An Analysis of
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Squid
An Analysis of Chapter 59
Tone
Mysterious, Suspenseful, Awe-Inspiring, Contemplative
Basic Stats
| Intensity | Clarity | Conflict | Resolution | Pacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrilling - (4) | Clear - (4) | There's some - (3) | A little - (2) | Quick - (4) |
Basically...
Daggoo spots a giant white mass believed to be Moby Dick, but it turns out to be a rare giant squid.
In more detail...
As the Pequod glides through the serenity of the open sea, the crew is startled by the sight of a mysterious white mass, first thought to be the elusive Moby Dick. Daggoo, from the main-mast head, is the first to sight it. The crew is thrown into a frenetic state of excitement as Ahab orders the boats lowered. Upon closer inspection, what they find is not the infamous whale but a grand live squid, a sight seldom beheld by whalers. The creature with its twisting lengths of tentacles provides a moment of awe and dread. Starbuck expresses a chilling preference for dealing with Moby Dick than this ghostly apparition. Ahab silently leads the return to the Pequod, leaving the crew with their own superstitious imaginings about the squid, which they believe might be the sperm whale's only source of food.
Characters
- Daggoo
- About - Daggoo is the first to sight the mysterious white mass, which initiates the chase in the hopes that it is Moby Dick, but then identifies it as the giant squid.
- Personality Traits - Vigilant, excitable, and expressive in his role as a lookout.
- Physical Characteristics - Physical characteristics are not described in this particular chapter.
- Character Connections
- Ahab - Alerts Ahab to the potential sighting of Moby Dick, which turns out to be the squid.
- Starbuck
- About - Starbuck is deeply affected by the sight of the squid, expressing a preference for encountering Moby Dick over the ghostly creature.
- Personality Traits - Sensitive, superstitious, and somewhat rattled by the unnatural encounter.
- Physical Characteristics - Physical characteristics are not described in this particular chapter.
- Character Connections
- Ahab - Shares the tumultuous experience with Ahab and expresses his dread of the squid to him.
- Flask - Responds to Flask's inquiry about the nature of the apparition they spotted.
- Ahab
- About - Ahab quickly gives the order to lower the boats in pursuit of what is initially thought to be Moby Dick but remains silent after the squid's identity is revealed.
- Personality Traits - Determined, intense, and unflappable in the face of the unexpected.
- Physical Characteristics - Ahab's physical characteristics, including his ivory leg, are well-known but not specifically described in this chapter.
- Character Connections
- Daggoo - Follows Daggoo's alert to the potential sighting of Moby Dick.
- Starbuck - Leads the return to the Pequod after Starbuck's expression of unease about the squid.
- Flask - Ahab's actions influence Flask's questioning and the experience of the crew in this chapter.
- Flask
- About - Flask inquires about the nature of the enigmatic creature once the crew discovers it is not Moby Dick.
- Personality Traits - Curious and in search of understanding about the situation at hand.
- Physical Characteristics - Physical characteristics are not described in this particular chapter.
- Character Connections
- Starbuck - Asks Starbuck to clarify what they had just witnessed.