How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
With whale-oil prices steadily climbing and the rest of the world's economy sunk in depression, the village of Nantucket was on its way to becoming one of the richest towns in America. (1.3)
And so it begins. To be honest with y'all, Nantucket sort of stumbles into its newfound wealth—it's not like the city's founders knew they were sitting on a veritable gold mine. It would be like waking up one day to discover that you have an iPhone Tree growing in your backyard. Regardless, this stroke of fate defines the course of Nantucket's future.
Quote #2
Nantucket was now the whaling capital of the world, but there were more than a few islanders who had never even seen a whale. (1.21)
This is the perfect representation of the Nantucketers' greed. There was once a point when their waters were filled with whales ripe for the picking. Or stabbing, we suppose. These days, however, there's nothing left except an increasing desire to make beaucoup bucks at any cost.
Quote #3
Instead of building fancy houses or buying fashionable clothes, Nantucket's Quakers reinvested their profits in the whale fishery. (1.24)
This seemingly frugal move actually reveals the whaling industry's immense greed. By reinvesting all of their money into their businesses, these men are forcing their operations to grow at an untenable rate. Ever heard of a financial bubble? Here's the thing about bubbles—no matter how big they get, they always pop.