Queequeg
Queequeg is one of my favorite characters so far, partly because of some of my friends who took this course and read moby dick told me stories of Queequeg, and he seemed so foreign a character, but mixed with this surprisingly compassionate and kind persona, makes Queequeg such an important character. Queequeg leads us to the prejudice that Ishmael has to conquer because my reaction (had I not already heard of Queequeg) was similar to Ishmaels, which he (and I) end up feeling bad about, which is an interesting idea to observe.
I feel that Queequeg is a very important part in Ishmael’s “conversion” in tolerating other religions. In the very beginning of Moby Dick we read about Ishmael’s experience of walking into an African American church and feeling embarrassed and out of place. He then sees Queequeg in the Christian church when he attends mass and realizes that even though Queequeg has different beliefs, he is educating himself on other religions. Ishmael respects that and wants to learn to do the same.
I also like Queequeg because of the dynamic his relationship with Ishmael. In addition to the fact that Ishmael uses him to become more religiously tolerant, and the idea that Melville uses Queequeg to encourage tolerance for other peoples, Queequeg and Ishmael have a relationship that calls into question underlying homosexuality. Melville would have been an exceptionally early author to write about homosexuality, and yet Queequeg and Ishmael’s friendship is almost unnaturally close. On multiple occasions, Melville describes one or the other as laying wifelike, as they share a bed. I think it is important to notice this relationship, and look for deeper significance between the two from Melville.
Hi Daniel, I quite like Queequeg as well. I found it particularly intresting how Ishmael changes his perspective about his new friend, stating that “[y]ou cannot hide the soul” under tattoos and appearances. Queequeg’s character transition reminds me of Melville’s descriptions of the Typees and how they were depicted as more peaceful than the Europeans. I am excited to find out about how Queequeg and Ishmael’s friendship develops throughout the novel. Will they remain friends? Or will their friendship be torn at sea?