CHAPTER42TheWhitenessoftheWhale

whatthewhitewhalewastoahab,hasbeenhinted;what,attimes,hewastome,asyetremainsunsaid.

asidefromthosemoreobviousconsiderationstouchingmobydick,whichcouldnotbutoccasionallyawakeninanyman'ssoulsomealarm,therewasanotherthought,orrathervague,namelesshorrorconcerninghim,whichattimesbyitsintensitycompletelyoverpoweredalltherest;andyetsomysticalandwellnighineffablewasit,thatialmostdespairofputtingitinacomprehensibleform.itwasthewhitenessofthewhalethataboveallthingsappalledme.buthowcanihopetoexplainmyselfhere;andyet,insomedim,randomway,explainmyselfimust,elseallthesechaptersmightbenaught.

thoughinmanynaturalobjects,whitenessrefininglyenhancesbeauty,asifimpartingsomespecialvirtueofitsown,asinmarbles,japonicas,andpearls;andthoughvariousnationshaveinsomewayrecognisedacertainroyalpreeminenceinthishue;eventhebarbaric,grandoldkingsofpeguplacingthetitle"lordofthewhiteelephants"abovealltheirothermagniloquentascriptionsofdominion;andthemodernkingsofsiamunfurlingthesamesnow-whitequadrupedintheroyalstandard;andthehanoverianflagbearingtheonefigureofasnow-whitecharger;andthegreataustrianempire,c?sarian,heirtooverlordingrome,havingfortheimperialcolourthesameimperialhue;andthoughthispre-eminenceinitappliestothehumanraceitself,givingthewhitemanidealmastershipovereveryduskytribe;andthough,besides,allthis,whitenesshasbeenevenmadesignificantofgladness,foramongtheromansawhitestonemarkedajoyfulday;andthoughinothermortalsympathiesandsymbolizings,thissamehueismadetheemblemofmanytouching,noblethings—theinnocenceofbrides,thebenignityofage;thoughamongtheredmenofamericathegivingofthewhitebeltofwampumwasthedeepestpledgeofhonor;thoughinmanyclimes,whitenesstypifiesthemajestyofjusticeintheermineofthejudge,andcontributestothedailystateofkingsandqueensdrawnbymilk-whitesteeds;thougheveninthehighermysteriesofthemostaugustreligionsithasbeenmadethesymbolofthedivinespotlessnessandpower;bythepersianfireworshippers,thewhiteforkedflambeingheldtheholiestonthealtar;andinthegreekmythologies,greatjovehimselfbeingmadeincarnateinasnow-whitebull;andthoughtothenobleiroquois,themidwintersacrificeofthesacredwhitedogwasbyfartheholiestfestivaloftheirtheology,thatspotless,faithfulcreaturebeingheldthepurestenvoytheycouldsendtothegreatspiritwiththeannualtidingsoftheirownfidelity;andthoughdirectlyfromthelatinwordforwhite,allchristianpriestsderivethenameofonepartoftheirsacredvesture,thealbortunic,wornbeneaththecassock;andthoughamongtheholypompsoftheromishfaith,whiteisspeciallyemployedinthecelebrationofthepassionofourlord;thoughinthevisionofst.john,whiterobesaregiventotheredeemed,andthefour-and-twentyeldersstandclothedinwhitebeforethegreatwhitethrone,andtheholyonethatsitteththerewhitelikewool;yetforalltheseaccumulatedassociations,withwhateverissweet,andhonorable,andsublime,thereyetlurksanelusivesomethingintheinnermostideaofthishue,whichstrikesmoreofpanictothesoulthanthatrednesswhichaffrightsinblood.

thiselusivequalityitis,whichcausesthethoughtofwhiteness,whendivorcedfrommorekindlyassociations,andcoupledwithanyobjectterribleinitself,toheightenthatterrortothefurthestbounds.witnessthewhitebearofthepoles,andthewhitesharkofthetropics;whatbuttheirsmooth,flakywhitenessmakesthemthetranscendenthorrorstheyare?thatghastlywhitenessitiswhichimpartssuchanabhorrentmildness,evenmoreloathsomethanterrific,tothedumbgloatingoftheiraspect.sothatnotthefierce-fangedtigerinhisheraldiccoatcansoercourageasthewhite-shroudedbearorshark.[1]

asforthewhiteshark,thewhiteglidingghostlinessofreposeinthatcreature,whenbeheldinhisordinarymoods,strangelytallieswiththesamequalityinthepolarquadruped.thispeculiarityismostvividlyhitbythefrenchinthenametheybestowuponthatfish.theromishmassforthedeadbeginswith"requiemeternam"(eternalrest),whencerequiemdenominatingthemassitself,andanyotherfuneralmusic.now,inallusiontothewhite,silentstillnessofdeathinthisshark,andthemilddeadlinessofhishabits,thefrenchcallhimrequin.

