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Moby Dick, Lecture Four: Queequeg (Ch. 4-12) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-03-05 16:53:00
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

"Thus, then, in our hearts' honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg--a cosy, loving pair."

So says Ishmael in one of the most beautiful meditations upon friendship in all of literature.

The first half of today's lecture involves an exploration of what it means to be a friend. We'll explore three kinds of love, Aristotle's definition of friendship, whether love is a feeling or an action, friendship as mirror, trust, bonding, and much more.

The second half of our lecture involves our meeting Father Mapple, who delivers a powerful sermon on Jonah at the Whaleman's Chapel. We'll talk about sermon rhetoric, exegesis, theatricality, repentance, and much more.

Lecture Timestamps:

  • 0:00 our journey so far
  • 2:00 friendship and love
  • 3:00 Melville & Cervantes
  • 4:00 three kinds of love
  • 4:20 agape/unconditional love
  • 5:00 eros/erotic love
  • 6:30 philia/brotherly love
  • 7:30 self-acceptance & love
  • 10:30 “love your enemies”
  • 11:30 love as feeling vs action
  • 13:50 Aristotle on friendship
  • 15:00 Ishmael & Queequeg
  • 20:00 Shakespearean allusions
  • 23:00 a bosom friend
  • 26:30 friendship & transformation
  • 27:30 friendship as mirror
  • 30:00 true places aren’t on maps
  • 34:00 the importance of trust & bonding
  • 37:00 Ishmael’s meditation upon God
  • 39:50 Father Mapple’s sermon
  • 42:00 old vs new, ancient vs modern
  • 43:00 is this really Ishmael’s story?
  • 43:30 strolling vs sallying (& the flâneur)
  • 45:00 Father Mapple as wise elder
  • 47:30 the atmosphere of the chapel
  • 49:00 a sense of displaced time
  • 51:00 the theatricality of the sermon
  • 53:00 the tradition & history of sermons
  • 58:00 repentance & the book of Jonah
  • 1:01:33 chapter reading assignment

Father Mapple interpretations:

Questions to consider:

1) How would you define Queequeg and Ishamael’s friendship? 

2) We explored different definitions of love and friendship in the lecture. Do you find them useful? Do they line up with your thoughts and experience? 

3) Did you notice a preference for either the Queequeg chapters or the sermon chapters? If so, what do you think that means?

Bonus: Read through the book of Jonah (it’s very short) in anticipation for our first Bible side-lecture. Let us know if it has anything to teach you in your life today.

Happy reading, everybody! Now we must fortify ourselves for meeting Captain Ahab..

Files

Previews only

Moby Dick, Lecture Four: Queequeg (Ch. 4-12)

0:00 our journey so far 2:00 friendship and love 3:00 Melville & Cervantes 4:00 three kinds of love 4:20 agape/unconditional love 5:00 eros/erotic love 6:30 philia/brotherly love 7:30 self-acceptance & love 10:30 “love your enemies” 11:30 love as feeling vs action 13:50 Aristotle on friendship 15:00 Ishmael & Queequeg 20:00 Shakespearean allusions 23:00 a bosom friend 26:30 friendship & transformation 27:30 friendship as mirror 30:00 true places aren’t on maps 34:00 the importance of trust & bonding 37:00 Ishmael’s meditation upon God 39:50 Father Mapple’s sermon 42:00 old vs new, ancient vs modern 43:00 is this really Ishmael’s story? 43:30 strolling vs sallying (& the flâneur) 45:00 Father Mapple as wise elder 47:30 the atmosphere of the chapel 49:00 a sense of displaced time 51:00 the theatricality of the sermon 53:00 the tradition & history of sermons 58:00 repentance & the book of Jonah 1:01:33 chapter reading assignment

Comments

Dani

The friendship between Queequeg and Ishmael becomes extraordinarily loving, generous and selfless in a very short time, as depicted by Queequeg's gift of silver to Ishmael and Ishmael worshipping with Queequeg. The passage describing Ishmael's quandary on whether or not to join Queequeg in his worship of Yojo moved me deeply. Worship is such a personal, intimate part of someone and for Queequeg to invite Ishamel and for Ishmael to accept was exquisite. I've thought about this communion constantly since I read this scene a week ago. Just wow. Chapter 10, A Bosom Friend is my favorite chapter so far. Elijah intrigues me. Who is Bulkington--what is his story? And what's with the four or five sailors that were only seen by Elijah and Ishmael? So much to chew on! Speaking of nourishment--a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup is my meal of choice before a journey and reading is how I meditate and center myself. Before traveling I try to ready one or two books focused on the destination (for example, before going to Brazil for work a couple of years ago I read The War at the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado). As for preparation for personal journeys, I take long walks.

Peter F

 Pg.57 – “in fact take my body who will, take it I say, it is not me.” We are our conscience experience. We are that which appears in consciousness, not our body. Great line. Queequeg is also not his tattooed body. That is not ‘who’ he is, but how quick we close the door to people based on their appearance. Melville may also be referring to how his body brings him to the experience on the whaling boat, but it his consciousness which paints the experience.