Moby-Dick · Chapter
Going Aboard explained
In the misty dawn, Ishmael and Queequeg head for the Pequod.
What happens
In the misty dawn, Ishmael and Queequeg head for the Pequod. They are intercepted by the mysterious Elijah, who asks cryptic, ominous questions about shadowy figures boarding the ship. Unsettled, they proceed and find the ship quiet, with only a sleeping rigger in the forecastle. After a comical interaction where Queequeg uses the sleeper as a seat, the rigger wakes and confirms the ship sails that day with Captain Ahab, who remains secluded in his cabin.
Themes in this chapter
Interpretation and Perception
Elijah's cryptic questions and the uncertain dawn light create ambiguity. Ishmael doubts his own senses about seeing men board, highlighting the difficulty of discerning truth from illusion.
Fate, Free Will, and Predestination
Elijah's ominous warnings and Ahab's hidden presence create a sense of inescapable doom, as if the voyage's tragic end is already being foreshadowed.
Race and Cultural Difference
Queequeg's anecdote about using people as furniture in his country provides a stark, humorous contrast to Western customs, emphasizing cultural relativism.
Characters to notice
- Ishmael
Narrates the eerie boarding process; is perturbed by Elijah's warnings and the ship's unnatural quiet.
- Queequeg
Accompanies Ishmael; displays cultural differences by using the sleeping rigger as a seat and sharing stories of his homeland.
- Elijah
Appears suddenly to deliver frantic, ambiguous warnings about the voyage and asks if Ishmael saw shadowy men board the Pequod.
- Captain Ahab
Mentioned as having come aboard; remains invisibly secluded in his cabin, establishing an aura of mystery and foreboding.
- Starbuck
Mentioned by the rigger as being 'astir' on deck; described as a good, pious, and lively chief mate.
Key passages
“"Did ye see anything looking like men going towards that ship a while ago?"”
Elijah asks if they saw shadowy figures boarding the Pequod.
Creates mystery and foreboding about the crew and voyage.
“"in his land... the king, chiefs, and great people generally, were in the custom of fattening some of the lower orders for ottomans"”
Queequeg explains that in his country, important people fatten commoners to use as living furniture.
Illustrates cultural difference through a shocking, humorous custom.
“"Meanwhile Captain Ahab remained invisibly enshrined within his cabin."”
Captain Ahab stays hidden and secluded in his quarters.
Builds anticipation and mystery around the captain's character and presence.