As said before,
chapter 54 'the town-ho's story' is quit a deviation from its previous and
following chapters. The sudden change in the narrative demands farther attention.
The story, as I see it, is a sophisticated metaphor
that sheds a light on the historical consciousness of
class struggle that took place before the American civil war. The whale
embodies a higher, metaphysical will and is its executer. The plot describes a
confrontation between two men – Steelkilt ,a commoner, the representative of
the working class, and Radney, the mate, that seems to reflect
the emerging bourgeoisie class. Steelkilt holds a distinct social awareness and
in that sense takes any offense as a blow to his pride - personal and social.
Radney the mate, takes the rule of the 'boss' that oppresses the soul and the
free will of the workers and tries to objectify them.
On board,
the conflict ends with the defeat of steelkilt, caused by his lack of knowledge in channeling
social rage to a class struggle, but at sea, the power is at the hands of the phantom
(god perhaps) and he summons the whale to do justice and devour radney.
Quite a
binarical thinking, I know, but it seems to fall into place, no?
CLR James, I think, would certainly agree!
ReplyDelete