第五十三章 The Gam.
This chapter explores the custom of “gamming” – the social meetings between whaling vessels at sea. It opens with an examination of why Captain Ahab refused to board another whaler despite apparently having the opportunity, before delving into the broader context of whaling vessel customs and the unique social practices that distinguish whalemen from other maritime professions.
Ahab’s Refusal to Board
The official reason given for Ahab’s decision not to board the whaler they had spoken was the threatening weather. However, the text suggests that even favorable conditions might not have induced him to visit, based on his subsequent conduct in similar situations. The true motivation appears to be that Ahab only sought association with other captains when he could extract useful information relevant to his singular obsession with hunting the white whale. He had no interest in mere social interaction unless it served his purpose.
Whaler Meeting Customs
Drawing a parallel between encounters in wilderness areas on land and meetings on the open sea, Melville argues that whaling vessels have the most natural reason to be sociable of all ships sailing separately. Just as travelers crossing the Pine Barrens or Salisbury Plain would exchange salutations and news, ships meeting at remote locations like Fanning’s Island or the King’s Mills would not merely hail each other but would come into close, friendly contact. This is especially expected when vessels share the same home port and their captains, officers, and crew members know each other personally, giving them shared domestic matters to discuss.
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