"My Sailor Mate, We Met By Trick of Fate."

I am once again reading Moby Dick by Herman Melville. I probably should have just checked the book out from the library. Because, I bought Moby Dick from a bookstore, I start to read it, then, I'll go to the library and see some interesting book that I just have to read, and, poor Moby Dick gets thrown to the side. So, I've read the first four chapters about five or six time, but, the last four I've only read maybe once. When reading the first chapter again, I completely fell in love with Ishmael. It's too bad he's only a fictional character. Anyways, here's a summary of the best parts of Moby Dick:the first three chapters.I personally was hooked by the first paragraph. I see so much of myself in Ishmael. Not that I'm a sailor, but our thought process is the same.   "Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. "Then, in chapter two, he talks about how many people go to the docks and shores of where he lives. He then asks the question "Tell me, does the magnetic virtue of the needles of the compasses of all those ships attract them thither?" Ishmael answers his question by talking about the various proofs of the magnetic pull of water.

Not to let us think he would go to the sea as a passenger or some decorated captain, he tells us that he only goes to sea as a common sailor. Being a sailor on the deck is healthier than being a captain or officer that spends most of his time inside, sedentary. He doesn't care that he will be ordered around. "What of it, if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom and sweep down the decks? What does that indignity amount to, weighed, I mean, in the scales of the New Testament? Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who ain't a slave? Tell me that. Well, then, however the old sea-captains may order me about - however they may thump and punch me about, I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is all right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way - either in a physical or metaphysical point of view, that is; and so the universal thump is passed round, and all hands should rub each other's shoulder-blades, and be content. "
Finally he explains why he doesn't go to sea as a passenger. "Again, I always go to sea as a sailor, because they make a point of paying me for my trouble, whereas they never pay passengers a single penny that I ever heard of. On the contrary, passengers themselves must pay. And there is all the difference in the world between paying and being paid."  There are so many more quotes that I love. But, I know I don't have all day and you don't either. . Moby Dick is such a wonderful mix of adventure and philosophy. There are many treasures to be found in this book.  Next week or so, there will be another Moby Dick inspired post with some other interesting posts on different topics. Stay Posted. :) By-The-Way, I'm interested in what book character you particularly relate to. Please let me know because I love literature referrals. (*thanks Agent0017 *) XD
To Conclude,  French Navy by Camera Obscura (my absolute number one band). I might of  posted it before on Emma's Picnic, but its perfect for the post because it is about a relationship with a sailor. Cute fact (I think), the couple in the video are now engaged, even though, in the video a break-up is implied. I hope you enjoy it.


Have a  wondertastic weekend. Much thanks for reading. Many many hugs and warm feelings. xoxo Briee