In "Moby Dick", the Pequod meets the Rachel, another whaling vessel whose Captain has lost his sons in the pursuit of whales. I understand that Rachel had to wait years to have children, and that in some readings of the Bible she weeps for "her children", meaning her descendants.
But what does Melville mean when he says "she was Rachel weeping for her children, because they were not."
Because they were not weeping? Because they were not her children? Because they were not? [philosophically?]
Its a beautiful reference, but I'm not sure what it means...
2006-10-21
06:51:37
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4 answers
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asked by
Sam Y
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