Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Favorite Quote or Character

15 comments:

Mrs. Baird said...

Not going to lie, my favorite character is Queequeg.

I am impressed by how 'smart' he is. For example, he may not know how to use a wheelbarrow, but he knew when to let go of bad feelings in order to save a young hecklers life. Even though he is not as 'civilized' (Which I honestly feel is totally based on a individuals perception of civilized behavior.)as the other characters, Queequeg still is full of respect, personable, and just a plain good person all around. He isn't judgmental, and honestly, I think everyone who reads this should take a lesson or two from Queequeg. Including myself. :)

~Batty

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character is Queequeg because he is very polite, and his religious practices are hilarious. He is quick to befriend Ishmael, and is very sociable with him in bed. He was even kind enough to not eat him. His worship of the idol Yojo is ridiculous because he blindly follows the advice of an inanimate object. His fasting with Yojo on his head presents a very odd image. --callmedick

Mrs. Baird said...

Stuck between Queequeg and Starbuck. Queequeg's patience with and friendliness toward everyone is very admirable, as how quickly he forgives those who are rude to him (for example, the guy on the ship to Nantucket who insulted him. Jumping into the water to save someone who just insulted you, that takes heart!). And Starbuck...gave his name to the best coffee ever. ^_^

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character is Captain Ahab. He seems to be a really han'som' feller. I think his ancestors might even come from cleveland, dohn cha noe? Oi yah. He's a big brute like myself and tends to go a tad on the flat side of madness. If I were Ahab and that there Starbuck talked backed to me like that, I would most likely say "I mean what I said, Mark!" and take his tuner and smash it over my head. I'm tellin ya I would. Oi Yah.

Mike Misko

Mrs. Baird said...
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Mrs. Baird said...

I would have to say my favorite character is either Ishmael or Starbuck. So far anyway. I'm always drawn to the more intellectual characters and so Ishamel's thought process is very intriguing to me in how it flows and ebbs like a tide of knowledge. I also like Starbuck because of his character. He's the cautious, level-headed, andloyal one of the lot which is a welcome change from all the ridiculous characters going about on the ship.

~laballenablanca

Mrs. Baird said...

Hmmm...No one's done favorite quotes yet. Here are two of mine:

"And here, shipmates, is true and faithful repentence; not clamorous for pardon, but grateful for punishment." -Father Mapple

"For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness. Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease." -Ishmael

There're other cool ones, but having a hard time choosing...:)

-Essex Haunt

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character is Queequeg, I think he is hilarious. I am impressed that although he is uncivilized he seems to get through life great. He has found a deep friendship with Ishmael, which shows his kindness and gentleness. This contradicts his identity of a cannibal. These should teach us to not judge someone by their outward apperance, but by how they act and treat others.
-bon qui qui

Mrs. Baird said...
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Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite quote is by Father Mapple, chapter 49, page 48, "And if we obey God we must disobey outselves; and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists." Never have I thought of obeying God in this manner, yet is holds to be completely true. Every man is a sinner which is against God. Many of the sins we commit are our choice and we do them because we want to or at the time it feels good or right, but it really takes some effort to step back and resist temptation.

--Henry

Mrs. Baird said...

I'm posting again but this time with my favorite quote from the book so far: "Silence reigned over the before tumultuous but now deserted deck. An intense copper calm, like a universal lotus, was more and more unfolding its noiseless measureless leaves upon the sea" (339). I love this quote for its spectacular imagery. I also love it for how it really allows the reader to capture and immerse themselves in this moment as if they were there and witnessing it themselves.

~laballenablanca

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character is most likely Starbuck because he has such influence over Ahab. He said that he wouldn't cause a mutiny if Ahab refused to stop to fix the oil leak, but he wished that Ahab would stop hurting himself. This amazing power influenced Ahab to bend his way. Yes. The monomaniac listened to someone. Impressive.


-Snowflake

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character has to be Ahab. There is much ambiguity to his character. Although he is mad, he shows some heart when allows Pip to stay in his cabin. Then, again he kicks Stubb for no reason and calls the carpenter an idiot. Ahab is hard to figure out and that is what makes him interesting.

Jack Sparrow

Mrs. Baird said...

My favorite character would probably be Starbuck. He seems to have more morals and sanity than some other members of the crew. He wanted what was best for the ship, he didn't want to pursue Ahab's quest for revenge, and he didn't want Stubb to hurt the old whale. I like his values and wish he didn't have to die with the ship. It's sad that he has a wife and boy back home now without him.
Peter Coffin

Mrs. Baird said...

My Favorite Quotes:

"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 priciple to prevent me fom stepping into the street and methodicallt knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can"(1)

"For as in this world, head winds are far more prevalant than winds from astern (that is, if you never violate the Pythagorian maxim), so for the most part the Commodore on the quarter-deck gets his atmosphere at second hand from the sailors on the forecastle"(6) -it's just funny

"All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with falters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life"(408)