Summary
Ishmael wakes up to find Queequeg's arm thrown over him in sleep, which triggers a strange childhood memory of waking up paralyzed with fear, unable to tell dream from reality. This moment of vulnerability and confusion mirrors his current situation - sharing a bed with a stranger who could have killed him but instead treats him like a beloved wife. When Queequeg wakes, he dresses in his bizarre outfit with the casual confidence of someone completely comfortable in his own skin. He shaves with his harpoon, turning a deadly weapon into a mundane grooming tool. At breakfast, the other boarders barely react to Queequeg's presence, having seen plenty of 'cannibals' come through New Bedford. This normalcy unsettles Ishmael more than hostility would have - he's entered a world where his assumptions about civilization and savagery no longer apply. The chapter establishes a pattern that will define their relationship: Queequeg acts with simple directness while Ishmael overthinks everything. Yet despite his anxiety, Ishmael finds himself drawn to Queequeg's straightforward affection. The 'marriage' imagery throughout - from the loving embrace to Queequeg's husbandly behavior - suggests this friendship will transcend cultural boundaries in ways that challenge 19th-century American assumptions about race, religion, and human connection. By showing us Queequeg through Ishmael's gradually adjusting eyes, Melville demonstrates how prejudice dissolves through proximity and shared humanity. The childhood memory serves as a reminder that our deepest fears often come from within, not from the 'savage' others we've been taught to fear.
Coming Up in Chapter 19
After witnessing Queequeg's morning routine, Ishmael prepares to explore the famous whaling town of New Bedford. What he discovers about this 'queerest place' will challenge everything he thought he knew about American civilization.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
His Mark. As we were walking down the end of the wharf towards the ship, Queequeg carrying his harpoon, Captain Peleg in his gruff voice loudly hailed us from his wigwam, saying he had not suspected my friend was a cannibal, and furthermore announcing that he let no cannibals on board that craft, unless they previously produced their papers. “What do you mean by that, Captain Peleg?” said I, now jumping on the bulwarks, and leaving my comrade standing on the wharf. “I mean,” he replied, “he must show his papers.” “Yes,” said Captain Bildad in his hollow voice, sticking his head from behind Peleg’s, out of the wigwam. “He must show that he’s converted. Son of darkness,” he added, turning to Queequeg, “art thou at present in communion with any Christian church?” “Why,” said I, “he’s a member of the first Congregational Church.” Here be it said, that many tattooed savages sailing in Nantucket ships at last come to be converted into the churches. “First Congregational Church,” cried Bildad, “what! that worships in Deacon Deuteronomy Coleman’s meeting-house?” and so saying, taking out his spectacles, he rubbed them with his great yellow bandana handkerchief, and putting them on very carefully, came out of the wigwam, and leaning stiffly over the bulwarks, took a good long look at Queequeg. “How long hath he been a member?” he then said, turning to me; “not very long, I rather guess, young man.” “No,” said Peleg, “and he hasn’t been baptized right either, or it would have washed some of that devil’s blue off his face.” “Do tell, now,” cried Bildad, “is this Philistine a regular member of Deacon Deuteronomy’s meeting? I never saw him going there, and I pass it every Lord’s day.” “I don’t know anything about Deacon Deuteronomy or his meeting,” said I; “all I know is, that Queequeg here is a born member of the First Congregational Church. He is a deacon himself, Queequeg is.” “Young man,” said Bildad sternly, “thou art skylarking with me—explain thyself, thou young Hittite. What church dost thee mean? answer me.” Finding myself thus hard pushed, I replied. “I mean, sir, the same ancient Catholic Church to which you and I, and Captain Peleg there, and Queequeg here, and all of us, and every mother’s son and soul of us belong; the great and everlasting First Congregation of this whole worshipping world; we all belong to that; only some of us cherish some queer crotchets no ways touching the grand belief; in _that_ we all join hands.” “Splice, thou mean’st _splice_ hands,” cried Peleg, drawing nearer. “Young man, you’d better ship for a missionary, instead of a fore-mast hand; I never heard a better sermon. Deacon Deuteronomy—why Father Mapple himself couldn’t beat it, and he’s reckoned something. Come aboard, come aboard; never mind about the papers. I say, tell Quohog there—what’s that you call him? tell Quohog to step along. By the great anchor, what a harpoon he’s got there! looks like good stuff that;...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Shared Vulnerability - How Fear Dissolves Through Proximity
Fear and prejudice dissolve when forced proximity reveals shared humanity through mundane daily activities.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when fear comes from appearance rather than actual threat by showing how ordinary human activities dissolve prejudice.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you physically tense up around someone based on how they look, then observe if that tension remains after you've shared space for thirty minutes.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Counterpane
A decorative bedspread or quilt, often with intricate patterns. In this chapter, Ishmael compares Queequeg's tattooed arm to a patchwork quilt, suggesting how foreign patterns can become familiar and even comforting.
Modern Usage:
We still use quilts, but now 'patchwork' often means anything pieced together from different sources, like a patchwork solution at work.
Tomahawk-pipe
A combination weapon and smoking pipe used by some Native American tribes, adopted by sailors. Shows how objects can serve both violent and peaceful purposes, like Queequeg using his harpoon as a razor.
Modern Usage:
Think of a Swiss Army knife or a phone that's also your wallet - tools that serve multiple purposes in daily life.
Ramadan
An Islamic holy month of fasting, though Melville uses it incorrectly for Queequeg's personal religious observance. Shows how 19th-century Americans lumped all non-Christian practices together as 'foreign.'
Modern Usage:
We still sometimes misunderstand others' religious or cultural practices, like assuming all meditation is the same thing.
Cannibal
Someone who eats human flesh, but here used as a catch-all racist term for any Pacific Islander. The casual use by 'civilized' people reveals their own savage prejudices.
