Humorous, Philosophical, Light-Hearted, Slightly Eerie

Stubb, alone on the fore-top, reflects on fate and predestination with humor as he mends a brace.

The chapter focuses on Stubb during his night watch on the Pequod's fore-top where he is alone, mending a brace. Contemplating the strangeness of life, Stubb laughs and comforts himself with the thought that everything is predestined. He admits to overhearing some of Starbuck's concerns, comparing his own feelings to Starbuck's. Stubb considers himself wise and claims to have foreseen current events due to an intuition when he earlier saw Ahab's skull-like appearance. He decides that no matter what happens he will face it with laughter, sharing a moment of light-heartedness and singing a playful song about the ephemeral nature of love and life. Stubb is interrupted by a call from Starbuck and, setting his thoughts aside, he prepares to respond to his superior's request.