General Observations

I have found it interesting how many literary references to books we have read have been in this book. Of the top of my head I can think of Don Quixote, Pilgrim's Progress and Gulliver's Travels.

I also noted the term "quixotic" used a few times, and guessed correctly, that its' meaning references Quixote.

Interesting, eh??

What's in a name?

Do you find it interesting that Una is refered to as Mrs. Captain, when the wives of all other captains actually go by the captain's last name? I thought that maybe the author felt that it would be presumptuous to give a surname to Ahab.
But I found it very interesting since nams play such a role in the story. Una taking back her maiden name, picking a thimble with an S, Susan choosing Spenser as her last name, etc.

Yeah, i like that thought about names. I think you are right in that the author did not feel it was her place to choos a namefor Ahab. I love reading referencess to other books we have read. There was a list in Uncle Toms Cabin when describing cousin Ophelia's perfect home where a book shelf had several books in perfect order and I rmember Pilgrims progress was one of them.