everyone around simply obeying...obeying… until they lived through UsefulNotes/WorldWarI.
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, wracking him with guilt and terror. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
to:
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, wracking him with guilt and terror. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that decision which horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Queequeg''': Cap'n, ee see him small dark spot on water there? Ee see him? Well, s'pose him one whale eye! Well, den...(throws harpoon and hits the oil spot with a dead bulls-eye) Dat whale ''dead''.
to:
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* HarsherInHindsight: Ishmael doesn't believe whaling is a threat to the whale as a species since unlike shooting buffalo, whaling was (at the time) dangerous, time consuming, and it wasn't unknown for ships to spend months at sea only to come back empty handed. The book was published in 1851, the first practical harpoon cannon was invented in 1863. He also used the elephant surviving thousands of years of hunting as an example.
to:
* HarsherInHindsight: Ishmael doesn't believe whaling is a threat to the whale as a species since since, unlike shooting buffalo, whaling was (at the time) dangerous, time consuming, time-consuming, and it wasn't unknown for ships to spend months at sea only to come back empty handed. The book was published in 1851, 1851; the first practical harpoon cannon was invented in 1863. He also used the elephant surviving thousands of years of hunting as an example. example; much like whales, elephant populations have plummeted to endangered levels in the intervening years.
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
%%* ItWasHisSled: The ending.
to:
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost crew members - among them his own son - he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek Tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.
to:
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost crew members - -- among them his own son - -- he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek Tragedy tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.
Changed line(s) 49 (click to see context) from:
* RootingForTheEmpire: In modern culture some people will be cheering Moby on as he kills everyone, no matter how sympathetic the crew is. At the time of writing, sperm whales were TheDreaded, believed to be highly aggressive by nature and merely attacking ships without being provoked. The situation shifts, however, with modern obsession with whales and their preservation; as well as the understanding that whales learned what types of ships were likely to hunt them and struck pre-emptively. Today some people don't see Moby Dick as a remorseless monster but as a self-defense mass murderer or even a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
to:
* RootingForTheEmpire: In modern culture some people will be cheering Moby on as he kills everyone, no matter how sympathetic the crew is. At the time of writing, sperm whales were TheDreaded, believed to be highly aggressive by nature and merely attacking thought to attack ships without being provoked. unprovoked. The situation shifts, has shifted, however, with the modern obsession with whales and their preservation; preservation, as well as the understanding that whales learned what types of ships were likely to hunt them and struck pre-emptively. Today some people don't see Moby Dick as a remorseless monster but as a self-defense mass murderer or even a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 40 (click to see context) from:
* NightmareFuel: Moby Dick himself. As stated many times across the Moby Dick pages on this very wiki, being a sperm whale he is naturally aggressive and will attack ships without provocation. He has sent who knows how many to their deaths and is treated by whalers as if he is some sort of demon, which probably makes him worse to those whose captains drag them after him. Moby Dick attacking without provocation: scary. Actually giving him a reason to attack you: scarier.
to:
* NightmareFuel: NightmareFuel:
** Moby Dick himself. As stated many times across the Moby Dick pages on this very wiki, being a sperm whale he is naturally aggressive and will attack ships without provocation. He has sent who knows how many to their deaths and is treated by whalers as if he is some sort of demon, which probably makes him worse to those whose captains drag them after him. Moby Dick attacking without provocation: scary. Actually giving him a reason to attack you:scarier.scarier.
** The 1998 certainly plays up the aggression more in the final hunt: the whale is seen ''eating'' the Pequod's crew ''alive'', or otherwise goes out of his way to crush any of the hapless survivors with his tail.
