Why is it weird when the land opens up and swallows someone, but not when the sea does? Because it doesn’t happen as frequently. Duh. Come on Ishmael!

A jab at the pretensions of colonialists.

Columbus sailed halfway around the world not to first discover North America, but to first project the pretense of discovery on his experience. Plus he was a murderous dick.

Look at that wormsy little smile.

For every dog, there is a dog fish. Well, “taking a broad general view of the thing, this very well may be.”

They’re just soooo big.

People have a tendency to overlook the bigger point, the bigger picture, the bigger plan. We think of whales, or elephants, as lifeless masses until we pan out. You might say that reality is the elephant in the room.

The chapter titles in Moby Dick structure and lend further meaning to the chapter itself. This chapter is named after the Right Whale’s prey. Why?

Because it provides food for thought. Yes, I said it.

Ishmael fixates on the smallest, most seemingly insignificant of things and crescendos to a commentary on the vastness of reality and the limits of human knowledge.

The forward part of a ship’s deck, the portion before or in front of the mast. Pronouced fok-sill.

In Being John Malkovich, John Cusac discovers a portal into John Malkovich’s mind that allows him to take over the other actor’s body.

I read this line two ways: 1) Talib is struggling with a sensation of inauthenticity – he feels like a trespasser in his own body. Is his lyrical style really his? (bit=copied) 2) Other rappers steal his style, but the only way anyone can see him (literally and as in equal) is if he battled himself