Great people Quote by Herman Melville
““in his land, owing to the absence of settees and sofas of all sorts, the king, chiefs, and great people generally, were in the custom of fattening some of the lower orders for ottomans; and to furnish a house comfortably in that respect, you had only to buy up eight or ten lazy fellows, and lay them round in the piers and alcoves. Besides, it was very convenient on an excursion; much better than those garden-chairs which are convertible into walking-sticks; upon occasion, a chief calling his attendant, and desiring him to make a settee of himself under a spreading tree, perhaps in some damp marshy place.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Moby‑Dick by Herman Melville, 1851
The passage satirically describes absurd customs of using people as furniture, highlighting dehumanization and absurdity.
In simple terms: People treated like objects; absurd customs.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reject dehumanizing practices.
Themes
satire
absurdity
humanity
Mood
critical
humorous
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- literary study
- social commentary
Key Concepts
dehumanization
social critique
Practical Applications
- political satire
- theatre
- education
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern practices echo this absurdity?
- How does humor reveal social injustice?
A Different Perspective
Satire may obscure serious critique; cultural context needed.
