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This is the second in a series of four for the Moby Dick Readalong hosted over at The Blue Bookcase.

Click here to read Moby Dick Readalong Post #1.

Click here to read Moby Dick Readalong Post #2.

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This post concerns Chapters 56 – 93 of Moby Dick. This section of reading gives us an insight into what goes down during whaling and the process that is to be performed after the whale is killed. Melville also gives us some insight into the equipment used in whaling as well as describing in detail the parts of the whale like its head and its tail.

In Chapter 55, we read about the erroneous depictions of whales. In Chapter 56, Melville tells us about the seemingly appropriate depictions of whales but wonders why the French seem to get it right when they are not a known whaling country. In Chapter 57, Melville’s obsession with whales continues as he tells of whale figures carved out of wood and even goes as far as giving samples of how whales can be seen on geological formations such like ridges but he adds “But you must be a thorough whaleman, to see these sights; and not only that, but if you wish to return to such a sight again, you must be sure and take the exact intersecting latitude and longitude of your first stand-point, else so chance-like are such observations of the hills, that your precise, previous stand-point would require a laborious re-discovery.” He also adds that you can observe whale figures in the “starry sky.”

Melville then discusses about brit, which is a yellowish substance that right whales feed on. I also loved how this discussion of brit suddenly turned into a discussion of atrocities at land and at sea. “But not only is the sea such a foe to man who is an alien to it, but it is also a fiend to its own off-spring.” The video I saw of a pack of killer whales attacking and successfully killing a baby grey whale in the presence of its mother comes into my mind. It was really heartbreaking but its the way of the ocean. Anyway, moving on. Melville also compares this to us: “do you not find astrange analogy to something in yourself? For as this appalling oceansurrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of thehalf known life.“

The Pequod then hunt what they think is a whale but it turns out to be a giant squid.

Chapters 60, 62, and 63 details the equipment used in hunting whales: the line, the crotch, and the dart. In one of those chapters, we also learn the rather tiring job of a harpooner: “But however prolonged and exhausting the chase,the harpooner is expected to pull his oar meanwhile to the uttermost;indeed, he is expected to set an example of superhuman activity to therest, not only by incredible rowing, but by repeated loud and intrepidexclamations; and what it is to keep shouting at the top of one’scompass, while all the other muscles are strained and half started.“

I liked the bit of comedy inserted in between those three chapters above when Stubb kills a whale and eats its meat for dinner. The scene between him and the cook was particularly funny when he commanded the cook to lecture the sharks that are feeding on the carcass of the whale that he killed.

Melville then moves on to describe what I like to call “whale cuisine” and adds that only Stubb and the Eskimos (“Esquimaux”) are the only ones that remain who feed on whales.

The following chapters discuss the dirty business of getting the most out of a whale carcass. I really felt sorry for the whales back in the day because of what needs to be done to it.

The Pequod meet another whaling ship, the Jeroboam. Apparently there was an epidemic on board so its captain, Captain Mayhew, rows a boat to talk to Ahab. One of the men who was rowing the boat was a man who proclaimed himself to be the archangel Gabriel. Ahab asks about Moby Dick and Mayhew tells the story about one of their brew, Macey, drowned because they tried to hunt the whale. Out of the blue, Ahab remembers that they are bearing a letter for one of the crew of the Jeroboam and it just happens to be a letter for Macey.

In the chapter titled “Monkey Rope” the “love team” of Queequeg and Ishamel is brought back. Apparently they need to do this for “cutting in.” “It was a humorously perilous business for both of us. For, before we proceed further, it must be said that the monkey-rope was fast at both ends; fast to Queequeg’s broad canvas belt, and fast to my narrow leather one. So that for better or for worse, we two, for the time, were wedded.“

Since the Pequod have a sperm whale, it is said that they should also hunt for a right whale so that the ship would not capsize. Stubb and Flask had the honor of killing a right whale and its head is lifted opposite that of the sperm whale’s. The two chapters that followed examined the differences between the heads of the sperm whale and the right whale.

The chapters that followed has Melville detailing the various aspects of the whale’s head. He then goes into a phrenological and physiognomic analysis of the whale. After which, Melville turns his attention to the whale’s skull.

They meet another whaling ship, the German whaling ship Jungfrau. Asked about the sighting of a White Whale, the captain says he did not see it. After, whales are sighted and they go hunting. The Pequod is able to capture one that is rather old.

Melville the digresses from the whaling profession to talk about the heroic history of whaling and also discusses the story of Jonah and the Whale.

Melville then jumps back to whaling and discusses the greasing of the underside of the boat. “To make them run easily and swiftly, the axles of carriages are anointed; and for much the same purpose, some whalers perform ananalogous operation upon their boat; they grease the bottom. Nor is itto be doubted that as such a procedure can do no harm, it may possiblybe of no contemptible advantage; considering that oil and water arehostile; that oil is a sliding thing, and that the object in view is tomake the boat slide bravely.“

The following chapters then describe the spout and the tail of the whale.

When the Pequod is sailing through Sunda, the Pequod encounter a group of sperm whales and are pursued by Malay pirates.

The next chapters describe groups of whales. On group are composed primarily of females with a male headmaster while the other group are composed of all males.

Melville also goes into discussing fishing laws of England.

The Pequod meet another whaling ship, Rose-bud and the Pequod ask about Moby Dick but they have not heard of him.

Melville also discusses ambergris, which is from a whale’s bowels but is used for perfume.

Melville dives again into the perils of whaling when he details that Pip, the cabin boy, jumps out of the boat in fear of the whale they are chasing. When he jumps out the second time, he is left to fend for himself while the others go hunt but they rescue him again.

I personally did not enjoy this as much as the previous readings. I dunno why. I enjoyed the previous digressions. :( But I did have a lot to think about the past week, so maybe it affected my reading somewhat. :(