Chapter 10 - A Bosom Friend.

Returning to the Spouter-Inn from the Chapel, I found Queequeg there quite alone; he having left the Chapel before the benediction some time. He was sitting on a bench before the fire, with his feet on the stove hearth, and in one hand was holding close up to his face that little negro idol of his; peering hard into its face, and with a jack-knife gently whittling away at its nose, meanwhile humming to himself in his heathenish way.

But being now interrupted, he put up the image; and pretty soon, going to the table, took up a large book there, and placing it on his lap began counting the pages with deliberate regularity; at every fiftieth page--as I fancied--stopping a moment, looking vacantly around him, and giving utterance to a long-drawn gurgling whistle of astonishment. He would then begin again at the next fifty; seeming to commence at number one each time, as though he could not count more than fifty, and it was only by such a large number of fifties being found together, that his astonishment at the multitude of pages was excited.

With much interest I sat watching him. Savage though he was, and hideously marred about the face--at least to my taste--his countenance yet had a something in it which was by no means disagreeable. You cannot hide the soul. Through all his unearthly tattooings, I thought I saw the traces of a simple honest heart; and in his large, deep eyes, fiery black and bold, there seemed tokens of a spirit that would dare a thousand devils. And besides all this, there was a certain lofty bearing about the Pagan, which even his uncouthness could not altogether maim. He looked like a man who had never cringed and never had had a creditor. Whether it was, too, that his head being shaved, his forehead was drawn out in freer and brighter relief, and looked more expansive than it otherwise would, this I will not venture to decide; but certain it was his head was phrenologically an excellent one. It may seem ridiculous, but it reminded me of General Washington's head, as seen in the popular busts of him. It had the same long regularly graded retreating slope from above the brows, which were likewise very projecting, like two long promontories thickly wooded on top. Queequeg was George Washington cannibalistically developed.

Whilst I was thus closely scanning him, half-pretending meanwhile to be looking out at the storm from the casement, he never heeded my presence, never troubled himself with so much as a single glance; but appeared wholly occupied with counting the pages of the marvellous book. Considering how sociably we had been sleeping together the night previous, and especially considering the affectionate arm I had found thrown over me upon waking in the morning, I thought this indifference of his very strange. But savages are strange beings; at times you do not know exactly how to take them. At first they are overawing; their calm self-collectedness of simplicity seems a Socratic wisdom. I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn. He made no advances whatever; appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances. All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something almost sublime in it. Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home, by the way of Cape Horn, that is--which was the only way he could get there--thrown among people as strange to him as though he were in the planet Jupiter; and yet he seemed entirely at his ease; preserving the utmost serenity; content with his own companionship; always equal to himself. Surely this was a touch of fine philosophy; though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that. But, perhaps, to be true philosophers, we mortals should not be conscious of so living or so striving. So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have "broken his digester."

As I sat there in that now lonely room; the fire burning low, in that mild stage when, after its first intensity has warmed the air, it then only glows to be looked at; the evening shades and phantoms gathering round the casements, and peering in upon us silent, solitary twain; the storm booming without in solemn swells; I began to be sensible of strange feelings. I felt a melting in me. No more my splintered heart and maddened hand were turned against the wolfish world. This soothing savage had redeemed it. There he sat, his very indifference speaking a nature in which there lurked no civilized hypocrisies and bland deceits. Wild he was; a very sight of sights to see; yet I began to feel myself mysteriously drawn towards him. And those same things that would have repelled most others, they were the very magnets that thus drew me. I'll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy. I drew my bench near him, and made some friendly signs and hints, doing my best to talk with him meanwhile. At first he little noticed these advances; but presently, upon my referring to his last night's hospitalities, he made out to ask me whether we were again to be bedfellows. I told him yes; whereat I thought he looked pleased, perhaps a little complimented.

