CAPÍTULO 16. The Ship.
This chapter details Ishmael’s process of joining the crew of the whaling ship Pequod: he meets the ship’s co-owners Bildad and Peleg in the cabin, negotiates his profit share (lay) for the voyage, signs the ship’s articles, arranges for his friend Queequeg to join the crew, and learns about the reclusive, enigmatic Captain Ahab from Peleg, leaving with mixed feelings of curiosity and vague sympathy for the missing captain.
Meeting Bildad and Peleg in the cabin
Ishmael follows Captain Peleg into the cramped cabin of the Pequod, where he meets elderly Quaker Bildad, one of the ship’s principal owners, seated bolt-upright on the transom, absorbed in reading a large religious volume and paying little mind to the conversation around him.
Negotiation of Ishmael’s lay share
Before the lay negotiation, Ishmael mentally decides that a 275th share of the voyage’s net profits is fair compensation for his existing seafaring skills, even though it is considered a very long (low-value) lay. Bildad then proposes a 777th lay, which Ishmael quickly realizes is an extremely low offer, as a 777th share of even a small profit is nearly worthless.
Dispute over Ishmael’s lay terms
Peleg rejects Bildad’s proposed 777th lay as an unfair swindle of Ishmael, insisting Ishmael be given a 300th lay instead. Bildad pushes back, arguing the higher share would deprive other widowed and orphaned part-owners of the ship of their due earnings, sparking a heated argument between the two owners that ends only after Peleg vents his rage and calms down.
Signing the ship’s articles
Once the lay terms are settled, Peleg prepares the ship’s articles, writes Ishmael’s 300th lay into the document, and Ishmael signs the papers to formally agree to join the Pequod’s crew for the upcoming whaling voyage.
Agreement to bring Queequeg aboard
Before leaving the cabin, Ishmael asks if he may bring his friend Queequeg, who has far more whaling experience than Ishmael, to join the crew as well. Peleg readily agrees, telling Ishmael to bring Queequeg the next day for assessment, with no further questions about his requested lay.
Inquiry about Captain Ahab
As Ishmael is leaving the ship, he realizes he has not yet met the Pequod’s captain, Ahab, and feels it is unwise to commit to the voyage without seeing the man who will command it. He turns back to ask Peleg where Captain Ahab can be found, expressing his desire to meet the captain before finalizing his commitment.
Peleg’s account of Captain Ahab
Peleg explains that Captain Ahab is currently staying at his home, appearing unwell though not actually sick, and rarely receives visitors. He describes Ahab as a talented, larger-than-life sailor who lost his leg to a whale on a previous voyage, leading to occasional moody, desperate behavior, but insists Ahab is a good man with a wife and young child, warning Ishmael not to judge him harshly for his strange reputation. Ishmael leaves with a mix of vague sympathy, quiet unease, and curiosity about the unseen captain.
CAPÍTULO 17. The Ramadan
As Queequeg’s Ramadan, or Fasting and Humiliation, was to continue all day, Ishmael chose not to disturb him till towards night-fall, cherishing the greatest respect towards everybody’s religious obligations, never mind how comical.
Ishmael’s Views on Religious Tolerance and Queequeg’s Ramadan Observance
Ishmael reflects that good Presbyterian Christians should be charitable in these things and not fancy themselves so vastly superior to other mortals, pagans and what not, because of their half-crazy conceits on these subjects. While Queequeg entertained the most absurd notions about Yojo and his Ramadan, Ishmael believes Queequeg thought he knew what he was about and seemed content, so he should be left to rest. He concludes that all are somehow dreadfully cracked about the head and sadly need mending.
Discovery of Queequeg’s Unresponsive Ramadan State
Towards evening, Ishmael went up to Queequeg’s room and knocked at the door, but there was no answer. The door was fastened inside, and despite calling softly through the key-hole, all remained silent. Alarmed and thinking Queequeg might have had an apoplectic fit, Ishmael ran to alert the chamber-maid, who revealed the door had been locked since morning with no sound heard. Mrs. Hussey soon appeared with her mustard-pot and vinegar-cruet, and together they discovered Queequeg’s harpoon was missing from its closet. The landlady cried that he had killed himself. When Ishmael tried to force the door open, Mrs. Hussey stopped him from breaking down her premises until producing a key from her pocket, but Queequeg’s supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within. Ishmael then took a running start and burst the door open with a prodigious noise.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.