Read the excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick.Nor a word he spoke; nor did his officers say aught to him; though by all their minutest gestures and expressions, they plainly showed the uneasy, if not painful, consciousness of being under a troubled master-eye.Which best describes the theme Melville develops in this excerpt?
Answer
A
the effectiveness of a leader who sets himself apart from others
B
the importance of obeying a leader under all circumstances
C
the inherent danger of a leader who exhibits signs of distress
D
the problems associated with inexperienced leaders
Explanation
The officers’ gestures show that they are uneasy under their troubled captain’s gaze, even though nobody speaks. This suggests that a leader’s visible distress can unsettle those under his command, making “the inherent danger of a leader who exhibits signs of distress” the best description. The excerpt does not focus on inexperience, obedience, or a leader deliberately setting himself apart.
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