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 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 "far from having lost his strength" (implies not physically strong in a normal sense) but has "a thousand fold more potency" (will for revenge). Option A aligns as it mentions physical weakening (implied by non - normal strength context) and strengthened will for revenge. Option B is wrong as it says physical strength increase which the text doesn't support. Option C says desire weakens which is opposite. Option D says lost ability to seek revenge which contradicts the text's indication of increased potency (will for revenge).

Answer:

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