- description
- # CHAPTER 112. The Blacksmith.
## Overview
This entity is a chapter from the novel "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale." Titled "CHAPTER 112. The Blacksmith.," it spans lines 18570 to 18664 of the source file.
## Context
This chapter is part of the novel "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale," which was extracted from the file "[moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6)". The novel is included in the "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection. This chapter follows "[CHAPTER 111. The Pacific.](arke:01KG8AMATF3PGH7V0W6N21J893)" and precedes "[CHAPTER 113. The Forge.](arke:01KG8AMATKSZRWET0SSKHC3G0X)". It is also part of a larger section, "[BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)](arke:01KG8AK83BA227D6NY5BT040FM)".
## Contents
This chapter introduces Perth, the old blacksmith aboard the Pequod. His portable forge is kept on deck, and he is kept busy with repairs and modifications for the crew's weapons and boat equipment. The narrative reveals Perth's tragic past: a devastating burglary that led to the loss of his family and fortune, and ultimately, the loss of his feet due to exposure while seeking shelter on a bitter winter night. The chapter details the ruin of his life, contrasting his former happiness with his current destitution. It concludes with Perth's decision to go whaling, drawn by the allure of the sea as an escape from his profound despair. The chapter is divided into two chunks, "Chunk 1" and "Chunk 2".
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- 2026-01-30T20:51:13.982Z
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- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- CHAPTER 112. The Blacksmith.
- end_line
- 18664
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:29.272Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 18570
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- null
- title
- CHAPTER 112. The Blacksmith.