can control it. “ . . . Melville asserts that life is interwoven, whether it be one human connected to another human or one action connected to another action; everything it ultimately interdependent” (Chiu, 2). This dependency is how the Pequod functioned. Every crew member, although each individual was vastly different from the next, did their part in trying to assure the success of the Pequod. The interdependency visible on the ship, transfers over to show the counterpane of humanity.The most diverse, single character by far in Moby Dick is a “dark - complexioned harpooneer” (Melville, 33) named Queequeg. While he remains as only one physical body, he represents a vast number of cultures all at once. He is first introduced to the reader as the man Ishmael (the narrator of the story) will have to share a bed with for the night. At their first encounter, Queequeg is portrayed as a horrifying savage and “cannibal” (Melville, 37) who seems ready and willing to attack Ishmael. “ . . . but what to make of this head-peddling purple rascal . . . his chest and arms . . . parts of him were checkered with the same squares as his face; his back too, was all over the same dark squares; still more, his very legs were marked . . . It was now quite plain that he must be some abominable savage or other . . . I quaked to think of it. A peddler of heads too - perhaps the heads of his own brothers. He might take a fancy to mine - heavens! look at that tomahawk” (Melville, 40-41)! Immediately, Queequeg is portrayed as someone to fear. However, this first impression is quickly abolished by the rapid transformation of Queequeg the savage, to Queequeg, the noble and trustworthy friend. In the chapter entitled “Biographical” (70), the reader is surprised to find that Queequeg is actually a prince, with a Christian family that included “His father . . . a High Chief, a King; his uncle a High P...