bethinktheeofthealbatross,whencecomethosecloudsofspiritualwondermentandpaledread,inwhichthatwhitephantomsailsinallimaginations?notcoleridgefirstthrewthatspell;butgod'sgreat,unflatteringlaureate,nature[2]

iassert,then,thatinthewondrousbodilywhitenessofthebirdchieflylurksthesecretofthespell;atruththemoreevincedinthis,thatbyasolecismoftermstherearebirdscalledgreyalbatrosses;andtheseihavefrequentlyseen,butneverwithsuchemotionsaswhenibeheldtheantarcticfowl.

buthowhadthemysticthingbeencaught?whisperitnot,andiwilltell;withatreacheroushookandline,asthefowlfloatedonthesea.atlastthecaptainmadeapostmanofit;tyingalettered,leatherntallyrounditsneck,withtheship'stimeandplace;andthenlettingitescape.butidoubtnot,thatleatherntally,meantforman,wastakenoffinheaven,whenthewhitefowlflewtojointhewing-folding,theinvoking,andadoringcherubim!

mostfamousinourwesternannalsandindiantraditionsisthatofthewhitesteedoftheprairies;amagnificentmilk-whitecharger,large-eyed,small-headed,bluff-chested,andwiththedignityofathousandmonarchsinhislofty,overscorningcarriage.hewastheelectedxerxesofvastherdsofwildhorses,whosepasturesinthosedayswereonlyfencedbytherockymountainsandthealleghanies.attheirflamingheadhewestwardtroopeditlikethatchosenstarwhicheveryeveningleadsonthehostsoflight.theflashingcascadeofhismane,thecurvingcometofhistail,investedhimwithhousingsmoreresplendentthangoldandsilver-beaterscouldhavefurnishedhim.amostimperialandarchangelicalapparitionofthatunfallen,westernworld,whichtotheeyesoftheoldtrappersandhuntersrevivedthegloriesofthoseprimevaltimeswhenadamwalkedmajesticasagod,bluff-browedandfearlessasthismightysteed.whethermarchingamidhisaidesandmarshalsinthevanofcountlesscohortsthatendlesslystreameditovertheplains,likeanohio;orwhetherwithhiscircumambientsubjectsbrowsingallaroundatthehorizon,thewhitesteedgallopinglyreviewedthemwithwarmnostrilsreddeningthroughhiscoolmilkiness;inwhateveraspecthepresentedhimself,alwaystothebravestindianshewastheobjectoftremblingreverenceandawe.norcanitbequestionedfromwhatstandsonlegendaryrecordofthisnoblehorse,thatitwashisspiritualwhitenesschiefly,whichsoclothedhimwithdivineness;andthatthisdivinenesshadthatinitwhich,thoughcommandingworship,atthesametimeenforcedacertainnamelessterror.

butthereareotherinstanceswherethiswhitenesslosesallthataccessoryandstrangeglorywhichinvestsitinthewhitesteedandalbatross.

whatisitthatinthealbinomansopeculiarlyrepelsandoftenshockstheeye,asthatsometimesheisloathedbyhisownkithandkin!itisthatwhitenesswhichinvestshim,athingexpressedbythenamehebears.thealbinoisaswellmadeasothermen—hasnosubstantivedeformity—andyetthismereaspectofall-pervadingwhitenessmakeshimmorestrangelyhideousthantheugliestabortion.whyshouldthisbeso?

nor,inquiteotheraspects,doesnatureinherleastpalpablebutnotthelessmaliciousagencies,failtoenlistamongherforcesthiscrowningattributeoftheterrible.fromitssnowyaspect,thegauntletedghostofthesouthernseashasbeendenominatedthewhitesquall.nor,insomehistoricinstances,hastheartofhumanmaliceomittedsopotentanauxiliary.howwildlyitheightenstheeffectofthatpassageinfroissart,when,maskedinthesnowysymboloftheirfaction,thedesperatewhitehoodsofghentmurdertheirbailiffinthemarket-place!

nor,insomethings,doesthecommon,hereditaryexperienceofallmankindfailtobearwitnesstothesupernaturalismofthishue.itcannotwellbedoubted,thattheonevisiblequalityintheaspectofthedeadwhichmostappalsthegazer,isthemarblepallorlingeringthere;asifindeedthatpallorwereasmuchlikethebadgeofconsternationintheotherworld,asofmortaltrepidationhere.andfromthatpallorofthedead,weborrowtheexpressivehueoftheshroudinwhichwewrapthem.noreveninoursuperstitionsdowefailtothrowthesamesnowymantleroundourphantoms;allghostsrisinginamilk-whitefog—yea,whiletheseterrorsseizeus,letusadd,thateventhekingofterrors,whenpersonifiedbytheevangelist,ridesonhispallidhorse.

therefore,inhisothermoods,symbolizewhatevergrandorgraciousthinghewillbywhiteness,nomancandenythatinitsprofoundestidealizedsignificanceitcallsupapeculiarapparitiontothesoul.

butthoughwithoutdissentthispointbefixed,howismortalmantoaccountforit?toanalyseit,wouldseemimpossible.canwe,then,bythecitationofsomeofthoseinstanceswhereinthisthingofwhiteness—thoughforthetimeeitherwhollyoringreatpartstrippedofalldirectassociationscalculatedtoimparttoitaughtfearful,butnevertheless,isfoundtoexertoverusthesamesorcery,howevermodified;—canwethushopetolightuponsomechancecluetoconductustothehiddencauseweseek?

letustry.butinamatterlikethis,subtletyappealstosubtlety,andwithoutimaginationnomancanfollowanotherintothesehalls.andthough,doubtless,someatleastoftheimaginativeimpressionsabouttobepresentedmayhavebeensharedbymostmen,yetfewperhapswereentirelyconsciousofthematthetime,andthereforemaynotbeabletorecallthemnow.

whytothemanofuntutoredideality,whohappenstobebutlooselyacquaintedwiththepeculiarcharacteroftheday,doesthebarementionofwhitsuntidemarshalinthefancysuchlong,dreary,speechlessprocessionsofslow-pacingpilgrims,down-castandhoodedwithnew-fallensnow?or,totheunread,unsophisticatedprotestantofthemiddleamericanstates,whydoesthepassingmentionofawhitefriarorawhitenun,evokesuchaneyelessstatueinthesoul?

orwhatisthereapartfromthetraditionsofdungeonedwarriorsandkings(whichwillnotwhollyaccountforit)thatmakesthewhitetoweroflondontellsomuchmorestronglyontheimaginationofanuntravelledamerican,thanthoseotherstoriedstructures,itsneighbors—thebywardtower,oreventhebloody?andthosesublimertowers,thewhitemountainsofnewhampshire,whence,inpeculiarmoods,comesthatgiganticghostlinessoverthesoulatthebarementionofthatname,whilethethoughtofvirginia'sblueridgeisfullofasoft,dewy,distantdreaminess?orwhy,irrespectiveofalllatitudesandlongitudes,doesthenameofthewhiteseaexertsuchaspectralnessoverthefancy,whilethatoftheyellowsealullsuswithmortalthoughtsoflonglacqueredmildafternoonsonthewaves,followedbythegaudiestandyetsleepiestofsunsets?or,tochooseawhollyunsubstantialinstance,purelyaddressedtothefancy,why,inreadingtheoldfairytalesofcentraleurope,does"thetallpaleman"ofthehartzforests,whosechangelesspallorunrustlinglyglidesthroughthegreenofthegroves—whyisthisphantommoreterriblethanallthewhoopingimpsoftheblocksburg?

norisit,altogether,theremembranceofhercathedral-topplingearthquakes;northestampedoesofherfranticseas;northetearlessnessofaridskiesthatneverrain;northesightofherwidefieldofleaningspires,wrenchedcope-stones,andcrossesalladroop(likecantedyardsofanchoredfleets);andhersuburbanavenuesofhouse-wallslyingoveruponeachother,asatossedpackofcards;—itisnotthesethingsalonewhichmaketearlesslima,thestrangest,saddestcitythoucan'stsee.forlimahastakenthewhiteveil;andthereisahigherhorrorinthiswhitenessofherwoe.oldaspizarro,thiswhitenesskeepsherruinsforevernew;admitsnotthecheerfulgreennessofcompletedecay;spreadsoverherbrokenrampartstherigidpallorofanapoplexythatfixesitsowndistortions.