We then turned over the book together, and I endeavored to explain to him the purpose of the printing, and the meaning of the few pictures that were in it. Thus I soon engaged his interest; and from that we went to jabbering the best we could about the various outer sights to be seen in this famous town. Soon I proposed a social smoke; and, producing his pouch and tomahawk, he quietly offered me a puff. And then we sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his, and keeping it regularly passing between us.

If there yet lurked any ice of indifference towards me in the Pagan's breast, this pleasant, genial smoke we had, soon thawed it out, and left us cronies. He seemed to take to me quite as naturally and unbiddenly as I to him; and when our smoke was over, he pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth we were married; meaning, in his country's phrase, that we were bosom friends; he would gladly die for me, if need should be. In a countryman, this sudden flame of friendship would have seemed far too premature, a thing to be much distrusted; but in this simple savage those old rules would not apply.

After supper, and another social chat and smoke, we went to our room together. He made me a present of his embalmed head; took out his enormous tobacco wallet, and groping under the tobacco, drew out some thirty dollars in silver; then spreading them on the table, and mechanically dividing them into two equal portions, pushed one of them towards me, and said it was mine. I was going to remonstrate; but he silenced me by pouring them into my trowsers' pockets. I let them stay. He then went about his evening prayers, took out his idol, and removed the paper fireboard. By certain signs and symptoms, I thought he seemed anxious for me to join him; but well knowing what was to follow, I deliberated a moment whether, in case he invited me, I would comply or otherwise.

I was a good Christian; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church. How then could I unite with this wild idolator in worshipping his piece of wood? But what is worship? thought I. Do you suppose now, Ishmael, that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth--pagans and all included--can possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood? Impossible! But what is worship?--to do the will of God--THAT is worship. And what is the will of God?--to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me--THAT is the will of God. Now, Queequeg is my fellow man. And what do I wish that this Queequeg would do to me? Why, unite with me in my particular Presbyterian form of worship. Consequently, I must then unite with him in his; ergo, I must turn idolator. So I kindled the shavings; helped prop up the innocent little idol; offered him burnt biscuit with Queequeg; salamed before him twice or thrice; kissed his nose; and that done, we undressed and went to bed, at peace with our own consciences and all the world. But we did not go to sleep without some little chat.

How it is I know not; but there is no place like a bed for confidential disclosures between friends. Man and wife, they say, there open the very bottom of their souls to each other; and some old couples often lie and chat over old times till nearly morning. Thus, then, in our hearts' honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg--a cosy, loving pair.

Footnotes

  1. Again, the equation of true friendship with marriage (without any inkling of a sexual component).  If only we would allow such tenderness in our society today.

    — Noelle Thompson
  2. A very important statement, Ishmael here outlines the definition of Christian worship in order to show (justify?) his actions of "pagan" worship that follows.  A wonderful example of appearance vs. reality.

    — Noelle Thompson
  3. Here Ishmael and Queequeg ironically unite in both pagan and Christian worship through friendship.  Again, a treasure trove for the person who enjoys the appearance vs. reality theme.

    — Noelle Thompson
  4. Here, in the midst of our society in turmoil amid the "gay marriage" issue is the equality of "marriage" with "friendship," and without any sexual component.  Love can be found here, between the most unlikely companions.

    — Noelle Thompson
  5. Note that the action of smoking together is probably their first mutual interest apart from (what will become more evident in the future) humanitarianism.

    — Noelle Thompson
  6. Yet another perfect example of the appearance vs. reality theme.  The Christians appear more pagan in action and deed.  The pagan is, in reality, Christian in action deed.

    — Noelle Thompson
  7. Again, here is an insight into Queequeg's character.  He is both completely self-reliant and perfectly happy to be himself in a foreign land.  Further, he is not forcing himself upon anyone to accept him.

    — Noelle Thompson
  8. It is also interesting to note here that Ishmael begins to compare Queequeg, in looks mind you, with the so-called "father of our country," George Washington.  Therefore, if the reader is not convinced of the appearance vs. reality in a religious frame of reference, perhaps the reader will be convinced in a patriotic one.

