Jacob’s Reviews > Moby-Dick or The Whale > Status Update

Well grubbed, old mole!

"Ahab is for ever Ahab, man. This whole act's immutably decreed. 'Twas rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled. Fool! I am the Fates' lieutenant; I act under orders. Look thou, underling! that thou obeyest mine."

"There she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!"

Less than 100 pages to go, but I've been too lazy to read lately. Time to finish this!

100 pages left? Aww...

Chapter 104, The Fossil Whale: One often hears of writers that rise and swell with their subject, though it may seem but an ordinary one. How, then, with me, writing of this Leviathan? Unconsciously my chirography expands into placard capitals. Give me a condor's quill! Give me Vesuvius' crater for an inkstand! Friends, hold my arms! For in the mere act of penning my thoughts of this Leviathan...

Chapter 100, Leg and Arm. Conversation between Ahab and an English captain who lost his arm to Moby-Dick:

"What became of the White Whale?" now cried Ahab..."Did'st thou cross his wake again?"
"Twice."
"But could not fasten?"
"Didn't want to try to: ain't one limb enough?...he's welcome to the arm he has...No more White Whales for me."

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS NOVEL, YOU DAMNED SENSIBLE PERSON?

(Singing) Sperm, sperm, sperm, sperm,
Sperm, sperm, sperm, sperm,
Spermity sperm, wonderful sperm!
Spermity sperm, wonderful sperm!

Chapter 93, The Castaway: The sea had jeeringly kept his finite body up, but downed the infinite in his soul. Not drowned entirely, though. Rather carried down alive to wondrous depths...He saw God's foot upon the treadle of the loom, and spoke it; and therefore his shipmates called him mad.

Forget my previous complaint. This book is effing brilliant.

Powerful chapter in which the crew of the Pequod race another whaling crew to kill an old and blind whale, only to have it sink immediately. Followed by several chapters on whale anatomy.

You're killing me, Herman!