# LXXIII: Stubb and Flask Kill a Right Whale; and Then Have a Talk Over Him explained — Moby-Dick > Chapter companion for Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. ## What happens After capturing a sperm whale, the Pequod's crew is ordered to also hunt a right whale. Stubb and Flask successfully kill one. As they prepare the carcass, they discuss the superstitious reason for the hunt—a belief that hanging a sperm whale's head on one side and a right whale's head on the other will prevent the ship from capsizing, a notion they attribute to Fedallah. Their conversation turns to Fedallah's sinister, possibly diabolical nature, his relationship with Ahab, and Stubb's boastful threats against him. The chapter ends with both heads secured to the ship's sides, counterbalancing each other, while Fedallah and Ahab are observed in a moment of ominous connection. ## Themes in this chapter ### Religion, Spirituality & Superstition The entire hunt is driven by the superstitious belief (attributed to Fedallah) that balancing a sperm whale head with a right whale head prevents capsizing. Stubb and Flask's conversation frames Fedallah as a literal devil, invoking folkloric and religious imagery of pacts and demonic influence. ### Interpretation and Perception Stubb and Flask attempt to interpret Fedallah's enigmatic nature and motives, weaving a narrative of diabolism from his appearance and actions. The final image of the blended shadows of Ahab and Fedallah invites multiple interpretations of their fused identity and fate. ### Madness and Sanity The crew's compliance with Ahab's superstitious order, and the officers' lurid speculation about a demonic pact, reflect the growing irrational and fevered atmosphere aboard the Pequod, blurring lines between pragmatic seamanship and delusion. ## Character check-ins ### Stubb Leads the kill of the right whale with Flask; expresses disgust at the 'ignoble' creature; shares superstitious lore and a deep, fearful suspicion of Fedallah, whom he believes to be the devil, and boasts of how he would confront him. ### Flask Assists Stubb in killing the right whale; questions Stubb about the purpose of the hunt and the nature of Fedallah, showing a mix of curiosity and apprehension about the mysterious harpooneer. ### Fedallah His reported superstition about the two whale heads motivates the hunt; Stubb and Flask extensively discuss his diabolical appearance and possible pact with Ahab; he is later seen calmly eyeing the right whale's head and his own hand lines, blending with Ahab's shadow. ### Captain Ahab His order initiates the right whale hunt; his relationship with Fedallah is the subject of Stubb and Flask's speculative talk about a bargain or pact; he stands so that Fedallah occupies his shadow, symbolically linking them. ### Moby Dick Implicitly present as the ultimate object of Ahab's 'hard bent' quest, mentioned in the context of Stubb's theory that Fedallah is trying to get Ahab to 'surrender' the White Whale. ## Key lines > "did you never hear that the ship which but once has a Sperm Whale’s head hoisted on her starboard side, and at the same time a Right Whale’s on the larboard; did you never hear, Stubb, that that ship can never afterwards capsize?" Flask recounts a superstitious belief that hanging both a sperm whale head and a right whale head on opposite sides of a ship makes it uncapsizable. _Highlights the blend of nautical practice and迷信 that drives the chapter's action._ > "I take that Fedallah to be the devil in disguise." Stubb declares he believes Fedallah is the devil hiding in human form. _Demonstrates the crew's perception of Fedallah as a supernatural, malevolent force._ > "the old man is hard bent after that White Whale, and the devil there is trying to come round him, and get him to swap away his silver watch, or his soul, or something of that sort, and then he’ll surrender Moby Dick." Stubb suggests Ahab is obsessed with the White Whale and that Fedallah (the devil) is trying to strike a bargain for Ahab's soul in exchange for Moby Dick. _Frames Ahab's quest in Faustian terms, emphasizing themes of obsession and damnation._ > As before, the Pequod steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale’s head, now, by the counterpoise of both heads, she regained her even keel; though sorely strained, you may well believe. The ship, tilted by the weight of the sperm whale's head, was balanced back to level by hoisting the right whale's head on the opposite side, though under great strain. _Provides a physical metaphor for philosophical or psychological balance, referenced in the Locke/Kant analogy that follows._ > Meantime, Fedallah was calmly eyeing the right whale’s head, and ever and anon glancing from the deep wrinkles there to the lines in his own hand. And Ahab chanced so to stand, that the Parsee occupied his shadow... Fedallah studied the whale's head and the lines on his own palm, while standing in a position where his form filled Ahab's shadow, making their shadows seem one. _A powerful visual symbol of Fedallah's influence and the merging of his fate with Ahab's._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/lxxiii-stubb-and-flask-kill-a-right-whale-and-then-have-a-talk-over-him - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moby_dick_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters