1. In "The Affidavit," Ishmael says that on three occasions he saw a whale get away after being harpooned. On one occasion Ishmael says that three years later, "this man and this whale again came together, and the one vanquished the other, (171). He uses Man as a symbol of industrialism and whales as a symbol for all things natural. Is Melville/ Ishmael implying that it is impossible for Industrialism and nature to coexist and one must consume the other by telling this story?
2. In "Surmises," Ahab becomes aware that some of the crew are not in agreement with his feud with Moby Dick, especially Starbuck. Ahab knows that, "for all this the chief mate, in his soul, abhorred his captain's quest, and could he, would joyfully disintegrate himself from it, or even frustrate it," (177). Later in the chapter, Ahab makes the decision that he has to try to be a better captain to his crew. Why does he do this? Is it because he desperately wants his revenge on Moby Dick, and must maintain control of his ship by avoiding mutiny to accomplish this? Or is Ahab genuinely interested in being a good captain by not risking the safety of his crew and having a successful whaling voyage?
3. In "The Mat-Maker," Ishmael alludes to the theme of fate with the weaving of the mat. Being on a ship on the open ocean, it doesn't appear that Ishmael has any control of his life and is truly at the mercy of fate. What is Melville saying about American Society and how the average American should conduct themselves?
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