Tag Archives: ahab

Essay 1 – The Dangers of a Charismatic Leader

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In the novel, Moby-Dick, author Herman Melville is critiquing charismatic leaders through the character Captain Ahab, who represents the dangers of an influential leader that is filled with anger, vengeance, hubris, and a destructive obsession. This is seen throughout the novel with his ability to steer the crew members of the Pequod to have the same animosity towards Moby Dick, which in turn fuels both his and their need for vengeance against the whale. Captain Ahab’s ability to influence and disrupt the natural state of democracy on the ship shows how leaders like himself are dangerous and a threat to society.

In Chapter 36, titled “The Quarter-Deck,” Captain Ahab uses his charisma to take control over the Pequod, and establish himself as the de facto leader of the ship. This is seen when he offers the men a gold ounce to whoever spots Moby Dick: “[Ahab] advanced towards the main-mast with the hammer uplifted in one hand, exhibiting the gold with the other, and with a high raised voice exclaiming: ‘Whosoever of ye raises me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw; whosoever of ye raises me that white-headed whale, with three holes punctured in his starboard fluke – look ye, whosoever of ye raises that same white whale, he shall have this gold ounce my boys!’ ‘Huzza! huzza!’ cried the seamen” (Melville 176). This shows how easy it is for Captain Ahab to influence the men on the Pequod, and to put himself in a position in which they will do what he tells them to without second guessing it. What was originally supposed to be a normal whaling boat, has turned into a hunting boat by orders of Captain Ahab. What was originally supposed to be democracy on the ship, has turned into an attempt at tyranny because of the Captain’s desire to find and kill Moby Dick. The dangers of his charisma are shown very clearly. He uses it to gain control over the ship, and to enact a proposition that the man who finds the white whale will be rewarded with gold. This further divides the already diverse ship and creates a competitive environment amongst the men. Captain Ahab’s influence and leadership is a threat to democracy, and the men on the Pequod don’t even try to resist.

The men on the ship are all in for Captain Ahab’s plan, despite it disrupting what the original purpose of the trip was. Ahab is well aware of his influence, and knows that the crew members will have his back and follow his lead: “The crew, man, the crew! Are they not one and all with Ahab, in this matter of the whale?” (Melville 178). The awareness of his ability to control the men on the Pequod is what makes Ahab especially dangerous; he doesn’t care what happens to them so long as they do what he asks of them. It is strange but certainly not surprising to see the men be so on board with the Captain’s takeover. Once again in Chapter 36, Ahab is seen using his charisma to further establish his push for tyranny on the ship by involving the crew members in a toast to his leadership and their goal to kill Moby Dick. “Commend the murderous chalices! Bestow them, ye who are now made parties to this indissoluble league… Drink, ye harpooners! drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat’s bow – Death to Moby Dick! God hunt us all, if we do not hunt Moby Dick to his death!’ The long, barbed steel goblets were lifted; and to cries and maledictions against the white whale, the spirits were simultaneously quaffed down with a hiss” (Melville 181). The crew members fiercely and willingly drink to the fall of democracy on the Pequod, falling into the trap that has been set by Captain Ahab. The men relate with Ahab’s anger, his need for revenge seeps into their minds and overtakes their own thoughts, they feel what he feels, think what he thinks, and do what he tells them to do. As the narrator of the novel, Ishmael, puts it: “A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine… I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge” (Melville 194). Captain Ahab has convinced the crew that his anger and need for vengeance is theirs as well. It leads to the question of what exactly is Captain Ahab’s obsession with the whale Moby Dick?

In Chapter 36, “The Quarter-Deck,” Captain Ahab is successful in convincing the men of the Pequod to submit to his leadership and join him in his journey for revenge against Moby Dick. However, there is one man that Ahab is unable to influence, that being the ship’s First Mate, Starbuck. Starbuck is left unconvinced by Ahab, and questions his pursuit of the white whale, to which Ahab begins to tell Starbuck about his unwavering need for vengeance on Moby Dick: “How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there’s naught beyond. But ‘tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him. Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I’d strike the sun if it insulted me” (Melville 178). Ahab’s obsession for Moby Dick stems from the idea that all the wrongdoings in his life are because of the whale. Anything bad that happens to him is at the fault of Moby Dick, he cannot get live while that whale which has caused his life to spiral into madness is still out there. His life is intertwined with Moby Dick, and his obsession and hubris will certainly lead to the downfall of himself and the Pequod. 

