If Moby Dick were written for today’s generation, what would it be about? How to you write a story about obsession for a group lacking the ambition to do anything beyond click a “like” button? Most of today’s generation can’t even name the author of this literary classic, let alone should we expect they would have read it. Yet they will consume drivel such as Twilight without a second thought. I weep for the future!
For those who have not read it, Moby Dick is written in alternating chapters. Half are the almost mystical story (“surreal”, word of the year?) with which we are all familiar. The other half are a detailed documentary of the whaling industry at the time. You can also find some humour thrown into the opening chapters — “One clam” and the description of a painting spring to mind..Heavy reading in this day and age but worth the effort.
“Most of the generation couldn’t name the author”…reminds me of the time I suggested to one of my graduate students to have a client read aloud something by, say, Robert Frost…“Who’s Robert Frost?”, quoth she….
Does anyone else realize this is almost an exact duplicate of a strip Wiley ran about 8 years ago, except it was about “reevaluating the mission plan”. I know – I have the mousepad.
Superfrog almost 8 years ago
Maybe Dick.
Can't Sleep almost 8 years ago
Time to take a deep breath, and dive!
Dtroutma almost 8 years ago
Moby! DUCK!
asianwoof almost 8 years ago
The White Whale — a double entendre for modern times.
Bill The Nuke almost 8 years ago
As we used to say on the submarine…DIVE, DIVE, DIVE!
nosirrom almost 8 years ago
Looks like the crew just did.
Bilan almost 8 years ago
“Oh great. Another old friend hanging around for Christmas.”
derdave969 almost 8 years ago
Moby Dick is not a social disease.
Brass Orchid Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Never!
My heart is pure, my struggle righteous and my backers quite insistent.
TossedSaladCartoon almost 8 years ago
If Moby Dick were written for today’s generation, what would it be about? How to you write a story about obsession for a group lacking the ambition to do anything beyond click a “like” button? Most of today’s generation can’t even name the author of this literary classic, let alone should we expect they would have read it. Yet they will consume drivel such as Twilight without a second thought. I weep for the future!
Dani Rice almost 8 years ago
Actually, I’m pleasantly surprised at how well educated our grandchildren are – most of them are in their late 20s.
sandpiper almost 8 years ago
It’s no longer the ‘elephant in the room.’ It’s the huge white whale in the future.
Kveldulf almost 8 years ago
For those who have not read it, Moby Dick is written in alternating chapters. Half are the almost mystical story (“surreal”, word of the year?) with which we are all familiar. The other half are a detailed documentary of the whaling industry at the time. You can also find some humour thrown into the opening chapters — “One clam” and the description of a painting spring to mind..Heavy reading in this day and age but worth the effort.
magicwalnut almost 8 years ago
“Most of the generation couldn’t name the author”…reminds me of the time I suggested to one of my graduate students to have a client read aloud something by, say, Robert Frost…“Who’s Robert Frost?”, quoth she….
Honorable Mention In The Banjo Toss Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Moby Dick at Thanksgiving dinner: “I’d like a leg, please.”
dabugger almost 8 years ago
Yes, good idea Capt Ahab. A way of coming to a better reality with nature. Whale of an outcome.
Slatsmagee almost 8 years ago
Never bite off more whale blubber than you can chew…
zeexenon almost 8 years ago
Take three deep breaths captain, we’re about to dive two miles to eat the best squid. Don’t let the bioluminescent critters scare you.
Linguist almost 8 years ago
@Wiley
Were I were back in the “working world”, ( pun intended ) I’d be sending off to get a print of this, to hang in my office !
Brilliant on sooo many levels !
And…as always, funny and thought provoking.
Thanks !!
Numbnumb almost 8 years ago
It was just practice! Really! This whale is only Moby Dork!Honest!!
ahab almost 8 years ago
“What me worry?”
briankcohen almost 8 years ago
Does anyone else realize this is almost an exact duplicate of a strip Wiley ran about 8 years ago, except it was about “reevaluating the mission plan”. I know – I have the mousepad.
dnihilist almost 8 years ago
“And now we find out that world wide research is showing a rapid decline in human IQ”s."
As a major recent US event lends more evidence….