“See how elastic our stiff prejudices grow when love once comes to bend them.”
Herman Melville’s mid-19th century novel immortalized the figure of the sperm whale. And while interpretations of a story can vary, the “antagonist” generally signified the power and ferocity of nature. Growing up with little knowledge of the whales themselves, I would distinctly envision the jagged teeth and aggressive nature of the animal based on the story alone.
When joining these animals in the water, the “man versus beast” narrative is quashed. When you see the whales sleeping or socializing at the surface, you can’t help but draw a connection to them. They rub heads as they twirl amongst each other – the most graceful 40-ton ballet dancers that you will come across. They “click” you inside-out, but only to make sense of their visitors. They are curious but never threatening.
It is in these moments in the seemingly endless expanses of the sea, watching the animals spend time with one another, that you begin to understand that their comfort comes from closeness, not distance; from touch, not personal space. You start to realize that we might just be more similar to these giants than we thought.
professional category
A World Below (Series)
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