Moby-Dick · Chapter
Midnight Aloft.—Thunder and Lightning explained
During a thunderstorm, Tashtego is aloft on the main-topsail yard, securing it with new lashings.
What happens
During a thunderstorm, Tashtego is aloft on the main-topsail yard, securing it with new lashings. He mutters to himself, complaining about the thunder and expressing a desire for rum instead.
Themes in this chapter
Man vs. Nature
Tashtego's solitary struggle against the storm's elements high on the yardarm exemplifies the crew's constant battle with the natural world.
Isolation and Community
Tashtego is physically isolated and alone in his task atop the mast, his muttered words unheard by the community below, highlighting the sailor's solitary moments even within the ship's society.
Characters to notice
- Tashtego
Working on the yard during a storm, his muttered complaints blend practical labor with a superstitious or weary reaction to the tempest.
Key passages
“"Um, um, um. Stop that thunder! Plenty too much thunder up here. What’s the use of thunder?"”
Tashtego grumbles, telling the thunder to stop as there's already too much of it and questioning its purpose.
Shows a sailor's weary, pragmatic, and slightly superstitious engagement with a violent storm.
“"We don’t want thunder; we want rum; give us a glass of rum."”
He states they desire rum, not thunder, and demands a drink.
Highlights a common sailor's desire for comfort and courage in the face of danger, contrasting the supernatural storm with a earthly solace.