President George W. Bush no doubt wins this one. From 2001 to today, his "we're not going to stop 'til we get these guys" attitude has perfectly paralleled Ahab's attitude towards Moby Dick. For the entire span of the book, Ahab tries to conquer this unknowable thing, this phantom of the deep, but ultimately the White Whale survives the Pequod. Terrorism is such a phantom. In 2001, Bush's "go get 'em" rhetoric was well received by the majority of Americans, but now we know more fully that we are not fighting against men, as Ahab does not fight "just a whale." Instead, we fight hostile ideas with fire; however, such ideas cannot be vanquished because they transcend individuals (and the birthrate of the terrorists no doubt exceeds our capacity to stop/kill them, though that is irrelevent)and organizations. Bush has convinced himself that he can vanquish our insecurites by killing this whale when in reality, we have no goal that can be meet concretely. Now, I'm not criticizing the actions of Bush, only his underlying mentality concerning vanquishing terrorism and his perception of some kind of end. I acknowledge that good intelligence and preemptive actions can hinder the ability of our enemies to harm us at home. But one must wonder that in going out to sea, do we only invite more troubles? Ahab need only stay on land to escape the malignity of the Whale.
In reply to you Mrs. Baird, do you know what is personality is in real life? When I was coming through New York at the end of spring break, I read an article about two Buffalo residents who had been/are on the show. They said he was the most agreeable person imaginable off set. One then must wonder how Ahab behaves and thinks when not out to sea; he does have a wife and child if I remember right.
Hands down Doctor Gregory House! He's old, crotchedy, and he has a bad leg... He verbally abuses his subordinates and his patients, but he's the best doctor for the job.
I must say, I disagree with the inclusion of Bush and Clinton here- Ahab is driven by his own strongly felt internal drive, and truly believes in his goal- something that probably can not be said for many politicians. Also, I don't think that merely being a "raging tyrant," as Mrs. Baird put it, is nearly enough to qualify someone as a "modern day Ahab." Rather, Ahab is a devoted champion of a hopelessly lost cause, continuing on desperately despite the fact that he knows he will not succeed. Thus, if any modern politicians are to be dubbed modern day Ahabs, it must be those fringe candidates such as Huckabee, Paul, Nader et al (and their supporters) who just keep going, regardless of the fact that they have no chance.
Nautilus, be careful. You are fabricating the idea that Ahab "knows he will not succeed" out of thin air to support your already arrived at conclusions. The text clearly continually implies and even explicitly states at times that Ahab is wholly convinced that he WILL succeed. From chapter 44, "For with the charts of all four oceans before him, Ahab was threading a maze of currents and eddies, with a view to the more certain accomplishments of that monomaniac thought of his soul." From chapter 46, "Though, consumed with the hot fire of his purpose, Ahab in all his thoughts and actions ever had in view the ultimate capture of Moby Dick..." Ahab even considers the subtle but profound effect of the time interval between his rousing speech and the moment of actually confronting the whale onhis men, resolving to "continue true to the natural, nominal purpose of the Pequod's voyage" so that "temporary interests and employments should intervene and hold them (his men) healthily suspended for the final dash." And how do we know that Ahab has no chance? Certainly "the whiteness of the whale" is matched by the fire in his heart and the demons ravaging his deepest core. After all, it is ultimately a whale, and whale's are mortal.
Also, to say that Bush and Clinton do not fully believe in their goals is to blissfully unaware of their recent words and actions. Clearly, one can surmise from Bush's stubborn, self-justifying State of the Union Address for 2008 that he deeply believes in his goals against terrorism in Iraq and throughout the world. This deep belief was even more apparent in late 2001 after 9/11. Hillary too possesses such a profound belief in herself and her goals, sobbing that (paraphrased) "I don't know how this country will survive without me as President." Both she and Bush are incredibly driven from within. But I think it safe to say that many politicians do not possess this ideological resolve or indomitable will.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, Eyeball. I thought I publsihed my response, but I'm new at this. Anyway, no, I don't know Chef Ramsey's personality beyond the clips they show of him on "The Soup". However, you bring up an interesting point--is this raging "lunacy" in both of these "characters" part of the act to both intimidate and motivate their subordinates--to push them beyond what they would ordinarily do-- through a mixture of fear and awe? You are also right--Ahab did leave behind a wife and child--and think about it--his peg leg one night pierced his groin area, perhaps rendering him a Jake Barnes? Even more reason for AHab to hate that dasterdly menace of a mammal...
a modern day Ahab would have to be a Osama Bin Laden right? like mad at a succesful country just for being succesful( whale being a whale) and trying to seek revenge? to perfect right? the clique
9 comments:
Chef Ramsay on "Hell's Kitchen"-he's a raging tyrant!