Captain Ahab is a criticism of leaders who use their influence to take control of a nation and turn democracy into disorder. The men on board who cannot see past his charismatic speeches and nature will also perish because of their own willingness to take part in a madman’s journey to fulfill a prophecy by which an unknown force has forsaken him with. Melville wrote this novel to critique dangerous leaders, whose obsessions overtake their lives, and lead nations into dangerous waters in which those who were following blindly will finally see the disaster that they cheered for and toasted to. Captain Ahab is not just a character, but a warning to all those reading Moby-Dick.

Chapter 46: Is Man a Tool?

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I believe this is one of the first chapters that addresses the idea of Ahab being aware of his tyrannical tendencies and near insane quest to solely focus on Moby Dick. Ishmael himself observes that Captain Ahab hasn’t entirely lost his mind, but it doesn’t change the fact that he has to ensure that the crew remain all for his idea, lest the boredom of the sea change their minds. There’s a clear fear of a mutiny, but the line that centralized Ahab’s command over the Pequod out of the entire chapter were the lines connecting the pages.

“Starbuck’s body and Strabuck’s coerced will were Ahab’s, so long as Ahab kept his magnet at Starbuck’s brain; still he knew that for all this the chief mate, in his soul, abhorred his captain’s quest, and could he, would joyfully disintegrate himself from it, or even frustrate it.” (230-231)

Ishmael mentions that Ahab “must use tools” (230) in order to complete his quest for vengeance, but Ishmael himself points out that Men are most prone to breaking the order on the ship. I think what primarily makes me ponder this specific line though is the idea that even if Starbuck opposes Ahab so greatly, he’s still under his command. Even if there is clear defiance, who in their right mind (with how early we are within the novel) would defy such a maniacal yet clear-sighted man? He might not be clear-sighted in a means of rational thought, but he is clear sided in what he wants, in this quest to hunt down the very whale that took his leg. Another thing to mention is the way Ishmael observes “coerced.” Starbuck here is clearly forced to do Ahab’s bidding. Whether by force or a threat, Ahab himself is a man of loaded language and even greater force, he’s full of charisma, and is able to continue using the crew as tools, no matter the position. While we have discussed in class that the Pequod is like a nation, I’m starting to see them as a toolbox. Ahab can pick what he needs to use for whatever purpose it is, and as diverse as the sailors may be, the hysteria (or potential languor) all melds them together into one hive-mind of a crew to be used under Ahab.

With God as My Witness…[Essay #1]

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In chapter 34 of Moby Dick, Melville uses biblical allusions and the relation of royalty to God to describe Captain Ahab in order to emphasize the importance and power this character will have on the direction of the narrative. 

The power of God is one that is built upon faith, and in many aspects, this is similar to the role of a ship captain—with the crew putting their faith in the captain’s ability to lead them during their time on the ocean. If we consider the Ocean as a sort of religious experience, it opens the possibility for those who are conduits of this experience to guide this journey.

Ahab’s mysterious characterization not only suggests his importance to the narrative but also frames him as a representative of a prophet of God. In this case the captain becomes a prophet dedicated to the water, and much like Jesus Christ guiding the religious experience of his disciples—Captain Ahab will guide the crew on their journey through the ocean. 

This characterization of Ahab as a prophet is evident in the first dinner scene with his crew, which was intended to allude to the biblical scene of Jesus and the Last Supper. 

“Over his ivory inlaid table, Ahab presided like a mute maned sea-lion on the white coral beach, surrounded by his war like but still deferential cubs…They were little children before Ahab; and yet in Ahab, there seemed not to lurk the smallest social arrogance.” (162).  

