Response Journal Week 2-Amani

Many of themes we found in the first section of reading continue in the second. Ishmael is building up a suspenseful plot that seems to lead up to a climax involving the mysterious sea. Ishmael’s friendship with Queequeg is stronger and their relationship no longer seems new or as fascinating to Ishmael. Ishmael learns more about Queequeg and attempts to understand their cultural differences. They depend on one another. Something about Ishmael’s environment allows him to accept Queequeg as his equal, despite Queequeg’s distinct characteristics. The whalers and individuals involved in whaling are surprisingly open and tolerant. Although Captain Peleg and Bildad are hesitant in allowing Queequeg to travel on the Pequod, it only took a little convincing from Ishmael for them to welcome Queequeg. Peleg is amazed by Queequeg’s talent and offers him a higher lay then Ishmael. Captain Bildad, a religious and conservative old man, who on multiple occasions is seen by Ishmael reading the Bible is friendly towards Queequeg and encourages Queequeg to convert to Christianity.
Religion or philosophy and culture of Ishmael and the people he encounters is definitely important to notice in the book. Ishmael listens to stories about Queequeg’s customs in his father’s kingdom. On page 61, Ishmael is retelling Queequeg’s story about a man who misunderstood his people’s culture (Queequeg was attempting to illustrate that confusion between cultures is universal). Ishmael comments, “for those people [Queequeg’s family] have their grace as well as we.” Ishmael shows a tremendous amount of respect for Queequeg and his culture. Ishmael learns from Queequeg. This situation is completely different from the “white man’s burden” idea. Queequeg, “the savage,” is teaching the white man.
Something I wondered while reading was who Ishmael or Melville was writing to? Who was his audience? Ishmael speaks directly to the reader many times. He asks the reader on page 97: “Know ye, now, Bulkington?” In the notes it says “ye” refers to the reader. One reason for why I ask this is because in some passages of the book, Ishmael is convincing the reader to understand his point. For example, in Chapter 24 The Advocate Ishmael is defending whaling. He starts off by saying “I am of anxiety to convince ye, ye landsmen, of injustice hereby done to us hunters of whaling.” I guess Ishmael is advocating to landsmen in this case. But why is he so anxious to talk about preconceptions of whaling? His anxiety to tell the readers gives the idea that whaling was not a respected profession at the time.
As the book continues, Ishmael and Queequeg meet more characters. I think it’s important to understand the significance of each of the characters introduced in the book. One character struck me. Elijah. He mysteriously appears and it seems like we won’t see him again (well maybe not until the end). Melville uses Elijah as a tool of foreshadowing. Elijah attempts to warn Ishmael about Captain Ahab. Though Ishmael says he thought Elijah was crazy and didn’t take him seriously, Ishmael does have concerns for Captain Ahab. The scene with Elijah also seemed to be one of the many humorous scenes Melville has depicted.