Today we went to the Nantucket Whaling Museum. I really liked this museum. We received a presentation about the history of the Nantucket whaling business, then listened to the story of the Essex, upon which Melville based his novel. The whaling presentation was very interesting, and we learned many details about the crews and the actual process of harpooning a whale. But now, I cannot understand how any one could stand to be on a whaling voyage. It was absolutely disgusting! The video we watched was horrifying. They chase the whale, harpoon it, and get dragged on a “Nantucket sleigh-ride” until the whale is too tired to fight anymore. Then the crew peels all the blubber off the whale and melts it down on the boat! And if that isn’t gross enough, the smallest member of the crew is forced to crawl inside the head of the whale to retrieve the best oil! I can’t imagine a worse nightmare. The entire process is appalling. I am very glad the whaling business in the United States has ended. (Although, whales are still being hunted in Norway and Japan.)Not only for the sake of the whales, but so that no more little boys are scarred by climbing into the head of a whale.