Using this biblical allusion the scene paints a picture of regality and unity among a common leader situated amongst them. 

The particular language used is purposeful to elevate Ahab above his crew without necessarily demeaning them. Comparing Ahab to a sea-lion surrounded by cubs positions him in a place of not only power but of protection. Demonstrating the captain’s obligations to the crew and the seriousness and which he takes this position The second sentiment, which compares the crew to his children also echoes this idea of protection but brings in a more religious aspect. In the bible, those who follow the word of the Lord are considered “children of God.” This specific use of the word “children” in this phrase, is meant to emulate that same sort of spiritual presence of unity under one God. For the shipmates—that unity is under Ahab.

His character is positioned as someone with a power and status likened to Godhood. Therefore, he has the precedent of ultimate authority on his ship. In addition, the status of a ship captain being positioned as a prophet of God, indirectly frames ship captains above regal authority. 

“To have been Belshazzar, King of Babylon…therein certainly must have been some touch of mundane grandeur. But he who is the rightly regal and intelligent spirit presides over his own private dinner table of invited guests, that man’s unchallenged power and dominion of individual influences for the time; that man’s royalty of state transcends Belshazzar’s” (162). 

This sentiment encapsulates the idea of the captain holding a higher rank than even that of royalty due to the prestige and respect he has gained from those whom he presides over. 

Considering that royalty is a God given state, it positions God above the royals, and in this context, the captain is above them as well. 

The language used to describe this state is also specifically biblical, showing that the power is that of a spiritual nature as well as the hierarchy of roles. Although there may be social equality on the ship, there is still a hierarchy that is maintained by the roles of crew. The “unchallenged power” of Ahab as captain is what reinforces his power on top of the hierarchy. The reference to the idea of a “dominion” also comes from the biblical sense of authority that has been given by God to govern or steward over the land or in this case, to govern the ship on the ocean. This directly links the role of captain to that of a prophet of religion, governing its own individual dominion. Situating the status of captain as being that of something godly but not all power. 

As the story progresses, Ahab will be the one to lead them on the hunt—with the power to steer the direction of their destinies. The question now is whether he’ll lead them towards glory and heaven or hardship and hell. 

In the original story of Jesus Christ, his unwavering beliefs are what lead the people of Bethlehem, and one of his own disciples to turn on him—resulting in his horrific drawn-out death in the end. 

If Ahab is to continue mirroring Jesus Christ the prophet, there is a good chance that Ahab’s obsessive mission to kill the White Whale will be a death sentence. This reflection also hints at the possibility of a mutiny on the ship, since Jesus Christ was also betrayed by his fellow disciple, Judas. So far in the novel, the only opposition we’ve had against Ahab’s mission has been Starbuck. This detail could possibly foreshadow escalating tensions on the ship that can potentially lead to this mutiny. However, as of now, Ahab is the titular character who possesses the most power over the narrative. He is literally driving the direction of our characters’ fates by guiding the ship towards its destiny. 

However, considering that the biblical allusion seems to be comparing Ahab to the likes of Jesus, this ultimately leads me to believe that his fate, and that of his crew will end in the same tragic style of the death of Jesus.

Chapter 44: The Chart

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In chapter 44, Ishmael explains on how obsessed Captain Ahab has become on planning his hunt for Moby Dick. Melville writes,” God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and whose intense thinking thus makes him a Prometheus; a vulture feeds upon that heart for ever; that vulture the very creature he creates”,(220), in this passage Melville explores how obsession can transform the human mind into its own tormentor and how easy it is to loose yourself to madness when the thoughts come to deeply to torment the human mind. He transforms Ahab has a victim and the creator of his own madness. The phrase,” God help thee” is recognizing that Ahab is suffering and no one can save him, but Him. When he says the “creature” it represents the madness being born inside of him from his obsession with Moby Dick, while comparing him to Prometheus due to both being defiant and both being punished for not fulfilling their duties. Melville uses imagery to to warn us, the audience, about the conception of madness of the human mind, becoming to much of a delusion of something we can’t let go.

