Moby-Dick

“Call me Ishmael.” — Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

The novel begins with Ishmael, a wandering sailor, seeking adventure and signing onto the whaling ship Pequod in Nantucket. He befriends Queequeg, a harpooner from the South Pacific, and the two join the crew under the command of the mysterious Captain Ahab.

Once at sea, Ahab reveals his true mission: to hunt and kill Moby Dick, the legendary white whale that took his leg. The crew, though initially shocked, becomes swept up in Ahab’s obsessive quest. The ship sails across oceans, encountering other whalers, storms, and strange omens.

Along the way, Melville digresses into detailed descriptions of whaling, cetology (the study of whales), and philosophical musings on fate, humanity, and nature. Key episodes include the encounter with the Jeroboam, a ship plagued by a mad prophet, and the tragic death of the cabin boy Pip, who loses his sanity after nearly drowning.

As the Pequod nears the equator, Ahab’s obsession intensifies. He forges a special harpoon, baptizing it in blood, and refuses to help other ships in distress if they cannot provide information about Moby Dick. The crew, including the first mate Starbuck—who opposes Ahab’s madness—grows uneasy.

Finally, after days of pursuit, Ahab sights Moby Dick. Three days of brutal battle ensue. The whale destroys the ship’s boats and eventually rams the Pequod, sinking it. Ahab, tangled in harpoon lines, is dragged to his death. Only Ishmael survives, clinging to Queequeg’s coffin, and is rescued by another ship.

Key Ideas

• The destructive power of obsession and revenge.
• Man’s struggle against nature and the unknowable.
• The dangers of unchecked ambition and leadership.
• The duality of whales as both majestic creatures and commodities.
• Exploration of fate, free will, and existential meaning.

Notable Adaptations