Philosophical/metaphysical leap at the end (as he often provides). He suggests that as mortals we are all constantly subject to danger and death; our domestic safety is an illusion. Just when I was thanking my stars that I never have to encounter whale line in the midst of a hunt, he reminds us that if we open ourselves to the true precariousness of life and limb, we would recognize the ubiquitous risk of life itself. (This reminds me in some ways of Montaigne's "To Philosophize Is to Learn How to Die": through practice they get to a point where they can shrug at such immediate terror as the line.)

fear, anticipation, apprehension

Reminds me of what Meursault remembers Maman saying as he sits in his prison cell, that you can get used to anything.

When has that ever stopped you before? Haha.

Eek.

Wow. Problematic, to say the least. Clear racial hierarchy, particularly with regard to beauty.

This shows Fleece is acting under orders, against his will. It reminds me of Jim humoring Tom and Huck because he has to. This might tend to seem like the portrayal here of Fleece reinforces racial stereotypes, but as Wyn said with the novel James it seems to me that Fleece's performance here is underscored by a whole different internal perspective on Stubb's abuse. He is putting on the show Stubb demanded.

Shouts out for Fleece rudely, repeatedly, again disturbing his sleep. (Meanwhile he widens his legs "as if to form a more secure base for his supper"; he has no intention of moving from his comfortable repast.

Stubb commands a (the) Black harpooneer to go overboard and fetch him a whale steak. This might not stand out as much without Stubb's subsequent abuse of the Black cook Fleece. I'm guessing this "tapering extremity" is retrieved at significant inconvenience, and probably risk, to Daggoo.

Would be funny if he were not dogging Fleece with this nonsense. This feels like jolly, happy-go-lucky Stubb on the surface, but this whole scene shows that Stubb is happy to amuse himself at the expense of his perceived lesser. (This whole scene also resonates again when he tells Pip, "We can't afford to lose whales by the likes of you; a whale would sell for thirty times what you would, Pip, in Alabama" ("The Castaway" 307). Sure, there Stubb is trying to use any means available to convince Pip not to jump again, but he clearly sees him as Black and therefore fair game for bullying and devaluation (or, monetary valuation). I feel like Stubb shows his true colors (so to speak) as far as race in his obnoxious treatment of Fleece. He has no qualms about using race to put Pip "in his place.")

He has the last word, but has to mutter it to himself. If he spoke back directly, Stubb would not let him go yet. There would be some sort of consequences. His words are "sage," and he entirely perceives that Stubb is acting the shark in this scene.

More, more, more...

C'mon. Just let him go to bed.

More orders.

So... burn yourself so that my steak can be more perfectly rare. Your injury/discomfort/etc. is not as important as my whims.

Right. Jerk.

Again, this bullying makes me physically ill. He is physically manipulating him here with his orders. Fleece just wants to do whatever he needs to in order to get away and go back to bed. This is clearly harrassment.

He's deliberately trying to make Fleece look foolish and have to articulate things that most people would not be forced to articulate.

He may know what Stubb is getting at but instead chooses to emphasize how he ought to be in bed and intends to end this meeting and go there.

Is this your business? (What does that have to do with the steak, as Fleece asked before about his age.)

Forces Fleece to do as he says. No bodily autonomy. He has to stand where Stubb says to, eat what Stubb says to, etc.

Again, this is Fleece registering his objection as strongly as he dares.

What a jerk. Complaining while he eats and makes Fleece stand there.

He demands justification for this interrogation, but Stubb silences him and demands an answer.

Poor Fleece. He is old, disabled, and tired, and Stubb is subjecting him to humiliation.

He again registers his objection.

Swearing again against Stubb's orders.

Note the diction here.

Here, Fleece stands up for himself and refuses to play along further-- until Stubb orders him again, repeating "go on, go on."

Ironic. This swearing while admonishing against Fleece's swearing shows how Stubb is deliberately messing with Fleece for his own amusement.

This is bullying. I feel in my childhood bones here the times when older kids or kids with more social power ordered me to do awkward things just because they could and wanted to show that they had to power to command. This is clear abuse of power as Stubb is both a mate and white.

Hassles Fleece. Complains just to complain. Ingratitude. Bully.

Horrifying fact. Ironic tone: "decently buried," casual language equates a parcel to a dead human being (but self-aware?).