iknowthat,tothecommonapprehension,thisphenomenonofwhitenessisnotconfessedtobetheprimeagentineratingtheterrorofobjectsotherwiseterrible;nortotheunimaginativemindisthereaughtofterrorinthoseappearanceswhoseawfulnesstoanothermindalmostsolelyconsistsinthisonephenomenon,especiallywhenexhibitedunderanyformatallapproachingtomutenessoruniversality.whatimeanbythesetwostatementsmayperhapsberespectivelyelucidatedbythefollowingexamples.

first:themariner,whendrawingnighthecoastsofforeignlands,ifbynightheheartheroarofbreakers,startstovigilance,andfeelsjustenoughoftrepidationtosharpenallhisfaculties;butunderpreciselysimilarcircumstances,lethimbecalledfromhishammocktoviewhisshipsailingthroughamidnightseaofmilkywhiteness—asiffromencirclingheadlandsshoalsofcombedwhitebearswereswimmingroundhim,thenhefeelsasilent,superstitiousdread;theshroudedphantomofthewhitenedwatersishorribletohimasarealghost;invaintheleadassureshimheisstilloffsoundings;heartandhelmtheybothgodown;heneverreststillbluewaterisunderhimagain.yetwhereisthemarinerwhowilltellthee,"sir,itwasnotsomuchthefearofstrikinghiddenrocks,asthefearofthathideouswhitenessthatsostirredme?"

second:tothenativeindianofperu,thecontinualsightofthesnow-howdahedandesconveysnaughtofdread,except,perhaps,inthemerefancyingoftheeternalfrosteddesolatenessreigningatsuchvastaltitudes,andthenaturalconceitofwhatafearfulnessitwouldbetoloseoneselfinsuchinhumansolitudes.muchthesameisitwiththebackwoodsmanofthewest,whowithcomparativeindifferenceviewsanunboundedprairiesheetedwithdrivensnow,noshadowoftreeortwigtobreakthefixedtranceofwhiteness.notsothesailor,beholdingthesceneryoftheantarcticseas;whereattimes,bysomeinfernaltrickoflegerdemaininthepowersoffrostandair,he,shiveringandhalfshipwrecked,insteadofrainbowsspeakinghopeandsolacetohismisery,viewswhatseemsaboundlesschurchyardgrinninguponhimwithitsleanicemonumentsandsplinteredcrosses.

butthousayest,methinksthatwhite-leadchapteraboutwhitenessisbutawhiteflaghungoutfromacravensoul;thousurrenderesttoahypo,ishmael.

tellme,whythisstrongyoungcolt,foaledinsomepeacefulvalleyofvermont,farremovedfromallbeastsofprey—whyisitthatuponthesunniestday,ifyoubutshakeafreshbuffalorobebehindhim,sothathecannotevenseeit,butonlysmellsitswildanimalmuskiness—whywillhestart,snort,andwithburstingeyespawthegroundinphrensiesofaffright?thereisnoremembranceinhimofanygoringsofwildcreaturesinhisgreennorthernhome,sothatthestrangemuskinesshesmellscannotrecalltohimanythingassociatedwiththeexperienceofformerperils;forwhatknowshe,thisnewenglandcolt,oftheblackbisonsofdistantoregon?

no:butherethoubeholdesteveninadumbbrute,theinstinctoftheknowledgeofthedemonismintheworld.thoughthousandsofmilesfromoregon,stillwhenhesmellsthatsavagemusk,therending,goringbisonherdsareaspresentastothedesertedwildfoaloftheprairies,whichthisinstanttheymaybetramplingintodust.

thus,then,themuffledrollingsofamilkysea;thebleakrustlingsofthefestoonedfrostsofmountains;thedesolateshiftingsofthewindrowedsnowsofprairies;allthese,toishmael,areastheshakingofthatbuffalorobetothefrightenedcolt!

thoughneitherknowswhereliethenamelessthingsofwhichthemysticsigngivesforthsuchhints;yetwithme,aswiththecolt,somewherethosethingsmustexist.thoughinmanyofitsaspectsthisvisibleworldseemsformedinlove,theinvisiblesphereswereformedinfright.

