The homoeroticism in the book feels totally natural in the book. Ishmael's relationship with Queequeg early in the book, with all that cuddling and whatnot!
It is amazing, the book prefigures cubism, Melville seems to be looking at the subject from all angles at once. It is mentioned in the intro to the edition that I have that Melville wrote the narrative core first, then began to insert the various parts that emerged from his research into the story. The effect is something like reading a collage.
Interesting to think about how our perception of whales has changed so much. From monsters of the deep to gentle giants in the span of one hundred years. I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that whales were so difficult to see properly in bygone years; now, with underwater cameras and such, we have a very clear idea of what they look like. The imagination of whalers had painted them as horrible creatures bent on the destruction of those humans that dared traverse the open seas.
I read the first chapter of the book of Jonah for the first time over the weekend. Surprised how much the story was glossed over and treated rather quickly. Melville's treatment of the Jonah story is so much more rich.
Anyone ever read Thomas Mann's Joseph and his Three Brothers? I may have a go at that one next. The Bible is so much more interesting outside the shadow of the church!
