In chapter 113, we are able to see how Ahab’s obsession has taken over him. It consumes him so much that he turns away from God and does not wish for his blessing but instead wishes for the blessing of the devil. This becomes more clear with the forging of the specialized harpoon and the covering of the weapon in blood from the three pagan harpooners. Melville writes “‘Ego non baptizo te in nomine patris, see in nomine diaboli!’ deliriously howled Ahab, as the malignant iron scorchingly devoured the baptismal blood” (Melville 532). This part really caught my attention especially since it is in Latin. What Ahab is saying here is he baptizes the weapon not in the name of the father but in the name of the devil. We can also see Ahab performing this “satanic” ritual by using the blood from the three pagans. With the baptizing of Ahab’s weapon we can see how his obsession with the whale has corrupted him. His fixation is so intense it calls forth an alliance with evil. The upgraded harpoon is more than a weapon, it is a symbol of Ahab’s madness—his devotion to vengeance. Ahab wishes for chaos and has Perth forge a weapon of death to use for the Great Whale. Instead of using faith to keep the vengeance away, it is being twisted to keep the vengeance near. Another thing I want to add is the whale has been referred to as a mystical and god-like thing a number of times. So, to see Ahab bring up the devil’s name to bless the harpoon shows just how deep his obsession runs. He has to turn to darkness itself to help destroy this divine being. Melville uses this moment to reveal the destruction obsession causes.
Moby-Dick
ECL 522: Fall 2025. Professor Pressman
Hi Francisca! This was an amazing chapter for sure. It is also really interesting because for numerous chapters we have seen animals, inanimate objects, and members of the crew compared to or used as a reference to God. To see the crew still following Ahab’s corrupt ways despite his turning from God shows the underlying influence of evil to compel the masses, turning them from divinity and the “ways of God” to do evil without fully grasping what they are doing is wrong. Since Ahab is used as a reference to God and religion in previous chapters, the chapter can also be spun to suggest that evil ways are shrouded by the will or word of God to get people to do harmful things and cause them to stray further from God.
Good point here: “The upgraded harpoon is more than a weapon, it is a symbol of Ahab’s madness—his devotion to vengeance,” but can you push beyond the character and plot element to an interpretation of why this matters? What does this upgraded revenge vehicle say or suggest or perhaps even symbolize?
Hey Francisca, I enjoyed reading your response to this crazy chapter. I feel like this chapter is definitely the instance were Ahab goes from obsession driven and fueled by vengeance into full blown madness. I like how you bring up how the harpoon is a symbol of Ahab’s madness. The tool of destruction used against whales has turned into symbol of evil, madness, violence, and vengeance showing how Ahab’s obsession is getting worse each chapter. We truly see him taking a dive off the deep end, plunging further into his quest for revenge against Moby-Dick, and leading the crew members of the Pequod into his path of destruction and madness.
Hi Francesca, I enjoyed reading your post! I was also captivated by the quote and chapter. Ahab has gone completely off the rails now, that they are more into the journey looking for Moby Dick. This chapter just tells you more on how Ahab’s madness is increasing and how more destructive is getting towards hunting for Moby Dick. I love how you describe the harpoon as a symbol of Ahab’s madness, but also destruction and the whale being a symbol of god-like, a divine-being.
It’s Darian by the way! It logged me out and now it says anonymous!