I recently read Terry Eagleton’s, “Literary Theory: An Introduction,” in one of his chapter, psychoanalysis, Eagleton discusses that psychoanalysis views that humans are driven by unconscious desires and compulsions that they don’t comprehend, which comes as a clear example: Ahab’s obsession with Moby Dick.

Ahab & Prometheus

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As our characters continue to pursue their mission to hunt down Moby Dick, Ahab’s seemingly vengeful quest slowly reveals his obsessive state of mind that gradually affects his leadership.

This charismatic leader is becoming more maddening over time as his quest for his personal revenge stretches on, jeopardizing the mission and the lives of his men. The more time that passes on the Pequod, the more Ahab is driven further into his obsession, leaving him feeling like he is lacking.

“What trances of torment does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire. He sleeps with clenched hands; and wakes with his own bloody nails in his palms.” (219). 

This uneventfulness to him is described as torment and his lack of achievements are causing his low morale and deteriorating mindset. This feeling is then manifested in a physicality when it describes him inflicting self-harm—a clear sign of his extreme emotional distress. 

To encapsulate this emotional state, Ahab is then compared to the Greek God Prometheus to reflect on how his continued obsession will eventually lead to godly punishment.

 In the story of Prometheus, the Greek God of striving, he is characterized as having a particular reputation for being a trickster with the fallibility of favoring the humans. His obsession of gaining humanity’s favor leads him to steal fire from the Gods and give it to the humans as a gift. As a result of stealing he was punished by Zeus, who forced him to be chained to a rock for all times and ensured that everyday a vulture would eat his liver that continuously grew back. 

Prometheus’ story can be considered a lesson about the risk of overreaching achievements resulting in unintended consequences. In the context of Ahab, it becomes a metaphor for how Ahab’s obsession will become his undoing.

“God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he whose intense thinking thus makes him a Prometheus; a vulture feeds upon that heart for ever; that vulture the very creature he creates.” (220).

 In the line, “that vulture is the very creature he creates,” the vulture is Ahab’s obsession, a feeling that he has made up as a response to losing his leg and blaming the whale for it. Pointing out that the vulture is of his own making, shows that the way Ahab is feeling is simply a construct he made for himself. He chooses to feel this way and project these emotions onto the whale and the idea of taking revenge. So, when he’s unable to attain that, his obsession becomes self-inflicted punishment of the mind. 

 The story of Prometheus is meant to reflect the direction that Ahab’s obsession with the White Whale will take the narrative. It’s clear from Ahab’s recent actions that he isn’t in the right state of mind despite being the captain of the ship. He is not leading with purpose but by obsession that is border-lining madness. If he continues this pursuit of revenge, there will be Godly retribution, most likely in the form of a whale.  His non-stop chase of the White Whale will make him grow increasingly mad, transforming this previously charismatic leader into a chaotic, unhinged force that will lead the crew with erratic passion rather than a captain’s logic. When facing a Leviathan such as the White Whale, one has to be in a clear state of mind or they will die. If the Pequod maintains their pursuit, Moby Dick will be the God that will bring upon Ahab’s death. 

How Cautious is to Cautious? – Ahab in Chapter 44

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In Chapter 44 on page 218, Melville writes, “Not in the cautious comprehensiveness and unloitering vigilance with which Ahab threw his brooding soul into this unfaltering hunt, he would not permit himself to rest all his hopes upon the one crowning fact above mentioned, however flattering it might be to those hopes.” This passage reveals a crucial stage in Ahab’s descent into obsession. Melville’s language, especially phrases such as “brooding soul” and “unfaltering hunt” illustrate how Ahab’s entire being has become consumed by his pursuit of the white whale – to the point where he wouldn’t trust other’s maps. Specifically the words “brooding” and “unloitering” suggest a restless intensity, otr, an inability to detach himself from the obsession that now defines him. Even as Ahab tries to maintain a sense of caution and rationality, the passage shows that his vigilance has transformed into a form of mania. His “cautious comprehensiveness”, for example, does not symbolize prudence. Instead it represents the totality with which his mind revolves around vengeance and revenge.

