Informative Narrative

The multiple chapters in which Ishmael chronicles simple facts regarding the process of whaling provides an interesting switch from the strong scenes of character development in previous chapters. Chapter 32, for example, is devoted entirely to a description of classifications of whales. This information is not essential to the main plot of the novel, only providing trivial background details. Why then, does the author choose to include so much writing to this information? This information, while not appearing crucial, creates a sharp contrast between real human interactions and feeling, and the cold logic of science. One of the main points of the novel is the grudge held by Ahab against the whale. The author, by providing such detailed information on classification, creates the sense that the whale is just a specimen subject to scientific study. However, the real idea is that this information is meaningless, and that the whale, while classified by science, is a creature locked in a battle of will against a man, a battle which can't be accurately depicted by whale classifications.