Posted by:
Elder Berry
(
)
Date: July 09, 2013 12:47PM
Chapter 72: The Monkey-Rope
"Ishmael backtracks to explain how Queequeg initially inserts the blubber hook into the whale for the cutting-in. Ishmael, as Queequeg’s bowsman, ties the monkey-rope around his own waist, “wedding” himself to Queequeg, who is on the whale’s floating body trying to attach the hook. (In a footnote, we learn that only on the Pequod were the monkey and this holder actually tied together, an improvement introduced by Stubb, who found that it increases the reliability of the holder.) While Ishmael holds Queequeg, Tashtego and Daggoo brandish their whale-spades to keep the sharks away. When Dough-Boy, the steward, offers Queequeg some tepid ginger and water, the mates frown at the influence of pesky Temperance activists and make the steward bring him alcohol. The remainder of the ginger, a gift from “Aunt Charity,” a Nantucket matron, is thrown overboard."
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mobydick/section9.rhtmlThe man in a Mormon marriage is the person on the whale's back attempting to "hook" a good calling and election for them both.
The woman is wedding to this man and all her Mormon hopes are "tied" to him.
Stubb is "The Prophet" by whose authority this monkey rope of marriage gets the "sealing" by tying the woman to her man instead of just having her hold his rope.
Tashtego and Daggoo are the man's priesthood leaders and Mormon friends attempting to keep him from the sharks of sin.
Once the man is beyond his prime and beyond the task of hooking a priesthood prize, Aunt Charity never faileth. Tepid ginger till the end.
Anyway, I've been reading Moby Dick. Very interesting book.