Conclusions made on the basis of unstated or stated evidence are called <span><span>inferences.</span></span>
This detail exemplifies the larger theme of the futility of human efforts to dominate nature.
The entire novel revolves around that theme - whether Ahab as a human is capable of dominating Moby Dic, which is a whale and thus a representative of nature. Nature seems to be winning constantly and humans are ultimately unable to conquer it because nature is unconquerable. <span />
What’re they good for? Well, here’s our best Shmoop expert opinion: when you read a line of poetry aloud, your eyes (and therefore your voice) tend to speed on to the end of the line. Try it and see. When you read "in Just-," however, the spaces slow your eyes down. More importantly, they slow your voice down, as well. As you’re reading, you’re thinking, "Huh? I totally don’t know whether to pause for the spaces or not!" And even in that time that it takes to think that through, your voice slows oh-so-slightly. Kind of cool, huh?
