{"id":"01KG8AK4T0KVPHC5CKBCKTWXNQ","cid":"bafkreiblu4x4nm3lrheprb6lwvlxiwm3t4yfzfo3tmtjduywj5w6exqddy","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CHAPTER 1. Loomings.\n## Overview\nThis is the first chapter of the novel [Moby-Dick; or, The Whale](arke:01KG8AJ9GN1K052QJEZVGKXJ0T), extracted from the file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6). It is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The chapter introduces the narrator, Ishmael, and his motivations for going to sea.\n\n## Context\nThe chapter was extracted by a structure-extraction-lambda process. It follows a piece of [frontmatter](arke:01KG8AK4T0Q3JRSM86ZKMQ7S0D) and precedes [CHAPTER 2. The Carpet-Bag.](arke:01KG8AK4TB7JCH8KZ9RB07WSYB) in the novel's structure.\n\n## Contents\nThe chapter consists of the opening lines of the novel, including the famous \"Call me Ishmael.\" Ishmael describes his tendency to seek the sea as a remedy for melancholy and a substitute for more drastic measures. He reflects on the allure of the ocean for all men, particularly those living in the \"insular city of the Manhattoes.\" He observes the crowds of \"water-gazers\" at the battery, highlighting the connection between the city and the sea.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:50:39.426Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CHAPTER 1. Loomings.","end_line":842,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:54.524Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CHAPTER 1. Loomings.","source_file":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","start_line":817,"text":"CHAPTER 1. Loomings.\r\n\r\nCall me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having\r\nlittle or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me\r\non shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part\r\nof the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and\r\nregulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about\r\nthe mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever\r\nI find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and\r\nbringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever\r\nmy hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral\r\nprinciple to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and\r\nmethodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to\r\nget to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball.\r\nWith a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I\r\nquietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they\r\nbut knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other,\r\ncherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.\r\n\r\nThere now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by\r\nwharves as Indian isles by coral reefs—commerce surrounds it with her\r\nsurf. Right and left, the streets take you waterward. Its extreme\r\ndowntown is the battery, where that noble mole is washed by waves, and\r\ncooled by breezes, which a few hours previous were out of sight of\r\nland. Look at the crowds of water-gazers there.\r\n\r","title":"CHAPTER 1. Loomings."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ9GN1K052QJEZVGKXJ0T","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AK4T0Q3JRSM86ZKMQ7S0D","peer_type":"frontmatter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AK4TB7JCH8KZ9RB07WSYB","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:54.688Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:50:39.627Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}