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[beldarzfixon]

In cold, mathematical terms, two to three kilograms of pressure initiates a chain of events resulting in the release of, it is believed, 21 grams. But humans don't think in cold, mathematical terms

Comments

[bleodswean]

A nice thoughtful analysis. I loved the way you worded this - until the villain becomes the trapped, doomed victim.

[beldarzfixon]

Thanks! It does give one pause when the good-guy/bad-guy dichotomy gets turned on its head.

(edit) Was noticing that your icon gives an example of inevitability, and that moment of illusory grace in which everything seems OK, but fate is set and in just moments, things will be very not OK (at least for the guys in the boat).

[bleodswean]

Heh. I like that interp. For me, Moby Dick is a Jungian exploration of self....the subconscious rising from below....

You sound like a fatalist.

[beldarzfixon]

I do, don't I? To a degree, that might be the ol' depression coming thru. I don't consider myself a total fatalist, but I think when you look at a situation, there is a point where the lever is flipped and there's no going back. This piece is more an examination of horror (as writing style, not just genre) and the fatalism in it. My personal perception of reality is a bit more chaotic, I think.

As for "Moby-Dick", dissertations and examinations of Melville's subtext and the psyche of writer and characters make for volumes far bigger than the book's unabridged version (which I had the unfortunate assignment to tackle in high school -- WAY too many superfluous chapters!)

[bleodswean]

Fatalism gets a bad rap in these new agey times. I am more suspicious of those who don't weep at Sartre's "No Exit".

The trick is....well, there is a trick...I'm sure of it.

Have you seen Moby Dick in emoticons - http://www.emojidick.com/

[beldarzfixon]

Re: EmojiDick - Interesting concept, but it would be nice if the page had a sample passage and didn't just insist you buy the book.