butnotyethavewesolvedtheincantationofthiswhiteness,andlearnedwhyitappealswithsuchpowertothesoul;andmorestrangeandfarmoreportentous—why,aswehaveseen,itisatoncethemostmeaningsymbolofspiritualthings,nay,theveryveilofthechristian'sdeity;andyetshouldbeasitis,theintensifyingagentinthingsthemostappallingtomankind.

isitthatbyitsindefinitenessitshadowsforththeheartlessvoidsandimmensitiesoftheuniverse,andthusstabsusfrombehindwiththethoughtofannihilation,whenbeholdingthewhitedepthsofthemilkyway?orisit,thatasinessencewhitenessisnotsomuchacolourasthevisibleabsenceofcolour;andatthesametimetheconcreteofallcolours;isitforthesereasonsthatthereissuchadumbblankness,fullofmeaning,inawidelandscapeofsnows—acolourless,all-colourofatheismfromwhichweshrink?andwhenweconsiderthatothertheoryofthenaturalphilosophers,thatallotherearthlyhues—everystatelyorlovelyemblazoning—thesweettingesofsunsetskiesandwoods;yea,andthegildedvelvetsofbutterflies,andthebutterflycheeksofyounggirlsallthesearebutsubtiledeceits,notactuallyinherentinsubstances,butonlylaidonfromwithout;sothatalldeifiednatureabsolutelypaintsliketheharlot,whoseallurementscovernothingbutthecharnel-housewithin;andwhenweproceedfurther,andconsiderthatthemysticalcosmeticwhichproduceseveryoneofherhues,thegreatprincipleoflight,foreverremainswhiteorcolorlessinitself,andifoperatingwithoutmediumuponmatter,wouldtouchallobjects,eventulipsandroses,withitsownblanktinge—ponderingallthis,thepalsieduniverseliesbeforeusaleper;andlikewilfultravellersinlapland,whorefusetowearcolouredandcolouringglassesupontheireyes,sothewretchedinfidelgazeshimselfblindatthemonumentalwhiteshroudthatwrapsalltheprospectaroundhim.andofallthesethingsthealbinowhalewasthesymbol.wonderyethenatthefieryhunt?

[1]withreferencetothepolarbear,itmaypossiblybeurgedbyhimwhowouldfaingostilldeeperintothismatter,thatitisnotthewhiteness,separatelyregarded,whichheightenstheintolerablehideousnessofthatbrute;for,analysed,thatheightenedhideousness,itmightbesaid,onlyrisesfromthecircumstance,thattheirresponsibleferociousnessofthecreaturestandsinvestedinthefleeceofcelestialinnocenceandlove;andhence,bybringingtogethertwosuchoppositeemotionsinourminds,thepolarbearfrightensuswithsounnaturalacontrast.butevenassumingallthistobetrue;yet,wereitnotforthewhiteness,youwouldnothavethatintensifiedterror

[2]irememberthefirstalbatrossieversaw.itwasduringaprolongedgale,inwatershardupontheantarcticseas.frommyforenoonwatchbelow,iascendedtotheovercloudeddeck;andthere,dasheduponthemainhatches,isawaregal,featherythingofunspottedwhiteness,andwithahooked,romanbillsublime.atintervals,itarchedforthitsvastarchangelwings,asiftoembracesomeholyark.wondrousflutteringsandthrobbingsshookit.thoughbodilyunharmed,itutteredcries,assomeking'sghostinsupernaturaldistress.throughitsinexpressible,strangeeyes,methoughtipeepedtosecretswhichtookholdofgod.asabrahambeforetheangels,ibowedmyself;thewhitethingwassowhite,itswingssowide,andinthoseforeverexiledwaters,ihadlostthemiserablewarpingmemoriesoftraditionsandoftowns.longigazedatthatprodigyofplumage.icannottell,canonlyhint,thethingsthatdartedthroughmethen.butatlastiawoke;andturning,askedasailorwhatbirdwasthis.agoney,hereplied.goney!neverhadheardthatnamebefore;isitconceivablethatthisgloriousthingisutterlyunknowntomenashore!never!butsometimeafter,ilearnedthatgoneywassomeseaman'snameforalbatross.sothatbynopossibilitycouldcoleridge'swildrhymehavehadaughttodowiththosemysticalimpressionswhichweremine,whenisawthatbirduponourdeck.forneitherhadithenreadtherhyme,norknewthebirdtobeanalbatross.yet,insayingthis,idobutindirectlyburnishalittlebrighterthenoblemeritofthepoemandthepoet.