/lit/ - Literature

>>15251071
My interpretation on free will vs fate is this: the only person on board the Pequod who actually has free will is Ahab. As the captain, he has an almost godlike presence on board; not just in his demeanor but also in what powers a captain has, ie choosing course and administering punishment.

Ishmael is a good foil to Ahab because hes almost entirely thrown to Fate, rather than free will, because as his paygrade shows, hes pretty low on the totem pole.

Starbuck illustrates the point im trying to make pretty well. As ahabs second in command, he has an intersting nexus between free will (wanting to see his wife and kids again) and fate (following ahab in his madmans crusade.) This is most clearly shown in the scene where he contemplates shooting ahab.

Moby Dick represents absolute Free Will. He does what he pleases. And for that reason, he and Ahab are locked in a permanent death struggle that cannot be sated until one of them is dead.

I've been reading some classic books this summer, right now Im reading "Moby Dick" and what the fuck is this gay thing between Ishamel and Queequeg? Just finished the chapter where Queequeg tells Ishmael his past while they both are in bed, naked and end rolling each other legs. Is this a gay story or what??? I thought it was a sailors adventure not a gay interracial romance.

>>9897953
Since everyone in this thread is functionally retarded, I'm gonna keep this simple.

3 Positives about Moby Dick
- Whales are cool I guess. Free Willy was good.
- The prose is ok
- Adventure stories are fun

3 Negatives about Moby Dick
-Too fucking long. 30 page diatribes about whale biology and history of whales.
-Too much homosexual imagery. The indian guy is from Gay Head for fucks sake. May as well have been from Fire Island
- Obsession with the whale was fucking stupid. Its an ocean mammal. Was ahab really worried about Moby coming into his room at night and sperming up his guts? Plus they had guns on the boat. Why resort to doing something stupid like getting in its element and stabbing it?