- description
- # CHAPTER LXXXV. THE GREAT MASSACRE OF THE BEARDS.
## Overview
"CHAPTER LXXXV. THE GREAT MASSACRE OF THE BEARDS." is a chapter from the novel [White-Jacket](arke:01KG8AJ89Z18FKVJV5H0488ZAZ). It spans lines 13555 to 13851 of the source text and was extracted on January 30, 2026.
## Context
This chapter is part of [White-Jacket](arke:01KG8AJ89Z18FKVJV5H0488ZAZ), a novel within the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The text was extracted from the file [white_jacket.txt](arke:01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY). It follows [CHAPTER LXXXIV. MAN-OF-WAR BARBERS.](arke:01KG8AJVX0Y5ACYRJ3VWH0EVJM) and precedes [CHAPTER LXXXVI. THE REBELS BROUGHT TO THE MAST.](arke:01KG8AJVWMFF7D8K9J4VCM1XV2).
## Contents
The chapter details a "calamitous event" aboard the Neversink: the forced shaving of the crew's beards and trimming of their hair. It describes the initial resistance from the sailors, who vow not to comply with Captain Claret's order, and the subsequent quelling of an "incipient mutiny" by Mad Jack. The narrative culminates in the "massacre" of beards, with a poignant account of Jack Chase's reluctance to part with his own beard, highlighting the emotional and symbolic significance of facial hair to the seamen. The chapter also includes commentary on naval regulations regarding beards and historical references to similar acts of forced shaving.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:50:01.644Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- CHAPTER LXXXV. THE GREAT MASSACRE OF THE BEARDS.
- end_line
- 13851
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:39.667Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 13555
- text
- null
- title
- CHAPTER LXXXV. THE GREAT MASSACRE OF THE BEARDS.