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Moby Dick

 

             In Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, Ahab, the Captain of a whaling ship, is portrayed as an obsessive individual because of his for retribution in an almost fanatical fashion. The sailors, who joined the crew expecting to be part of a normal whaling expedition, were soon enticed with money by Ahab for sighting and capture of one particular giant white whale, Moby Dick. As the novel progresses Ahab turns into a violent and unruly man caring only about his desire for revenge. Ahab's single minded pursuit of retribution ends his own life and the lives of his crew when ironically the hunter becomes the hunted.
             Ahab establishes himself as an authority figure by welcoming the men aboard and explaining the opportunities that lie in the journey ahead of them. The sailors know they are on an expedition to hunt and kill whales yet, Ahab tries to entice the sailors to look for one particular whale. He offers a "gold ounce" to anyone who sites the whale and kills it (Melville 155). Ahab riles the crew up allowing them to "drink and pass" as a token of his appreciation for accepting his offer to look for the whale (Melville 158). Ahab ensures that the sailors know he is the sole and only captain of the ship. The crew "[cross] their lances before [him]" to show their honor and respect for his authority (Melville 159). Ahab is invigorated with the thought of power and wants "God to hunt them all" if Moby Dick is not brought to his death (Melville160). Ahab feels he controls the ultimate destiny of the crew and Moby Dick. Ahab wants to be "prophet and the fulfiller" of Moby Dick (Melville 161). Ahab "kept his magnet at Starbuck's brain" so he could not deter other sailors away from his cause (Melville 204).
             Ahab's authoritative and violent personality provokes him to make rather inexcusable decisions. Ahab is so fixated on killing Moby Dick that he decides against helping others when they request his assistance.


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