this expression is super cute. when queequeg seemes "complimented", it's kind of like "good job, myself, i've won his friendship.". i wonder why queequeg takes to ishmael naturally too, what's so attractive in ishmael's part, considering queequeg don't ever befriend others. well, maybe because he's innocent, unlike other seamen queequeg saw there.
about why readers in a century and a half didn't have any suspision whether this book is homoerotic, i thought that it could be the same reason why the Greaks take same-sex love for granted while people of the contemparory don't. to notice something, one have to have enough reminders. straight people who grew up in straight circumstances are certainly not accustomed to addressing men's legplay as anything more than a little bid odd.
and even if one did notice the odd legplay might be a hint at homosexualality, which was unatural and even amoral back then, maybe he/she didn't dare to speak out. it's pretty tough for one to speak out his suspision if everybody else considers otherwise.
which was *considered* unatural and even amoral...
although LGBT people was not unheard of back then, these people could not provide any "reminder" for the straights when the latter were doing some serious reading. straights usually don't take homos seriously, it's simple as that.
when queequeg seemes "complimented", it's kind of like "good job, myself, i've won his friendship."
omg yes
I think Queequeg likes Ishmael because (so far in the book) Ishmael is the only white dude to treat Queequeg like an equal rather than an inferior, a savage, or a monster. He asks him questions about his life and makes an honest effort at communication instead of making fun of his accent.
There's also the theory that Ishmael's just a major cutie, and we the audience don't get to see that because Ishmael's the narrator and he never looks into any mirrors.
this expression is super cute. when queequeg seemes "complimented", it's kind of like "good job, myself, i've won his friendship.". i wonder why queequeg takes to ishmael naturally too, what's so attractive in ishmael's part, considering queequeg don't ever befriend others. well, maybe because he's innocent, unlike other seamen queequeg saw there.
about why readers in a century and a half didn't have any suspision whether this book is homoerotic, i thought that it could be the same reason why the Greaks take same-sex love for granted while people of the contemparory don't. to notice something, one have to have enough reminders. straight people who grew up in straight circumstances are certainly not accustomed to addressing men's legplay as anything more than a little bid odd.
and even if one did notice the odd legplay might be a hint at homosexualality, which was unatural and even amoral back then, maybe he/she didn't dare to speak out. it's pretty tough for one to speak out his suspision if everybody else considers otherwise.
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although LGBT people was not unheard of back then, these people could not provide any "reminder" for the straights when the latter were doing some serious reading. straights usually don't take homos seriously, it's simple as that.
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in a word, you won't want to underestimate the power of circumstances.
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omg yes
I think Queequeg likes Ishmael because (so far in the book) Ishmael is the only white dude to treat Queequeg like an equal rather than an inferior, a savage, or a monster. He asks him questions about his life and makes an honest effort at communication instead of making fun of his accent.
There's also the theory that Ishmael's just a major cutie, and we the audience don't get to see that because Ishmael's the narrator and he never looks into any mirrors.
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