Also, the line “he would not permit himself to rest all his hopes upon the one crowning fact” implies that Ahab is aware of how dangerous his obsession is, but he continues to feed it. It is an addiction – an addiction to violence. This tension captures the tragedy of his character: he recognizes the irrationality of staking his entire existence on revenge, but he cannot resist doing so. Through this quote, Melville portrays Ahab as a man who has surrendered to the illusion of control, believing that through sheer will and vigilance he can master fate itself. Ultimately, this moment reflects the heart of Ahab’s insanity: a soul that can no longer separate determination from destruction. His obsession with Moby Dick has consumed every trace of balance, turning his intellect and willpower into instruments that eventually become his own undoing.

Chapter Fifty-Two

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In Chapter 52, “The Albatross”, Ishmael writes “But as the strange captain, leaning over the pallid bulwarks, was in the act of putting his trumpet to his mouth, it somehow fell from his hand into the sea…at the first mere mention of the White Whale’s name to another ship, Ahab for a moment paused; it almost seemed as though he would have lowered a boat to board the stranger.” (257-258) This brief moment encapsulates the futility of human communication and the isolating nature of obsession, showing that Ahab’s quest for vengeance isolates him. This simple maritime exchange, which we later learn as “gam”,  becomes a powerful symbol of the disconnect between Ahab and the people around him. The trumpet, a device meant to amplify voices to be heard across the vast ocean, becomes useless when it falls to the ocean floor. This mirrors the emotional state that Ahab is in; despite him being a captain, someone whose voice is above all, he is spiritually and emotionally isolated. The sea swallows the trumpet just as it will swallow Ahab if he continues with his obsessive nature. 

The silence in this moment also makes it significant and demonstrates the novel’s exploration of obsession. The loss of communication between the Pequot and the Albatross reflects Ahab’s loss of connection to humanity. What should have been a shared movement between two ships becomes an instance of absence and miscommunication. His single-minded pursuit of Moby-Dick consumes every part of his life, cutting him off from community, empathy, and even reason. Melville’s use of The Albatross as the name of the ship is no coincidence. An albatross is a bird that often represents a heavy burden or inescapable guilt. The passing of this ship serves as an omen to Ahab, a reminder that his quest will only lead to ruin. Although this chapter is brief, it has great implications. In this chapter, perhaps Melville is suggesting that obsession severs human connection and that the pursuit of vengeance is often met with silence. This scene in “The Albatross” encapsulates the paradox of Ahab’s character — someone who is striving to master the unknown, Moby-Dick, so much that he becomes utterly alone in a world that refuses to give him an answer. 

Chapter 44: A Whale and Vengeance Obsessed Man

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As I was reading through chapter 44, I came across this passage, which perfectly encompasses how much Ahab was truly obsessed with the whale he calls Moby Dick. Ahab describes the whale as if he knew the whale personally, and I thought that this bit shows how he has truly made hunting down this whale his entire personality and part of his life.

“That in the broad boundless ocean, one solitary whale, even if encountered, should be thought capable of individual recognition from his hunter, even as a white-bearded Mufti in the thronged thoroughfares of Constantinople? No. For the peculiar snow-white brow of Moby Dick, and his snow-white hump, could not be unmistakable. And have I not tallied the whale, Ahab would mutter to himself, as after poring over his charts till long after midnight he would throw himself back in reveries-tallied him, and shall he escape?” Chapters 44

Amidst the vast ocean, Ahab was in sight of one whale, which caused him to lose a part of himself, which then caused him to want to take vengeance upon the massive creature for the pain that he went through. That piercing whiteness of the whale, he will never forget, and will be part of how he can identify Moby Dick out traversing the seas. He knows the anatomy of this whale whale so well that it has been haunting him ever since. This causes him to even believe that he can spot the menacing white whale even if he is trying to blend in with other sperm whales that could be traveling nearby.