** Moby Dick himself. As stated many times across the Moby Dick pages on this very wiki, being a sperm whale he is naturally aggressive and will attack ships without provocation. He has sent who knows how many to their deaths and is treated by whalers as if he is some sort of demon, which probably makes him worse to those whose captains drag them after him. Moby Dick attacking without provocation: scary. Actually giving him a reason to attack you:
** The 1998 certainly plays up the aggression more in the final hunt: the whale is seen ''eating'' the Pequod's crew ''alive'', or otherwise goes out of his way to crush any of the hapless survivors with his tail.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* CharacterPerceptionEvolution:
** The titular whale was seen upon the book's publication and for a long time afterwards as a [[MonsterWhale nightmarish force of destruction]]. However, a combination of [[ScienceMarchesOn advances in marine biology]] and the rise of the environmentalist movement changed the perception of whales dramatically in the mid-20th century. This led to a reassessment of Moby-Dick, who is now more likely to be seen as an UnintentionallySympathetic animal that justifiably resorts to lethal force against humans who want to kill ''him''. Some, however, split the difference and see him as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
** When the book was first released, Captain Ahab was derided by critics as an unrealistic character, with them scoffing at the idea that he could go so far and simply be obeyed. Following UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, however, Ahab's destructive obsession and his crew going along with it resonated far more strongly. It's telling that today, multiple real people seen as letting their obsessions get the better of them with disastrous consequences have been compared to Ahab.
** The titular whale was seen upon the book's publication and for a long time afterwards as a [[MonsterWhale nightmarish force of destruction]]. However, a combination of [[ScienceMarchesOn advances in marine biology]] and the rise of the environmentalist movement changed the perception of whales dramatically in the mid-20th century. This led to a reassessment of Moby-Dick, who is now more likely to be seen as an UnintentionallySympathetic animal that justifiably resorts to lethal force against humans who want to kill ''him''. Some, however, split the difference and see him as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
** When the book was first released, Captain Ahab was derided by critics as an unrealistic character, with them scoffing at the idea that he could go so far and simply be obeyed. Following UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, however, Ahab's destructive obsession and his crew going along with it resonated far more strongly. It's telling that today, multiple real people seen as letting their obsessions get the better of them with disastrous consequences have been compared to Ahab.
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
** Captain Ahab and Mr. Starbuck definitely have something going on, at least one-sidedly (on the part of Ahab). At one point, Ahab quite literally tells Starbuck he would prefer to gaze into his eyes than see the face of God (which sounds silly nowadays, but would have carried a huge amount of weight back when the book took place, as religion was essentially the be-all-end-all of most people's lives back then). This is clearly stated to not be a romantic thing. Ahab says that he is reminded of his family when he looks at Starbuck, because Starbuck has a wife and young son at home, just like Ahab.
to:
** Captain Ahab and Mr. Starbuck definitely have something going on, at least one-sidedly (on the part of Ahab). At one point, Ahab quite literally tells Starbuck he would prefer to gaze into his eyes than see the face of God {{God}} (which sounds silly nowadays, but would have carried a huge amount of weight back when the book took place, as religion was essentially the be-all-end-all of most people's lives back then). This is clearly stated to not be a romantic thing. Ahab says that he is reminded of his family when he looks at Starbuck, because Starbuck has a wife and young son at home, just like Ahab.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* MainstreamObscurity: Moby was a whale. Everyone knows that. Not so many people have read the books.
to:
* MainstreamObscurity: Moby was a whale. Everyone knows that. Not so many people have read the books.book.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Adult Fear is no longer a trope
Changed line(s) 60 (click to see context) from:
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, [[AdultFear wracking him with guilt and terror]]. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
to:
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, [[AdultFear wracking him with guilt and terror]].terror. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 13 (click to see context) from:
** Queequeg's rescue of Tashtego, who has fallen into the oil reservoir of a dead whale's head, and his struggles and Daggoo's initial rescue attempt have knocked the head overboard into the sea. Queequeg grabs a knife, leaps overboard and swims after the sinking head, slicing a hole in the bottom and dragging the unconscious Tashtego out before he drowns. Ishmael's narration focusses ''hard'' on how utterly badass this is.
to:
** Queequeg's rescue of Tashtego, who has fallen into the oil reservoir of a dead whale's head, and his struggles and Daggoo's initial rescue attempt have knocked the head overboard into the sea. Queequeg grabs a knife, leaps overboard and swims after the sinking head, slicing a hole in the bottom and dragging the unconscious Tashtego out before he drowns. Ishmael's narration focusses focuses ''hard'' on how utterly badass this is.
