Thoughtful reflection ahead of discussion - He “is not simply making choices for himself. His obsession…affects the lives of everyone…which have become secondary to his pursuit… obsession has the potential to destroy not only us, but others, too.”
I'm just finishing the book, and it took until the end to realize that Moby Dick is indeed the great American novel, because the novel is the story of America itself. The Pequod is America, and Ahab is America's true spirit; not the sanitized story we hear on July 4th, but the real animating spirit that motivated the founding and expansion of the place. Ahab decides what he wants first (the whale) and all principle after that is selectively used to intimidate others into accepting his goal and justify his behavior. Ahab quotes scripture voluminously, not because he believes a word of any of it, but because he knows his crew will bend to his will if he cloaks his ambition in such a fashion. The fearsome Moby Dick represents untamed nature, and the unconquered West. Ahab's obsession with him is Manifest Destiny, which is once again the goal decided before principle upholds it. It's the Philosophy of Self, held by people who abandoned country and kin to find their fortunes in the New World. Our ancestors divorced their lives in Europe to come here. The type of people who do that are only different from Ahab in degree.
Funny but true story. I read Moby-Dick "from cover to cover" because of Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) in the movie Major League.
Also, I have a friend who adapted the story into a novel set in Louisiana in 1890-1900, and instead of a whale, it is a giant (22-ish feet long) leucistic alligator. He hasn't published it yet, but he let me beta-read a draft.
Cannot wait to discuss this!!
Thoughtful reflection ahead of discussion - He “is not simply making choices for himself. His obsession…affects the lives of everyone…which have become secondary to his pursuit… obsession has the potential to destroy not only us, but others, too.”
I'm just finishing the book, and it took until the end to realize that Moby Dick is indeed the great American novel, because the novel is the story of America itself. The Pequod is America, and Ahab is America's true spirit; not the sanitized story we hear on July 4th, but the real animating spirit that motivated the founding and expansion of the place. Ahab decides what he wants first (the whale) and all principle after that is selectively used to intimidate others into accepting his goal and justify his behavior. Ahab quotes scripture voluminously, not because he believes a word of any of it, but because he knows his crew will bend to his will if he cloaks his ambition in such a fashion. The fearsome Moby Dick represents untamed nature, and the unconquered West. Ahab's obsession with him is Manifest Destiny, which is once again the goal decided before principle upholds it. It's the Philosophy of Self, held by people who abandoned country and kin to find their fortunes in the New World. Our ancestors divorced their lives in Europe to come here. The type of people who do that are only different from Ahab in degree.
Funny but true story. I read Moby-Dick "from cover to cover" because of Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) in the movie Major League.
Also, I have a friend who adapted the story into a novel set in Louisiana in 1890-1900, and instead of a whale, it is a giant (22-ish feet long) leucistic alligator. He hasn't published it yet, but he let me beta-read a draft.
Any great book.
That’s an interesting perspective, the role of free will.
My main takeaway was the difference between Ahab and Jonah.
Jonah still had free will but God didn’t plan to let him make the wrong choice. Maybe He allowed Ahab to freely choose but without so much influence.