Question

read the excerpt from chapter 41 of moby dick using comprehension strategies
if such a furious trope may stand, his special lunacy stormed his general sanity, and carried it, and turned
all its concentred cannon upon its own mad mark; so that far from having lost his strength, ahab, to that
one end, did now possess a thousand fold more potency than ever he had sanely brought to bear upon any
one reasonable object.
what is the meaning of this excerpt?
though ahab is physically weakened, his will for revenge has strengthened him
ahabs anger has increased his physical strength, and he is ready to fire his cannon
ahab has always been physically strong, but his desire for revenge has weakened him.
though ahab has lost his ability to seek revenge, he still harbors anger and resentment

Explanation:

The text says Ahab's "special lunacy" (his obsession for revenge) "carried it" (his general sanity) and he now has "a thousand - fold more potency" than when he was "sanely" focused. This implies a contrast between a possible physical state (not explicitly weakened here but the focus is on the mental - emotional drive) and the strengthening of his will for revenge.

Answer:

A. Though Ahab is physically weakened, his will for revenge has strengthened him