Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Starbuck and Stubb
Moby-Dick is filled with relationships between conflicting characters. The novel begins with the friendship formed between Ishmael and Queequeg, two very different people coming together despite their conflicting views. Perhaps the most differing personas exist within the crew of the Pequod. Ahab and his first mate Starbuck exist as figures relying on opposite sets of spiritual values. Ahab bases his world around darkness and revenge, focusing solely on the white whale. Starbuck, on the other hand, maintains strong faith in a higher power. His sense of hope and faith guides him through the perils of the sea. The interaction between the two is limited, as Starbuck seems to distance himself from confrontation with the deranged captain. Stubb, the lead harpooner of the ship, differs dramatically from both character. Where as Starbuck stays away from action, Stubb is always in the middle of it. Starbuck keeps his faith through any situation, while Stubb feels as though death is always inevitable. Ishmael notes the difference between the two, noting that each's personality makes them better at their respective jobs. Starbuck's calm demeanor makes him a good leader, while Stubb's fearlessness makes him the ideal harpooner. Stubb and Ahab differ in their ideas on how to interact with the world around them. Ahab's monomania leads him to believe he has the ability to control the world around him, while Stubb seems to leave his fate up to the mercy of the sea.
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I think that this post is a good representation of the opposing themes of the book. We’ve talked a lot about free will versus fate in terms of Moby Dick and Ahab’s fate, but I think it’s interesting that you apply these opposites to the relationship of the characters. This may be a stretch, but perhaps Stubb and Starbuck can show the two conflicting sides that Ahab can take. Ahab almost always would “side” with Stubb, who would say to pursue the whale because it is Ahab’s fate, regardless of how dangerous it may be and the warning signs. It does not matter to Stubb or Ahab whether they die hunting Moby Dick, they have accepted that they will kill them or die trying.
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