Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

Stubb Awaits the Whale with Lit Pipe

While waiting for the whale to resurface, Stubb withdraws his pipe from his hatband to light it, taking a casual approach to the pause in the chase.

Tashtego Signals the Whale Chase

Tashtego, Stubb’s harpooneer, who has been staring fixedly windward, suddenly cries out in a hurry, signaling that the whale has been spotted and the crew should row again immediately.

Pursuit of the Sperm Whale

All four boats give chase to the spot of troubled, greenish-white water and scattered vapor where the whale is swimming beneath the surface. The whale moves quickly, and the boats row at full speed to keep up with the disturbed water, which flies forward like interblending bubbles borne down a rapid stream.

Flask’s Wild Antics and Stubb’s Cheerleading

Flask behaves wildly during the chase, shouting to his crew, promising them his Martha’s Vineyard plantation and family if they beach the whale, and even stamping on his hat and throwing it overboard in excitement. Stubb follows at a short distance, drawling humorous, teasing encouragement to his own crew, and jokes about Flask’s wild antics, calling them “fits.”

Ahab’s Fierce Commands to His Crew

Ahab gives fierce, intense, unprintable commands to his tiger-yellow crew, his expression stormy and murderous as he urges them forward in the chase, his words so extreme they are omitted by the narrator.

The Thrill of the First Whale Chase

The chase is a thrilling, awe-inspiring experience: the boats navigate violent, knife-edged waves, the crew rows with all their strength, and the Pequod bears down on the boats under full sail like a wild hen after her screaming brood. The experience is more intense and strange for the men than a raw recruit’s first battle or a dead man’s first encounter with a phantom in the afterlife.