Question

read this 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 concentrated 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 sanity 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. ahab has always been physically strong, but his desire for revenge has weakened him. ahabs anger has increased his physical strength, and he is ready to fire his cannon.

Explanation:

The text describes Ahab's special madness (obsession for revenge) overpowering his general sanity. It states that far from weakening him, it gives him a thousand - fold more potency towards his revenge goal. So, his will for revenge has strengthened him despite possible physical or mental set - backs.

Answer:

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