President George W. Bush no doubt wins this one. From 2001 to today, his "we're not going to stop 'til we get these guys" attitude has perfectly paralleled Ahab's attitude towards Moby Dick. For the entire span of the book, Ahab tries to conquer this unknowable thing, this phantom of the deep, but ultimately the White Whale survives the Pequod. Terrorism is such a phantom. In 2001, Bush's "go get 'em" rhetoric was well received by the majority of Americans, but now we know more fully that we are not fighting against men, as Ahab does not fight "just a whale." Instead, we fight hostile ideas with fire; however, such ideas cannot be vanquished because they transcend individuals (and the birthrate of the terrorists no doubt exceeds our capacity to stop/kill them, though that is irrelevent)and organizations. Bush has convinced himself that he can vanquish our insecurites by killing this whale when in reality, we have no goal that can be meet concretely. Now, I'm not criticizing the actions of Bush, only his underlying mentality concerning vanquishing terrorism and his perception of some kind of end. I acknowledge that good intelligence and preemptive actions can hinder the ability of our enemies to harm us at home. But one must wonder that in going out to sea, do we only invite more troubles? Ahab need only stay on land to escape the malignity of the Whale.
MobysEye
In reply to you Mrs. Baird, do you know what is personality is in real life? When I was coming through New York at the end of spring break, I read an article about two Buffalo residents who had been/are on the show. They said he was the most agreeable person imaginable off set. One then must wonder how Ahab behaves and thinks when not out to sea; he does have a wife and child if I remember right.
MobysEye
Hillary Clinton. She is scary, revengeful, and rumor has it that she has a peg leg made of human bones.
Hands down Doctor Gregory House! He's old, crotchedy, and he has a bad leg... He verbally abuses his subordinates and his patients, but he's the best doctor for the job.
killee_fishee
I must say, I disagree with the inclusion of Bush and Clinton here- Ahab is driven by his own strongly felt internal drive, and truly believes in his goal- something that probably can not be said for many politicians. Also, I don't think that merely being a "raging tyrant," as Mrs. Baird put it, is nearly enough to qualify someone as a "modern day Ahab." Rather, Ahab is a devoted champion of a hopelessly lost cause, continuing on desperately despite the fact that he knows he will not succeed. Thus, if any modern politicians are to be dubbed modern day Ahabs, it must be those fringe candidates such as Huckabee, Paul, Nader et al (and their supporters) who just keep going, regardless of the fact that they have no chance.
-Nautilus
Nautilus, be careful. You are fabricating the idea that Ahab "knows he will not succeed" out of thin air to support your already arrived at conclusions. The text clearly continually implies and even explicitly states at times that Ahab is wholly convinced that he WILL succeed. From chapter 44, "For with the charts of all four oceans before him, Ahab was threading a maze of currents and eddies, with a view to the more certain accomplishments of that monomaniac thought of his soul." From chapter 46, "Though, consumed with the hot fire of his purpose, Ahab in all his thoughts and actions ever had in view the ultimate capture of Moby Dick..." Ahab even considers the subtle but profound effect of the time interval between his rousing speech and the moment of actually confronting the whale onhis men, resolving to "continue true to the natural, nominal purpose of the Pequod's voyage" so that "temporary interests and employments should intervene and hold them (his men) healthily suspended for the final dash." And how do we know that Ahab has no chance? Certainly "the whiteness of the whale" is matched by the fire in his heart and the demons ravaging his deepest core. After all, it is ultimately a whale, and whale's are mortal.
Also, to say that Bush and Clinton do not fully believe in their goals is to blissfully unaware of their recent words and actions. Clearly, one can surmise from Bush's stubborn, self-justifying State of the Union Address for 2008 that he deeply believes in his goals against terrorism in Iraq and throughout the world. This deep belief was even more apparent in late 2001 after 9/11. Hillary too possesses such a profound belief in herself and her goals, sobbing that (paraphrased) "I don't know how this country will survive without me as President." Both she and Bush are incredibly driven from within. But I think it safe to say that many politicians do not possess this ideological resolve or indomitable will.
MobysEye
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, Eyeball. I thought I publsihed my response, but I'm new at this. Anyway, no, I don't know Chef Ramsey's personality beyond the clips they show of him on "The Soup". However, you bring up an interesting point--is this raging "lunacy" in both of these "characters" part of the act to both intimidate and motivate their subordinates--to push them beyond what they would ordinarily do-- through a mixture of fear and awe? You are also right--Ahab did leave behind a wife and child--and think about it--his peg leg one night pierced his groin area, perhaps rendering him a Jake Barnes? Even more reason for AHab to hate that dasterdly menace of a mammal...
a modern day Ahab would have to be a Osama Bin Laden right? like mad at a succesful country just for being succesful( whale being a whale) and trying to seek revenge? to perfect right?
the clique
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