Soon after starting the book, I made the following claim: "Chapter 3 of Moby Dick is much more to my liking because the story shifts from an internal focus on Ishmael's thoughts to his external interactions. Instead of philosophical ramblings we get some exquisite descriptions of his surroundings (The Spouter-Inn) and conversation with other characters." The furthur I get into the book, the more I find that reaction confirmed. For a while it turned into a very interesting story, but since they set sail only 2 or 3 chapters out of 20 (so far) has really contained much action or advanced the plot. The rest has been character descriptions and background knowledge and tedious musings. On their own, any one of these chapters wouldn't be too bad (I even enjoyed the Cetology chapter much more than most, it seems), but piled one on top of another as they are it is beginning to get unbearable. Let me do an Ishmael on you and catalog them:
Chapter 23: The Lee Shore - First chapter on the water and all we get is some poetic something or other about Bulkington.
Chapter 24: The Advocate - A philosophical defense of whaling as a worthy profession.
Chapter 25: Postscript - More of the same
Chapter 26: Knights and Squires - A description of chief mate Starbuck. Not told through Ishmael's introduction to/interactions with him so as to be a part of the story, but pulled out of thin air.
Chapter 27: Knights and Squires - The same for second mate Stubb, third mate Flask, the harpooneers, and some of the crew.
Chapter 28: Ahab - A description of Ahab as he first appears to Ishmael. More organically told in terms of the story.
Chapter 29: Enter Ahab; to him, Stubb - A confrontation between Ahab and Stubb that establishes Ahab's (resented) authority.
Chapter 30: The Pipe - A description of Ahab's unhappiness, as illustrated through his tossing overboard his pipe.
Chapter 31: Queen Mab - Stubb telling Flask about a dream of being kicked around by Ahab.
Chapter 32: Cetology - Ishmael's systematic essay on whales.
Chapter 33: The Specksynder - A historical look at the importance of harpooneers to a whale boat.
Chapter 34: The Cabin-Table - A description of the meal routines of the officers. This begins a new aspect of the narration that I find frustrating. Until now Ishmael has been telling the story, but all of a sudden we seem to have an omnipotent narrator describing things and places that Ishmael is not a part of. Later we begin getting the private thoughts of other characters, as well. I would prefer more consistency in the storytelling.
Chapter 35: The Mast-Head - A description of the history, importance, and use of the mast-head.
Chapter 36: The Quarter-Deck - A pivotal bit of action in which Ahab shares his intention of seeking vengeance on Moby Dick. He counters all arguments and whips his men into a blood frenzy so they all vow to join him in the hunt.
Chapter 37: Sunset - Ahab's private reaction to chapter 36.
Chapter 38: Dusk - Starbuck's private reaction to chapter 36.
Chapter 39: First Night-Watch - Stubb's private reaction to chapter 36.
Chapter 40: Midnight, Forecastle - The crew's revelrous reaction to chapter 36, written almost as a script (and still no sign of Ishmael).
Chapter 41: Moby Dick - A description of the legend of the White Whale.
Chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale - An encyclopedic treatise on every symbolic use of the color white over the entire history of humankind. Much more tedious than Cetology and the impetus for this rant. Hopefully almost over.
I think I've had enough introductions and histories and asides and musings for while and hope fervently we get back to some storytelling soon.
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