Not P but Moby-Dick (33)

[David Morris]

Ian, I’ve no idea what you mean by this judgement. But the “fact” is that
BOTH observed and observers were "Floating on the waves,” right? So it is
hard to not see that as the best interpretation of the sentence.

Also, Melville’s style is DYNAMIC and intentionally perspective shifting.
His description of the nobility of whaling is totally a polemic for seeing
the accepted social structure as false, and he attempts to flip it all
upside down.  The cinematic/visualization of this “both” reading
essentially puts the reader on a dizzying roller coaster ride along side
the helpless abandoned boat. And the reader becomes aware of his own
potential helplessness.

I would say THAT is Melville’s style.

David Morris

On Sat, Oct 28, 2023 at 5:19 PM Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com>
wrote:

> It is consistent with Melville's style.
>