Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

Jonah’s Confession

The lot falls upon Jonah, and the mariners furiously mob him with questions about his occupation, origin, country, and people. But Jonah’s behavior is remarkable: the eager mariners ask who he is and where from, yet they receive not only answers to those questions but also an unsolicited answer forced from him by the hard hand of God upon him. He cries, “I am a Hebrew,” and then confesses, “I fear the Lord the God of Heaven who hath made the sea and the dry land!” His confession makes the mariners more appalled, yet still pitiful. Though Jonah is wretched and knows the darkness of his deserts, he has not yet supplicated God for mercy; instead, he cries out to the sailors to take him and cast him into the sea, for he knows the tempest is for his sake.

Cast Into the Sea

The sailors mercifully turn from Jonah’s plea and seek by other means to save the ship, but all in vain. The indignant gale howls louder, and at last, with one hand raised invokingly to God, the mariners reluctantly lay hold of Jonah. He is taken up as an anchor and dropped into the sea. Instantly, an oily calmness floats out from the east, and the sea is still as Jonah carries down the gale with him, leaving smooth water behind. He goes down in the whirling heart of the masterless commotion, scarce heeding when he drops seething into the yawning jaws awaiting him, and the whale shoots-to all his ivory teeth upon his prison like so many white bolts.

Swallowed by the Whale

From the fish’s belly, Jonah prayed unto the Lord. But Father Mapple urges the congregation to observe his prayer and learn a weighty lesson. Sinful as he is, Jonah does not weep and wail for direct deliverance; he feels his dreadful punishment is just. He leaves all his deliverance to God, contenting himself with the fact that, spite of all his pains and pangs, he will still look toward His holy temple. Here is true and faithful repentance—not clamorous for pardon, but grateful for punishment. God was pleased with this conduct, as shown in the eventual deliverance of Jonah from the sea and the whale. Father Mapple places Jonah before the congregation not as a model for sin, but as a model for repentance: sin not, but if you do, take heed to repent of it like Jonah.