Ship’s Departure and Cold Christmas Night at Sea
Once the anchor is raised and sails are set, the Pequod glides away from shore, encountering a frigid, short Christmas night at sea. Freezing spray coats the ship’s hull like polished armor, large icicles hang from the bows like elephant tusks, and the ship soon plows through the stormy, icy waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Bildad’s Psalm Singing and Narrator’s Hopeful Reflections
Bildad takes the first watch as pilot, and his steady singing of a hopeful psalm about verdant, peaceful fields beyond a flooded river brings the narrator unexpected comfort amid the harsh, cold, stormy conditions. Despite his wet clothing and the perilous weather, the narrator feels a sense of hope that the long voyage will end in pleasant, idyllic destinations.
Pilots’ Emotional Farewell and Final Departure
Once the ship has gained enough offing that port pilots are no longer required, Bildad is extremely reluctant to leave: he has thousands of dollars invested in the Pequod, knows the elderly Captain Ahab is facing a dangerous, years-long voyage, and paces the deck repeatedly, returning to the cabin multiple times for final goodbyes. Peleg is more stoic but also emotional, and he hurries Bildad into the waiting pilot boat after exchanging final well-wishes and practical reminders for the crew about provisions, ship maintenance, and conduct during the voyage.
Ship’s Final Plunge into the Atlantic
The pilot boat and Pequod drift apart in the cold night wind, a screaming gull flies overhead, and the crew gives three heavy-hearted cheers. The Pequod then plunges blindly into the vast, lone Atlantic Ocean to begin its whaling voyage.
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