Critical Readings

In the final episode on Moby Dick, the panel discusses the fulfilment of Fedallah’s prophecy and his death, Starbuck’s dilemma and despair, the destruction of the Pequod, the death of Ahab, Ishmael on the margins, and some final genre considerations.

In the penultimate Moby Dick episode, the panel discusses chapters 114–128, focusing on the ship’s sails, quadrant, compass, and line; the refashioning of the Pequod into the expression of Ahab’s will; and Ahab’s final abandonment of his humanity.

The panel discusses the Ahab’s representation as a wrathful, inhuman avatar of anti-nature, the hellish nature of the Pequod, the sorcerous conniving of the captain and crew, and the abandonment of every comfort and sentiment in search of Moby Dick.

The panel discusses chapters 91–101, with attention given to the cross-ship conduct between the Pequod and the Samuel Enderby, and to the psychological effects of sea life (and its attendant disasters) upon Ishmael, Ahab, and the rest of the ship’s crew.

The panel discusses chapters 82–90, with attention given to humour as a potential coping mechanism for Ishmael, before considering again the evidence for his identity, given his familiarity with significant legal works including Bracton and Blackstone.

The panel discuss chapters 72–81 and focus particularly upon Ishmael’s connexion (literal and figurative) to Queequeg, and the analogous, fated and willed relationships between the Pequod, the crew, Captain Ahab, and across humanity more generally.