Moby Dick - Character Analysis - Ahab

Moby-Dick - Ahab’s Journey to Self Destruction

Sometimes the strong hearted are also the weak minded. This is the case in Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Captain Ahab of the Pequod was a single-minded man. His mission was to hunt a mythical prey, one that was known to destroy anything in its path. Where others have failed, including himself once before, Ahab must succeed at all costs, even to his death. The reader can follow Ahab’s self-destruction through the foe he seeks, his lack of respect for others, and the lack of care for his own life. Moby-Dick in his very essence is undefeatable. The legendary white whale is enormous in size and strength, as well as unmatched ferocity. Its intellect is incomparable to other whales. It seems to know the weaknesses of its opponents, and has destroyed many crews of whalers. Its color makes the whale untouchable. The color white is not a color at all; in fact it is the absence of any color. One cannot define nothingness; the only meaning given to this whale is by the crew of the Pequod. On top of all this, Ahab has come across Moby-Dick once before, suffering its wrath. Ahab lost more than leg that day; he lost his pride, his free will, and his very being! Ahab’s sole purpose after this encounter was to kill Moby-Dick, all else was cast aside. His wife, home, friends, and family do not even cross his mind. Against such odds it would take a weak-minded fool, or the strongest of heart to even attempt at victory. Ahab was perfect for such a task. Ahab’s passion for revenge left little respect for others in his heart. From the start of the voyage Ahab deceived the crew by sneaking a third harpooning crew onto the Pequod. The purpose of the voyage was twisted in the minds of the crew by Ahab’s crafty words. The crew cries for the death of Moby-Dick after his speech! A few whales along the way to Moby are killed to keep the crew satisfied, but Ahab has no intention of doing anything but what is necessary to kill his foe. The manner in which the boat was run caused Pippin to go mad! He couldn’t even speak, only mumble and stumble around the deck. When the Pequod crosses the Rachel, Ahab is informed that its captain’s son has been lost, dragged away from their ship. No help is offered to a father desperately looking for his son, and no sympathy is given. Ahab coldly asks where they last saw the white whale, and pushes on. Ironically, it is the Rachel that ends up giving aid and saves Ishmael who is helplessly clinging to a floating coffin. If Ahab’s sanity cannot be questioned by his lack of respect for others lives, surely it can be questioned for the lack of respect for his own. Even after suffering physical and metal losses after he first accosted the white whale, he would confront the whale again. He loses touch with his personal life, his wife, friends, family; all acquaintances are lost for his revenge. When prophecy is given of Ahab’s death, instead of fearing death Ahab considers himself invincible! Such insanity is folly. All that is foretold comes true, but earlier than he predicted. Ahab is slain at sea by Moby-Dick, and his ship and crew destroyed. Ahab laughs in the face of adversity, and gives no thought to his companions or even himself. Losing respect for life results in the loss of life, and such is Ahab’s fate. To forget the strength of an opponent and your own weaknesses is a tactic of the weak of mind, and the strong of heart.