Information on working terriers, dogs, natural history, hunting, and the environment, with occasional political commentary as I see fit. This web log is associated with the Terrierman.com web site.
Friday, January 20, 2012
A Coffee Cup Quote Starbucks Missed
The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent....
"I will have no man in my boat," said Starbuck, "who is not afraid of a whale." . - Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
The Starbucks chain is named for Starbuck from "Moby Dick". He was said to be exceptionally fond of coffee. The logo is also that of a mermaid which fit the nautical theme the company chose.
Yes, I know. The irony is that they have all these cup with quotes and leave Melville out of the swing. Noting is said about coffee and Starbuck in Moby Dick, however. The name Starbucks was selected for the coffee store after the name Pequod (the ship chasing Moby Dick) was rejected by one of the co-owners. The reference is to old-time whaling which used to be done out of Seattle, and the three original founders were english and history teachers, so they like the literary/historical bent to it. There is also a small chain called "Stubbs" -- a knock off named after the Second Mate on the Pequod.
I was curious about where Starbucks got their inspiration... as I didn't remember Starbuck drinking coffee in the book.
I slogged through it again, and found the one reference to coffee: Chapter 81, The Jungfrau. It is a joke made by Stubbs.. so why isn't the chain called Stubbs' Coffee?
3 comments:
The Starbucks chain is named for Starbuck from "Moby Dick". He was said to be exceptionally fond of coffee. The logo is also that of a mermaid which fit the nautical theme the company chose.
Yes, I know. The irony is that they have all these cup with quotes and leave Melville out of the swing. Noting is said about coffee and Starbuck in Moby Dick, however. The name Starbucks was selected for the coffee store after the name Pequod (the ship chasing Moby Dick) was rejected by one of the co-owners. The reference is to old-time whaling which used to be done out of Seattle, and the three original founders were english and history teachers, so they like the literary/historical bent to it. There is also a small chain called "Stubbs" -- a knock off named after the Second Mate on the Pequod.
I was curious about where Starbucks got their inspiration... as I didn't remember Starbuck drinking coffee in the book.
I slogged through it again, and found the one reference to coffee: Chapter 81, The Jungfrau. It is a joke made by Stubbs.. so why isn't the chain called Stubbs' Coffee?
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