Mr. Shelby was a fair average kind of man, good-natured and kindly, and disposed to easy indulgence of those around him, and there had never been a lack of anything which might contribute to the physical comfort of the negroes on his estate.
Interesting that there is praise for someone who owns slaves. Perhaps there was a spectrum of different types of slave owners who treated their slaves differently
“I can’t make trade that way—I positively can’t, Mr. Shelby,” said the other, holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the light.
The casual conversation of trading humans away shows what views the slave traders held
“You mean honest, as niggers go,”
The use of this word gives an insight to the racism of the time period
I think of a harpooneer who stayed out a Saturday night clean into the holy Sabbath
Is there a religious motivation to this comment?
never mind how long precisely
This is a very interesting thing to say at the beginning of the story, as he is narrating a story from the past
saw a swinging sign over the door with a white painting upon it
The addition of the plain white painting is very interesting
But wherefore it was that after having repeatedly smelt the sea as a merchant sailor, I should now take it into my head to go on a whaling voyage
This is the main motivation of the character and the story, as Ishmael sets out on a journey
But being paid, – what will compare with it? The urbane activity with which a man receives money is really marvellous
He is talking about how money can be the root of all evil, but also satisfying to an end.
True, they rather order me about some, and make me jump from spar to spar, like a grasshopper in a May meadow
I really like this metaphor. I like how Melville uses seasons as way of conveying emotion, especially in New England were the seasons change greatly.
Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet
Is he talking about suicidal thoughts?
having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.
Following the very famous line in literature, Ishmael provides his motivation for working on the ship. He explains he lacks any money and desires to see the world. Right off the bat, the story shows what ultimately drives the main character.