Moby Dick Lesson Plan

How does chapter 81 play into our theme of the whaling vessel as a microcosm of society?

After a long hiatus interrupting the progression of the novel, Melville returns to the main narrative as the Pequod meets with another ship. This chapter creates greater momentum than any of the recent chapters, as the Jungfrau becomes a competitor with the Pequod in pursuit of a whale. This competition exists partially upon lines of nationality, as shown by Ishmael's dismissal of the German fleet, and elicits a metaphorical comparison between the ships and the countries that they represent.

Each ship is a microcosm that can represent different segments of society, and in this...