Modern Usage:
Like how certain words today are used to dehumanize groups of people based on where they're from or what they look like.
Harpoon
A barbed spear used for hunting whales, requiring incredible skill and strength. Queequeg treats his like an extension of himself, even shaving with it.
Modern Usage:
Like how a skilled carpenter might use their best hammer for everything, or a nurse who can find a vein with any needle.
Christian kindness
The 19th-century American ideal of charitable behavior based on religious duty. Ishmael discovers Queequeg shows more natural kindness than most Christians he knows.
Modern Usage:
When people say they're 'good Christians' but act hatefully, versus those who just quietly help others regardless of religion.
Characters in This Chapter
Ishmael
narrator and protagonist
Wakes up in Queequeg's embrace, overthinking everything while slowly realizing his prejudices are unfounded. His childhood memory reveals how fear often comes from within, not from others.
Modern Equivalent:
The anxious roommate who assumes the worst about everyone
Queequeg
Ishmael's unexpected companion
Treats Ishmael with casual affection and goes about his morning routine with complete confidence. His comfort in his own skin contrasts with Ishmael's constant anxiety.
Modern Equivalent:
The supremely confident friend who doesn't care what anyone thinks
Mrs. Hussey
boarding house keeper
Serves breakfast without batting an eye at Queequeg's presence, showing how commonplace 'exotic' sailors are in New Bedford. Her normalcy unsettles Ishmael more than hostility would.
Modern Equivalent:
The diner waitress who's seen everything and nothing fazes her
The other boarders
background observers
Barely react to Queequeg at breakfast, having seen plenty of Pacific Islander sailors. Their indifference shows Ishmael his fears were overblown.
Modern Equivalent:
The regulars at a truck stop who don't even look up when someone unusual walks in
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Upon waking next morning about daylight, I found Queequeg's arm thrown over me in the most loving and affectionate manner. You had almost thought I had been his wife."
Context: Ishmael wakes up to find himself in Queequeg's embrace
The marriage imagery shows how quickly intimacy can develop between strangers when prejudice is set aside. Ishmael's surprise reveals his own assumptions about who deserves affection.
In Today's Words:
I woke up and this dude was cuddling me like we'd been married for years.
"Thinks I, Queequeg, under the circumstances, this is a very civilized overture; but, the truth is, these savages have an innate sense of delicacy, say what you will."
Context: Reflecting on Queequeg's gentle behavior despite his 'savage' appearance
Ishmael starts recognizing that his definitions of 'civilized' and 'savage' are backwards. Real civility comes from behavior, not birthplace or appearance.
In Today's Words:
This guy everyone calls savage is treating me with more respect than most 'civilized' people I know.
"He then donned his waistcoat, and taking up a piece of hard soap on the wash-stand centre-table, dipped it into water and commenced lathering his face."
Context: Describing Queequeg's morning routine
The mundane details of shaving humanize Queequeg completely. Even 'cannibals' have morning routines, making them not so different from us after all.
In Today's Words:
He just went about his morning routine like any regular person getting ready for work.
"I quickly followed suit, and descending into the bar-room accosted the grinning landlord very pleasantly. I cherished no malice towards him, though he had been skylarking with me not a little in the matter of my bedfellow."
Context: Ishmael forgives the landlord for the prank of not warning him about Queequeg
Ishmael's good humor shows he's already changing. What seemed like a cruel trick now feels like a favor - he's gained a friend he never would have approached on his own.
In Today's Words:
I wasn't even mad at the landlord anymore for pranking me - it actually worked out pretty well.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Ishmael's identity as 'civilized' man crumbles when he finds comfort in a cannibal's embrace
Development
Builds on earlier identity confusion - now actively questioning who's truly civilized
In Your Life:
When you realize the 'rough' coworker shows more kindness than the professional ones
Human Connection
In This Chapter
Physical touch breaks down barriers - Queequeg's unconscious affection melts Ishmael's conscious fears
Development
Evolved from fearful first meeting to accepting physical intimacy
In Your Life:
That moment when someone you feared shows you unexpected tenderness
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The boarding house's casual acceptance of Queequeg violates Ishmael's expectations of how 'society' should react
Development
Introduced here - New Bedford operates by different rules than Ishmael's world
In Your Life:
When you bring your assumptions to a new workplace and realize nobody else shares them
Class
In This Chapter
Working-class boarders don't have luxury of prejudice - they've seen it all and judge by actions, not appearance
Development
Develops from earlier class observations - working people are more practically accepting
In Your Life:
How your coworkers accept the 'weird' new hire faster than management does
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific actions did Queequeg take that transformed Ishmael's fear into comfort?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think Ishmael's childhood memory of paralysis surfaced when he woke up next to Queequeg?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen fear dissolve through forced proximity in your workplace or community?
application • medium - 4
If you were assigned to work closely with someone who intimidated you, how would you use the Proximity Dissolution Pattern to navigate the situation?
application • deep - 5
What does Queequeg shaving with his harpoon teach us about how we judge 'normal' versus 'dangerous' behavior?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Fear-to-Familiarity Journey
Think of someone who initially frightened or unsettled you but became comfortable through repeated contact. Draw a simple timeline marking key moments when your perception shifted. Note what specific ordinary actions or shared experiences changed your feelings. Include at least three 'turning point' moments where fear gave way to understanding.
Consider:
- •What physical sensations did you notice as your comfort level changed?
- •Which of their ordinary daily habits first made them seem less threatening?
- •How long did the full transformation from fear to comfort take?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were the 'Queequeg' in someone else's story - when did you realize someone was afraid of you, and how did proximity change their perception?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 19
Moving forward, we'll examine key events and character development in this chapter, and understand thematic elements and literary techniques. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.