Changed line(s) 29 (click to see context) from:
--->"I see my wife and child in thine eye...the far away home I see in that eye!"
to:
--->"I see my wife and child in thine eye...eye… the far away home I see in that eye!"
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* MoralEventHorizon: Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost crewmembers - among them his own son - he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby-Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek Tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.
to:
* MoralEventHorizon: MoralEventHorizon:
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lostcrewmembers crew members - among them his own son - he chooses instead to pick up the trail of Moby-Dick Moby Dick before it goes cold. In true Greek Tragedy fashion, everything goes downhill fast after he makes this choice.choice.
** Stubb crosses it when he abandons Pip in the ocean, both so he could pick up on a fleeing whale's trail and because he was annoyed that Pip jumped out of the boat in fear of the whale.
** Ahab dances along the edge of it for most of the story, but finally crosses it when, rather than help the Captain of the ''Rachel'' find his lost
** Stubb crosses it when he abandons Pip in the ocean, both so he could pick up on a fleeing whale's trail and because he was annoyed that Pip jumped out of the boat in fear of the whale.
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* TheWoobie: Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab and assume command (a not entirely unreasonable action, given that Ahab's mania is endangering the crew's lives), Starbuck, despite himself, cannot go through with it, his sense of honor rendering him unable to mutiny, regardless of the positive outcome it could bring forth. By the end, all he can do is weep over his imminent death and not getting to see his family again.
to:
* TheWoobie: TheWoobie:
** Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab andassume usurp command (a not entirely unreasonable action, given that Ahab's mania is endangering the crew's lives), Starbuck, despite himself, cannot go through with it, his sense of honor rendering him unable to mutiny, regardless of the positive outcome it could bring forth. By the end, all he can do is weep over his imminent death and not getting to see his family again.again.
** Pip. Already the lowest on the pecking order of the ''Pequod's'' crew by virtue of being black in a time of entrenched racism as well as the youngest man on board, he's later forced to assume a substitute position on Stubb's whaling boat despite his inexperience and nerves. When he jumps out of the boat in fear of an approaching whale, Stubb callously abandons him to the ocean. He thus remains in the sea for hours before being picked up, by which point the isolation has driven him past the point of insanity. Pip's condition is so heart-wrenching that even Ahab, amidst his own madness, takes pity on the kid, empathizing and sharing a kinship based on their shared mania.
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, [[AdultFear wracking him with guilt and terror]]. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
** Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab and
** Pip. Already the lowest on the pecking order of the ''Pequod's'' crew by virtue of being black in a time of entrenched racism as well as the youngest man on board, he's later forced to assume a substitute position on Stubb's whaling boat despite his inexperience and nerves. When he jumps out of the boat in fear of an approaching whale, Stubb callously abandons him to the ocean. He thus remains in the sea for hours before being picked up, by which point the isolation has driven him past the point of insanity. Pip's condition is so heart-wrenching that even Ahab, amidst his own madness, takes pity on the kid, empathizing and sharing a kinship based on their shared mania.
** The captain of the ''Rachel''. His son, among several other crew members, disappeared following an encounter with Moby Dick, [[AdultFear wracking him with guilt and terror]]. When he desperately pleads for Ahab's aid in finding them, Ahab coldly refuses in preference of picking up the White Whale's trail – a choice that horrifies some of the ''Pequod's'' crew, including the usually indifferent Stubb.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Queequeg's rescue of Tashtego, who has fallen into the oil reservoir of a dead whale's head, and his struggles and Daggoo's initial rescue attempt have knocked the head overboard into the sea. Queequeg grabs a knife, leaps overboard and swims after the sinking head, slicing a hole in the bottom and dragging the unconscious Tashtego out before he drowns. Ishmael's narration focusses ''hard'' on how utterly badass this is.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Queequeg''': Cap'n, ee see him small dark spot on water there? Ee see him? Well, s'pose him one whale eye! Well, den...(throws harpoon and hits the oil spot with a dead bulls-eye) Dat whale ''dead''.