He details the anatomy of the whale, which he could spot from and knows is his nemesis, in the blink of an eye. The vengeance that is built up in him as he has traveled the oceans seeking out Moby Dick, with the marks he has left on him in the past encounters, to identify the creature to hunt him down to kill him. Ahab, with his charts, knows where this whale has gone, and he can still know this whale apart from the rest, and the image of this large ocean creature has not left his mind since that first sighting.

Ahab has shown us that his dedication to seeking out Moby Dick to kill him has the same mentality as when someone says I put my heart and soul into it. He has dedicated his life to hunting down this whale, and now he has encouraged his crew of the Pequod to help him seek out his ocean nemesis.

Ch. 35 “The Quarter-Deck”

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“I came to hunt whales, not my commander’s vengeance” (177)

Ahab is very hungry; he is hungry for revenge, which is hilarious because he thinks he will find “Moby Dick,” but he won’t. He might find a big white whale, but he isn’t going to find thee whale. It shows how this isn’t business for Ahab, it’s a personal trip. He isn’t here to make friends or family; this is his lifeline, finding Moby Dick to have his revenge. He is too hungry, he is a dictator, he is mean and so rude to everyone but himself but when it comes down to it, he needs the shipmates help, because of his legacy, he think he deserves this hierarchy. Everyone is sacred of him including Ishmael, even if doesn’t say it. instead of Ahad leading and being apart of a team, he is by himself, he has changed the mission and has bribed the crew to gain “trust”. Ahad is overly obsessed with finding and killing Moby dick, its pathetic. Ishmael is the only one who can see it, to me, sees how Ahad isn’t a nobel leader but a whale king. I guess not all things nobel are melancholy.

I wonder if Ahab is lonely and hates himself?

Ahab; or the fallen angel

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Ahab is searching for God. Chapters 36, 37, and 38 were interesting to me because not only does Ahab confront the crew and have them sign a pact (or a deal with the devil), but Starbuck publicly questions the madness of his captain and voices the doubts that others are more than willing to ignore in favor of peace. What interested me was the fragile peace maintained on the ship, and how Ahab is almost daring Starbuck to challenge him, and inspire rebellion. This instability is revealed to us in Chapter 37, Sunset, where we get insight into Ahab’s inner thoughts. What I found there proves to me without a doubt that this quest, for the whale, is the quest of a fallen man, a quest for God. 

Ahab has lost all connection and appreciation of nature: “ Oh! Time was when the sunrise nobly spurred me, so the sunset soothed me. No more. This lovely light, it lights not me; all loveliness is anguish to me, since I can ne’er enjoy it. Gifted with the high perception, I lack the low, enjoying power; damned, most subtly and most malignantly! Damned in the midst of Paradise! (182)”

Like Starbuck, I feel such immense pity for Ahab. Surrounded by the beauty and splendor of the open ocean, which seems to have been his heaven on earth, his paradise, but he can enjoy none of it. Ahab is like a dead man walking. He is completely disconnected from God and fueled only by anger and rage, which is focused on Moby Dick. But why has his disillusion with god become funneled into this Whale? I look to these passages where he acknowledges the accident: 

“it was Moby Dick that dismasted me, Moby Dick that brought me to this dead stump I stand on now(177).” 

“The prophecy was that I should be dismembered; and – Aye! I lost this leg. I now prophecy that I will dismember my dismemberer. Now then, be the prophet and the fulfiller one. That’s more than ye, ye great gods, ever were(183).”

By describing his losing his leg to the whale as ‘dismasting’ and ‘dismembering,’ we understand that this act by the whale, or by god, threatened his masculinity. His acts of madness, his exertion of force amongst the crew, and intimidation of Starbuck, feel like attempts by him to restore his masculinity and power through his position at the top of the hierarchy. Furthermore, he numerously attempts to scorn God by enlisting pagan harpooners, making them swear an oath to him (to hunt and kill Moby Dick), and describing himself as a prophet and fulfiller, greater than “ye great gods ever were.” This path Ahab is intent on paving has a biblical mirror, and like the fallen angel Lucifer, he has joined forces with his crew to wage war on God and his creatures.