Character profile
Queequeg
Harpooneer
Character guide ↗In the book
“It is not down in any map; true places never are.”
Passages from the novel
Queequeg was a native of Rokovoko, an island far away to the West and South. It is not down in any map; true places never are.
Returning to the Spouter-Inn from the Chapel, I found Queequeg there quite alone; he having left the Chapel before the benediction some time. He was sitting on a bench before the fire, with his feet on the stove hearth, and in one hand was holding close up to his face that little negro idol of his; peering hard into its face, and with a jack-knife gently whittling away at its nose, meanwhile humming to himself in his heathenish way.
Now, at this time it was that my poor pagan companion, and fast bosom-friend, Queequeg, was seized with a fever, which brought him nigh to his endless end.
Key chapters
- Chapter 10 ↗ · …henceforth we were married; meaning, in his country’s phrase, that we were bosom friends; he would gladly die for me, if need should be. In a countryman, this sudden flame of friendship would hav…
- Chapter 18 ↗ · …in similar ceremonies, looked no ways abashed; but taking the offered pen, copied upon the paper, in the proper place, an exact counterpart of a queer round figure which was tattooed upon his arm…
- Chapter 27 ↗ · First of all was Queequeg, whom Starbuck, the chief mate, had selected for his squire. But Queequeg is already known.
- Chapter 78 ↗ · …r, Queequeg was seen boldly striking out with one hand, and with the other clutching the long hair of the Indian. Drawn into the waiting boat, they were quickly brought to the deck; but Tashtego…
- Chapter 81 ↗ · But no sooner did his harpooneer stand up for the stroke, than all three tigers—Queequeg, Tashtego, Daggoo—instinctively sprang to their feet, and standing in a diagonal row, simultaneously point…
- Chapter 81 ↗ · But no sooner did his harpooneer stand up for the stroke, than all three tigers—Queequeg, Tashtego, Daggoo—instinctively sprang to their feet, and standing in a diagonal row, simultaneously point…
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