The Moby-Dick Bible
< Back to the concordance

Symbolism › Nautilus Shells

Nautilus Shells

1 passage in the novel carry this mark, in the order they appear.

A pale, death-glimmer lit up Fedallah’s sunken eyes; a hideous motion gnawed his mouth.

Like noiseless nautilus shells, their light prows sped through the sea; but only slowly they neared the foe. As they neared him, the ocean grew still more smooth; seemed drawing a carpet over its waves; seemed a noon-meadow, so serenely it spread.

Chapter 133, The Chase—First Day · verse 8

Read in context >