to:
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Ahab:''' (strapped to Moby Dick and stabbing him repeatedly with a harpoon) From Hell's heart, I stab at thee! For hate's sake I ''spit'' my last breath at thee! ''THOU DAMNED WHALE!''
to:
Deleted line(s) 23 (click to see context) :
** Ishmael and Queequeg. They're even "married".
Changed line(s) 28,30 (click to see context) from:
** Captain Ahab and Mr. Starbuck definitely have something going on, at least one-sidedly (on the part of Ahab). At one point, Ahab quite literally tells Starbuck he would prefer to gaze into his eyes than see the face of God (which sounds silly nowadays, but would have carried a huge amount of weight back when the book took place, as religion was essentially the be-all-end-all of most people's lives back then).
--->"Starbuck, of late I've felt strangely moved to thee; ever since that hour we both saw—thou know'st what, in one another's eyes".
*** This is clearly stated to not be a romantic thing. Ahab says that he is reminded of his family when he looks at Starbuck, because Starbuck has a wife and young son at home, just like Ahab.
--->"Starbuck, of late I've felt strangely moved to thee; ever since that hour we both saw—thou know'st what, in one another's eyes".
*** This is clearly stated to not be a romantic thing. Ahab says that he is reminded of his family when he looks at Starbuck, because Starbuck has a wife and young son at home, just like Ahab.
to:
** Captain Ahab and Mr. Starbuck definitely have something going on, at least one-sidedly (on the part of Ahab). At one point, Ahab quite literally tells Starbuck he would prefer to gaze into his eyes than see the face of God (which sounds silly nowadays, but would have carried a huge amount of weight back when the book took place, as religion was essentially the be-all-end-all of most people's lives back then).
--->"Starbuck, of late I've felt strangely moved to thee; ever since that hour we both saw—thou know'st what, in one another's eyes".
***then). This is clearly stated to not be a romantic thing. Ahab says that he is reminded of his family when he looks at Starbuck, because Starbuck has a wife and young son at home, just like Ahab.
--->"Starbuck, of late I've felt strangely moved to thee; ever since that hour we both saw—thou know'st what, in one another's eyes".
***
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* TheWoobie: Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab and assume command (a not entirely unreasonable action, given that Ahab's mania is endangering the crew's lives), Starbuck, despite himself, is unable to go through with it, his sense of honor rendering him unable to mutiny regardless of the positive effect it could bring forth. By the end, all he can do is weep over his imminent death and not getting to see his family again.
to:
* TheWoobie: Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab and assume command (a not entirely unreasonable action, given that Ahab's mania is endangering the crew's lives), Starbuck, despite himself, is unable to cannot go through with it, his sense of honor rendering him unable to mutiny mutiny, regardless of the positive effect outcome it could bring forth. By the end, all he can do is weep over his imminent death and not getting to see his family again.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
* {{Vindicated by History}}:
to:
* {{Vindicated by History}}:VindicatedByHistory:
Added DiffLines:
* TheWoobie: Starbuck. He's the only one in the ''Pequod's'' crew who understands how irrational and destructive Ahab's vendetta against Moby Dick is, when even the narrator starts falling under the captain's charismatic thrall. He pleads to Ahab several times to set aside his quest for vengeance for the sake of the crew and their families, pleas that fall under deaf ears. When he eventually finds an opportunity to kill Ahab and assume command (a not entirely unreasonable action, given that Ahab's mania is endangering the crew's lives), Starbuck, despite himself, is unable to go through with it, his sense of honor rendering him unable to mutiny regardless of the positive effect it could bring forth. By the end, all he can do is weep over his imminent death and not getting to see his family again.
