Anasûrimbor Ahab

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NinthAcolyte

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« on: May 16, 2017, 10:47:45 pm »
From Moby-Dick:

"Hark ye yet again—the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there’s naught beyond. But ’tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him. Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I’d strike the sun if it insulted me. For could the sun do that, then could I do the other; since there is ever a sort of fair play herein, jealousy presiding over all creations. But not my master, man, is even that fair play. Who’s over me? Truth hath no confines."

First of all... IS NOT TRUTH INFINITE?

Secondly, Ahab's hatred of the inscrutable motive forces of nature seems more than a little akin to the Dunyain rebellion against cause and effect. I see more than a little of Ahab in Kellhus. I think it's likely that the series will end with Kellhus waging war against the Outside, against the Gods themselves... And unlike poor old Ahab and his Whale, I'd lay good odds on his success.
Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me.

Madness

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« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2017, 12:13:02 am »
That's a great passage from Moby-Dick :).
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NinthAcolyte

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« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2017, 06:34:26 am »
It's my favorite. I was just thinking generally about similarities in theme, but then I noticed that last bit in bold and thought that just maybe Bakker worked in a deliberate homage or two.
Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me.

themerchant

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« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2017, 10:41:52 am »
I remember at university we (about 10-12 international students) went up the necropolis in Glasgow at midnight with freshly made maragariti cocktails, joints and a copy of moby dick and smoked and drank and took turns reading a page from it.

I learned so much about tying knots that night :)

I'm sure Bakker has read Moby Dick so I would not be surprised.

Necropolis in glasgow: http://www.glasgownecropolis.org/history/