Earlier this week, Governor Bruce Rauner called Mayor Rahm Emanuel the biggest disappointment of the governor’s term so far. In response Tuesday, Emanuel suggested Rauner turn to classic literature for help. 

On WTTW’s Chicago Tonight show, Mayor Emanuel took some poetic license with his latest jab at one-time friend Bruce Rauner: This summer, Emanuel says he wants Rauner to read and learn from Moby Dick.

“Captain Ahab, in his obsession to get Moby Dick, takes the Pequod over and it doesn’t really end well. And there’s an analogy there for him,” Emanuel said.

Literary types will recognize the allusion: Captain Ahab, is obsessed with defeating the elusive white whale. And his obsession brings down himself and the ship.

In the mayor’s casting, the governor is Captain Ahab; Speaker Michael Madigan, the whale; and the people of Illinois are sinking with the ship.

Lauren Chooljian covers city politics for WBEZ. Follow her@laurenchooljian.