    — Noelle Thompson
  9. Such is the most perfect of examples about appearance vs. reality.  The appearance of Queequeg is of a tattooed cannibal, hideous in looks in every way.  The reality of Queequeg is of a pure soul, a Christian soul, who would give his life for a true friend.

    — Noelle Thompson
  10. Here, what is interesting to note, is Queequeg's reaction when he notices that he is being observed by Ishmael.  Immediately, he picks up a book to show Ishmael that Queequeg is also interested in things that Ishmael might be interested in.  In reality, one can consider this a first (and a silent) attempt at friendship.

    — Noelle Thompson
  11. It is important here, as readers, that we notice that Queequeg is, by no means, a Christian.  He is a pagan in every sense of the word, worshiping an idol carved by his own hand.  What will become ironic is the intense "true" Christianity that surrounds this beautiful, pagan character.

    — Noelle Thompson
  12. Now for some words of interpretation. In terms of this particular annotator, this is the very favorite chapter of Melville’s novel. The focus: true friendship. How interesting that Queequeg equates true friendship with marriage without the sexual component. This chapter does a world of good for the character development of both Ishmael and Queequeg. Let us look at Ishmael first. Ishmael admires Queequeg. Ishmael, always a content observer, sees a man miles from home completely content in his own strange-looking skin. In this way, and in this admiration, the reader should also gain inspiration of Ishmael. Consider how open-minded Ishmael is first to allow Queequeg as his roommate; then to strike up conversation with him; then to smoke with him; then to allow himself to be “married” to him; then to agree to die for him; then to continue the bedfellow relationship. This is an open-minded sailor, this Ishmael. Further in regards to Ishmael’s character is the theme of appearance vs. reality especially in regards to Christianity. “I’ll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.” As we have before ascertained, Ishmael has come upon some less than Christian Christians in his experience. This is true even in regards to worship as Ishmael says, “What is worship? To do the will of God—that is worship.” It may not contain the exact ritual as Christians are used to, but the will of God can work in mysterious ways. Now let’s take the insight into the character of Queequeg. Although we only learn about him through Ishmael’s eyes, there is something to be said about him picking up a book (perhaps to look learned?) in front of the esteemed Ishmael. Even though a foreigner, and a cannibal at that, look at how quickly Queequeg responds to any attempt at friendship. Ironically, although Queequeg says absolutely nothing during this chapter (at least where quotations from the novel are concerned), we learn more about the language of friendship through his actions than through any Christian so far within Melville’s book. For a further explanation and description of plot, please see my first note that begins with the following phrase: “First let us expound upon the plot of this particular chapter.”

    — Noelle Thompson
  13. First, let us expound upon the plot of this particular chapter. Ishmael has returned to the inn and finds that his bedfellow, Queequeg, has done the same (because he left the chapel even earlier than Ishmael). Queequeg is very quiet as he sits there and continues carving his black idol into an even more detailed figure. Ishmael shares his musings about Queequeg once more with the readers of Melville’s novel. Ishmael knows that Queequeg is many miles from his home somewhere in the South Seas and gives Queequeg kudos for not forcing his friendship upon anyone and for, at the same time, not being afraid to be himself. As a result of all of these honorable qualities that Ishmael finds in Queequeg, Ishmael decides to try to make friends with this South Seas Islander. What’s interesting is the quote as to why this is so: “I’ll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.” Ishmael initiates the conversation by trying to explain the book that Queequeg has picked up (even though he doesn’t know how to read). The two men continue talking and then smoke Queequeg’s pipe together. The end of their smoke includes an interesting ritual of Queequeg’s where he puts the two men’s foreheads together and grabs Ishmael’s waist. According to Queequeg, the two are now “married” which means “that we were bosom friends; he would gladly die for me.” The two of them, now fast friends, go to bed together and talk about Queequeg’s homeland. For further explanation, please see my note at the end of this book beginning with the following phrase: "Now for some words of interpretation."

    — Noelle Thompson