interdependency within the crew, is the relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg. Ishmael, the stereotypical white Christian, was one of the few to accept others beliefs. His bonding with Queequeg beautifully illustrates the potential of man to live lovingly and acceptingly with his peers. “It was a humorously perilous business for both of us. For, before we proceed any further, it must be said that the monkey rope was fast at both ends; fast to Queequeg’s broad canvas belt, and fast to my [Ishmael’s] narrow leather one. So that for better or for worse, we two, for the time, were wedded; and should poor Queequeg sink to rise no more, then both usage and honor demanded, that instead of cutting the cord, it should drag me down in his wake. . . Queequeg was my own inseparable twin brother . . . while earnestly watching his motions, I seemed distinctly to perceive that my own individuality was now merged in a joint stock company of two; that my free will had received a mortal wound; and that another’s mistake and misfortune might plunge innocent me into unmerited disaster and death. . . still further pondering, I say, I saw that this situation of mine was the precise situation of every mortal that breathes; only inmost cases, he, one way or other, has this Siamese connexion with a plurality of other mortals. If your banker breaks, you snap; if your apothecary by mistake sends you poison in your pills, you die. True, you may say that, by exceeding caution, you may possibly escape these and the multitudinous other evil chances of life. But handle Queequeg’s monkey - rope heedfully as I would . . . Nor could I possibly forget that, do what I would, I only had management of one end of it.” ( Melville, 310 - 311) Along with proving that Ishmael and Queequeg were close enough that they were willing to die for each other, this passage shows how the interdependency of mankind is inevitable and how no one person ...
