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.