RE: Have You Thanked a Whale Today?
Squeeze! squeeze! squeeze! all the morning long; I squeezed that sperm till I myself almost melted into it; I squeezed that sperm till a strange sort of insanity came over me; and I found myself unwittingly squeezing my co-laborers’ hands in it, mistaking their hands for the gentle globules. Such an abounding, affectionate, friendly, loving feeling did this avocation beget; that at last I was continually squeezing their hands, and looking up into their eyes sentimentally; as much as to say,—Oh! my dear fellow beings, why should we longer cherish any social acerbities, or know the slightest ill-humor or envy! Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness. Moby-Dick Ch. 94
Such a great book, I re-read it last year.
It really lets you get into the mood of the age in a way no possible historian could take you there.
Exactly!
And the word arrangement is brilliant. At the same time poetic, almost melodic in a raw starkness .
He was without a doubt an extraordinarily gifted word-weaver.
Yeah. I remember hating it when I was forced to read it in high school. I think the really slow pace of reading and the endless analysis kills pretty much anything. It was written in plain English, but so many people were complaining that it was difficult. I get that with foreign language stuff or stuff that may as well be in a foreign language like Shakespeare or James Joyce.
Anyway, I remember https://steemwhale.io/ was a dollar well spent. Not sure if it is still working, maybe it sleeps during winter, but it was a fun way to use STeem.
Yes, that and honestly I believe being forced to read something, especially during those naturally rebellious teen years, makes the material less likely to be enjoyed.
#flashback lol! I'd forgotten about #steemwhale!
I too was forced to read it in school. You remind me that now is a perfect time as any to read it again. My mind and maturity is ready now. I shall appreciate it more. ☺️
I hope so. It worked for me, anyway. Happy reading!