The Daily Dick: Musings on the Greatest Novel Ever

"Of all mortals, some dying men are the most tyrannical; and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows ought to be indulged."

Musing: If you haven't read Moby-Dick, you won't know how funny Melville can be. This quote is taken from the chapter where Queequeq, believing he is dying, asks the carpenter to build him a coffin. Ishmael, tongue in cheek, tells us how he feels about Queequeg's desire for the coffin. The coffin (spoiler alert) never holds a dead Queequeq, but, in the end, it plays a pivotal role in the book.