re: truth -- In these first 15 chapters, I'd noticed some repeated themes, so I went to Project Gutenberg and ctrl-F searched some terms.
A search for "meaning" gets 22 hits in the text. Including:
"Surely all this is not without meaning" (ch. 1)
"All these things are not without their meanings" (ch. 7)
"What could be more full of meaning?" (ch. 8)
"And taken with the context, this is full of meaning." (ch. 9)
"True" gets 92 hits, which so far mostly seem to be Ishamel exclaiming "true enough." But during the ch. 9 sermon, Father Mapple explains the meaning of "true and faithful repentance," and describes his job as a "speaker of true things."
"Truth" musters 39 hits, with a cluster of them again appearing in Father Mapple's sermon. God's bidding is to "preach the Truth to the face of Falsehood!" and promises "Delight is to him, who gives no quarter in the truth."
re: maps -- A few years ago, I heard an episode of the podcast Imaginary Worlds called "Fantasy Maps." They interviewed people whose job was drafting the maps that are inserted into fantasy novels, the rules and patterns and allure of them. "The act of creating a map is an act of creation, and an act of creativity. Maps of fantasy worlds remind us that every map is telling a story, whether it means to or not."
"It is not down in any map; true places never are." Gosh.
On one hand, okay, Queequeg hailing from a fictional place seems politically convenient. On the other, damn, that line hits.
re: truth -- In these first 15 chapters, I'd noticed some repeated themes, so I went to Project Gutenberg and ctrl-F searched some terms.
A search for "meaning" gets 22 hits in the text. Including:
"Surely all this is not without meaning" (ch. 1)
"All these things are not without their meanings" (ch. 7)
"What could be more full of meaning?" (ch. 8)
"And taken with the context, this is full of meaning." (ch. 9)
"True" gets 92 hits, which so far mostly seem to be Ishamel exclaiming "true enough." But during the ch. 9 sermon, Father Mapple explains the meaning of "true and faithful repentance," and describes his job as a "speaker of true things."
"Truth" musters 39 hits, with a cluster of them again appearing in Father Mapple's sermon. God's bidding is to "preach the Truth to the face of Falsehood!" and promises "Delight is to him, who gives no quarter in the truth."
All these things are not without their meanings.
Still mulling on this!
re: maps -- A few years ago, I heard an episode of the podcast Imaginary Worlds called "Fantasy Maps." They interviewed people whose job was drafting the maps that are inserted into fantasy novels, the rules and patterns and allure of them. "The act of creating a map is an act of creation, and an act of creativity. Maps of fantasy worlds remind us that every map is telling a story, whether it means to or not."
If your edition of Moby-Dick includes maps of the Pequod's voyage and you'd like to listen to this podcast, here's a linky-link:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3WLTORrntdhVYe8Qsfi9vi?si=7b15024d86f74ec7
i love this!
One can make it through any book if the chapters are short. An excellent read!