estpbarca’s Blog

So, there are a lot of things going on right now, but the chapter that has captivated me was chapter 113 about the making of the “special” harpoon made nails from race horse shoes, his razors and blood from three men. Then he says “Ego non baptizo te in nomine patris, sed in nomine diaboli” which basically means that he is is batizing in the name of the devil. WoW, for the last 112 pages I was sure Ahab was crazy but seems like he is possesed by a demon. After so much suspense I enjoyed a small pause on chapter 114 when at times of peace and calmness everyone would forget about whaleing and their surroundings, “at such times, under an abated sun; afoat all day upon smooth slow heaving swells; seated in his boat, light as a birch canoe; and so sociably mixing with the soft waves themselves.”(405).  After the small pause life resumes when they meet the Bachelor, a ship full of oil heading home. Although this scene is very small you get a really good image and some foreshadowing about their forthcoming doom when the homeward bound ship gently rides with the wind and the Peqoud goes stubbornly against it, “And thus, while the one ship went cheerly before the breeze, the other stubbornly fought against it; and so the two vessels parted; the crew of the peqoud looking with grave, lingering glances towards the receding Bachelor” (408). Towards the end of chapter 17 I found something that was hilarious because Ahab blabbers about how he is Immortal on sea and on land. If I was there I would’ve have screamed at his wrinkly face saying, “you are going to die old man, like it or not.” Finally, I am sure that if Ahab dies everyone’s nightmares and when Starbuck was wondering whether to kill the old man or not, he shouldn’t have had any second doughts.