
Chapter 36: Day 37: The Quarter-Deck
“(Enter Ahab: Then, all.)
It was not a great while after the affair of the pipe, that one morning shortly after breakfast, Ahab, as was his wont, ascended the cabin-gangway to the deck. There most sea-captains usually walk at that hour, as country gentlemen, after the same meal, take a few turns in the garden.
Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented, like geological stones, with the peculiar mark of his walk. Did you fixedly gaze, too, upon that ribbed and dented brow; there also, you would see still stranger foot-prints—the foot-prints of his one unsleeping, ever-pacing thought.”
Musings:
I’m going to take a few days on this chapter because, let’s face it, this blog is clearly for my eyes only, and because this chapter is THE chapter in the book. So much happens! First of all, Ishmael almost sets this up as a play, with stage directions: (Enter Ahab: Then, all.). When I see the start of this chapter, I am always reminded of this quote from As You Like It: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” This is Ahab’s entrance.
Ishmael reminds us that Ahab has thrown away his pipe – the one worldly comfort he had. Then we see Ahab pacing, as he usually does after breakfast, except on this day, we see his ‘ribbed and dented brow.’ This is also the first time Ish lets us know that if we look more deeply into Ahab’s face, we will also see the plans Ahab has made. The singular focus of this trip has already been laid.
Stubb says it best when he says to Flask, “the chick that’s in him [Ahab] pecks the shell. ’Twill soon be out.” What will soon be out is the drama unfolding on the deck of the Pequod. And soon, Starbuck will have a choice to make. And tomorrow, we will examine that!
תגובות