August 4, 2019 - Chapters Ninety-four, Ninety-five, and Ninety-six


Of the chapters of this book I remember best from reading it in the past, “A Squeeze of the Hand” stands out for its clear homoeroticism. Let’s face it: we’re not far from the topic given that the animal being hunted is called a sperm whale, but the image of Ishmael and his fellow sailors sitting around a large cauldron of spermaceti and squeezing lumps back into liquid does evoke images of an activity for which a first-generation L.A. hardcore band was named. The subsequent chapter features a description of the sperm whale’s penis (called the grandissimus) being fashioned into a priestly garment by the whalers.

The final chapter for today has Ishmael falling asleep while at the helm of the Pequod and nearly losing control of the ship.


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