In His Mark, the subject of the story has turned to Ishmael’s partner Queequeg, which has the captains concerned with shipping aboard a heathen. Melville takes yet another opportunity to delve into comparative mythology, before such a term existed, as exemplified by the two following passages:
“‘Yea,’ said Captain Bildad in his hollow voice, sticking his head from behind Peleg’s out of the wigwam. ‘He must show that he’s converted. Son of darkness,’ he added, turning to Queequeg, ‘art thou at present in communion with any Christian, church?’”
Ishmael comes to the defense of his mate and fences over Deuteronomy with the old Quaker captain, finally settling on the following explanation as to why Queequeg deserves to keep Christian company.
“Finding myself thus hard pushed, I replied, ‘I mean, sir, the same ancient Catholic Church to which you and I, and Captain Peleg there, and Queequeg here, and all of us, and every mother’s son and soul of us belong; the great and everlasting First Congregation of this whole worshipping world; we all belong to that; only some of us cherish some queer crotchets no ways touching the grand belief; in that we all join hands.’”
Through Ishmael, Melville is arguing that good-meaning people of any religion should have Christian status. This is all unnecessary, however, because Queequeg, more sure of his harpoon arm than the acceptance of his heathen faith, points out a tar spot floating in the water, calls it his mark and hits it with his harpoon. After this demonstration of his ability to line the Protestant pockets of the Quaker captains, they set aside their objections to his being a head hunter, sign him and give him a brief sermon on “steer[ing] clear of the fiery pit,” providing another of Melville's many points on how material concerns and the yearning for transcendence both dance around the question of religion.
Religion, ethics, even common sense, always takes a backseat when profit is involved, the majority of mankind will make a deal with the devil, seeing only the short term in their avarice mentality, it was true in Melvilles time, today's world, at the dawn of agrarian civilization, I hope after the upcoming purge we will figure this out, but as I've seen of mankind there are too few of honor and selflessness, and courage to get the job done. Ishmael sees this in all men, it causes his melancholy, but he is able to find inner peace, because I believe Ishmael desires knowledge beyound monetary gain. Moby Dick has always been my favorite book, Queequeg is still my favorite character.
James, Queequeg in my opinion, was the most brave, honorable man in the story, amazing for a cannibal, savage, don't you think.