"Oh! I plainly see my miserable office,- to obey, rebelling; and worse yet, to hate with a touch of pity! For in his eyes I read some lurid woe would shrivel me up, had I it. Yet is there hope. Time and tide flow wide. The hated whale has the round watery world to swim in, as the small gold-fish has its glassy globe."
Musing: This chapter comes right after Ahab's challenge to Starbuck. Here, we have Starbuck's thoughts. This is the first time in reading the novel I have seen such a blatant tug-of-war between Ahab and Starbuck. I have never liked Starbuck - at all. Yet now I see more of me in this character. I too have "hated with a touch of pity." I love how each read of Moby Dick finds new seas for me to swim in!!!