Feb 05 2010
Ishmael’s Fate
We spoke the first day of class about Melville’s Protestant background contributing to the book’s religious themes. Moby Dick is greatly concerned, my notes say, with the individual and his/her relation to fate. In “The Monkey Rope,” the chapter concerned with the cutting up of the now-deceased sperm whale, Ishmael supports Queequeg, who must balance on top of the whale, his feet in and out of the shark-filled bloody water, dissecting the beast. The monkey rope, tied around the waist of both Queequeg and Ishmael, is the support system; if one falls, the other will too. Ishmael notices at this moment that his fate is completely dependent on an outside source.
I seemed distinctly to perceive that my own individuality was now merged in a joint stock company of the two: that my free will had received a mortal wound; and that another’s mistake or misfortune might plunge innocent me into unmerited disaster and death. Therefore, I saw that here was a sort of interregnum in Providence; for its even-handed equity never could have sanctioned so gross an injustice. (341)
Ishmael’s sudden discomfort with his lack of control – to him, a “gross injustice” – should really lead him down a slippery slope of realization that the monkey rope should be the least of his worries. After all, his most trusted friend on the ship, Queequeg, is attached on the other end. Ishmael’s fate truly lays in the hands of Ahab, the crazed captain of the voyage. If Ahab’s fate is doomed, there is nothing Ishmael can do to save himself.
And, to this point, there is no reason for Ishmael to trust the divinity of his captain’s fate. He has already reflected that Ahab is an alien to the Christendom to which he nominally belongs (171). Ishmael received a mortal wound to his free will the moment he stepped on the ship, sailing with a crazy captain, on a dangerous mission of vengeance, who is probably not guided much by Providence. This situation, as symbolically exemplified by the monkey rope passage, is not a good one for anyone – especially not a Protestant concerned with his fate.
Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1991.
One Response to “Ishmael’s Fate”
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I completely agree, tymaland, that Ishmael is truly a dependent individual. Your comments concerning the chapter, “The Monkey Rope” are sound since they reflect Ishmael’s physical attachment to another fellow crewman. However, not only is this symbolic for Ishmael’s dependency and lack of self-control and free will, but there is also a strong element of cooperation and survival in dire times. Due to the fact that Ishmael and Queequeg are bound together, if one fails, then so does the other. Their survival and success are both based on their cooperation with each other. Also, Ishmael maintains a very strong and intimate friendship with Queequeg and “The Monkey Rope” can symbolize their deep attachment to each other.