Can you catch the expression of the Sperm Whale's there? It is the same he died with, only some of the longer wrinkles in the forehead seem now faded away. I think his broad brow to be full of a prairie-like placidity, born of a speculative indifference as to death. But mark the other head's expression. See that amazing lower lip, pressed by accident against the vessel's side, as as firmly to embrace the jaw. Does not this whole head seem to speak of an enormous practical resolution in facing death? This Right Whale I take to have been a Stoic; the Sperm Whale, a Platonian, who might have taken up Spinoza in his latter years.
The passage reflects on the expressions of two different whale species after death, highlighting their contrasting natures. The Sperm Whale's face displays a serene and contemplative expression, suggesting a calm acceptance of its fate. Its wrinkles indicate a life of experience and introspection, hinting at a philosophical mindset that could be likened to a Platonic perspective.
In contrast, the Right Whale's expression reveals a stoic resolve. The description of its lower lip pressed firmly against the vessel conveys an attitude of strength and determination in the face of mortality. This juxtaposition illustrates the distinct approaches to life and death embodied by these two whales, with one embodying peaceful acceptance and the other exhibiting practical courage.
