Doubloon Perspectives

We discussed this topic earlier in class, but I wanted to take a minute to examine it in closer detail.  The way each character described the doubloon directly correlated to their own perspectives on life itself.  While several of the characters in the novel gave their descriptions of what the doubloon looked like and represented, I would like to take a minute and focus of just those of the officers of the Pequod, including Stubb, Starbuck, and Ahab.

Stubb’s description of the doubloon can best be described as indifferent.  At first he notices nothing in particular about this doubloon from any other he has seen in his life.  Upon closer examination, he is intrigued, and begins to go about describing the coins by making comparisons to constellations in reference to his almanac.  Contrary to Stubb’s very black and white perspective of the doubloon, Starbuck delves much deeper, taking a religious appreciation of the coin.  He compares its details to the Trinity and makes reference to Belshazzar, the Chaldean king found in the Old Testament.

In sharp contrast to Starbuck, Ahab believes the coin as an image of himself.  He calls out details such as courageous, undaunted, and victorious specifically. What I find interesting is when Ahab says, “three peaks as proud as Lucifer.” We have established that the captain is referring to himself when describing the coin, and here we find Ahab comparing his pride to that of Satan.  In a way its almost as if Ahab is finally realizing the evil behind his motivations.  Starbuck cancels this out with his more positive outlook of things, while Stubb remains indifferent to the matter, something that is projected into the rest of the novel as well.