An Analysis of
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The Hyena
An Analysis of Chapter 49
Tone
Philosophical, Humorous, Fatalistic, Reflective
Basic Stats
| Intensity | Clarity | Conflict | Resolution | Pacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exciting - (3) | Crystal-clear - (5) | Calm - (2) | A little - (2) | Moderate - (3) |
Basically...
Ishmael reflects on the fatalistic humor that arises in dire situations aboard the Pequod, and decides to draft his will with Queequeg.
In more detail...
In the midst of perilous whaling adventures, Ishmael experiences a mood where he views life's dangers with a bizarre humor, accepting them as trivial within the grand joke played by the universe. After an encounter with a whale, he jests with Queequeg, Stubb, and Flask about the absurdity and dangers of their profession. This leads him to ponder the irony of sailors crafting wills in the face of death, a task he undertakes with the help of Queequeg, to whom he entrusts his possessions and his fate.
Characters
- Ishmael
- About - Ishmael ruminates on life's ironies, humor, and perils as he jokes about the whaling life and the concept of death. Resigned to his fate, he drafts a will with Queequeg's assistance, displaying his philosophical approach to life's unpredictability.
- Personality Traits - Philosophical, humored by life's existential joke, practical in the face of danger, exhibits a camaraderie with his fellow crew members.
- Physical Characteristics - His physical state is mentioned to be soaked through with water after a whaling incident.
- Character Connections
- Queequeg - Shipmate and close friend, chosen by Ishmael to be his lawyer, executor, and legatee.
- Stubb - Fellow crew member whom Ishmael consults about the prudence of whaling tactics.
- Flask - Fellow crew member whom Ishmael questions about the dangers of whaling.
- Queequeg
- About - Queequeg receives Ishmael's request to act as his lawyer and executor without much emotion, having become accustomed to the dangers of whaling.
- Personality Traits - Stoic, experienced, and unfazed by the hazards of the sea.
- Physical Characteristics - Soaked through like Ishmael after a whaling incident, but otherwise his physical characteristics are not described.
- Character Connections
- Ishmael - Close friend, shipmate on the Pequod, and the person who asks him to be the executor of his will.
- Stubb
- About - Stubb, in his oil-jacket and smoking his pipe, responds in a calm and collected manner to Ishmael's jest about the dangerous nature of whaling.
- Personality Traits - Unflappable, maintains a calm demeanor even in the adverse conditions of the sea.
- Physical Characteristics - Presented as buttoned up in his oil-jacket, calmly smoking in the rain.
- Character Connections
- Ishmael - Responds to Ishmael's questions about the prudence of whaling, sharing experiences in the craft.
- Flask
- About - Flask, referred to as little king-post, humorously entertains Ishmael's question about the inherent dangers of their occupation, reinforcing the fatalistic outlook on the life of a whaleman.
- Personality Traits - Sarcastic, knowledgeable, somewhat bemused by the absurdity of backing into death's jaws.
- Physical Characteristics - Physical characteristics are not detailed beyond his standing close to Ishmael during their conversation.
- Character Connections
- Ishmael - Engages humorously with Ishmael's inquiries, sharing his perspective on whaling practices.