Not P but Moby-Dick (46)

[Ian Livingston]

I think both *may* apply in that it can be read both ways, but it seems to me most likely that Melville’s use here indicates b, as in one who is somewhat obsessed with whales. 

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> On Nov 22, 2023, at 9:07 AM, Michael Bailey <michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> the chapter is "whales variously represented" so he mentions
> "skrimshandering" & brass whale door knockers & other representations of
> whales made by people
> 
> then turns to seeing whales in rock formations and in constellations
> 
> w/r/t to seeing whales in rock formations - i think both meanings apply -
> in order to interpret rock formations as whales "you'd have to be really
> into whales"
> a) taking pains to watch for them everywhere
> b) absolute, complete, all-out whale fan (fanatic)
> 
> 
>> On Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 11:23 AM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> From Chapter 57:
>> 
>> Then, again, in mountainous countries where the traveller is continually
>> girdled by amphitheatrical heights; here and there from some lucky point of
>> view you will catch passing glimpses of the profiles of whales defined
>> along the undulating ridges. But you must be a thorough whaleman, to see
>> these sights;
>> 
>> What does "thorough" in "a thorough whaleman" mean here?
>> 
>> a. Chiefly in predicative use. That carries out or promotes something
>> thoroughly; taking pains to do something carefully and completely.
>> 
>> b. attributive. Chiefly British. That is fully the kind of person indicated
>> by the noun; absolute, complete, out-and-out.
>> 
>> All the existing translations I have at hand chose b., but a. seems to make
>> more sense to me.
>> --
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>> 
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