Ross Marnock Mrs.

Jaben AP English 16 September 2011 Moby Dick Captain Ahab, protagonist of Melvilles American Epic, Moby Dick, often invokes the idea of adventure and mystery in contemporary times, with the images of sea-crossing travel so prevalent in todays culture. Melvilles character is forever know for his deadly feud with Moby Dick, the great albino Sperm Whale that took off Ahabs leg and thus commenced a life-long struggle for revenge. Ahab captained the Pequod with one intention; the persecution and execution of the whale that ruined his life. Readers and critics associate the captain with insanity and the failure of maintaining rationality for the benefit of the crew. However, Ahab never became mentally deranged due to the fact that Ahab never forgets the difference between right and wrong. Captain Ahab was never insane, but merely pursuing what would eventually be known as ideal American traits, as he never loses perception of reality, still possesses the ever-important ability to regret, and is able to understand his monomania with the great whale. Despite initial or cursory investigation, Captain Ahab is never out of tune with the world, and in fact a competent and inspiring leader. Moby Dick was not going to be a simple chase mission, and Ahab was well aware of that. In order to succeed in his mission, the Pequods Captain took the necessary precautions to prepare and convince the ships crew to agree to his goal. He presents his mission without any question or doubt, implying the fervent passion he wished his crew to possess: Swerve me? ye cannot swerve me, else ye swerve yourselves! man has ye there.

Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run (Melville 143). The task of persuading a crew to absolute loyalty is a daunting one, yet Ahab is clear with his intention and plans, not once even attempting to deceive the rest of the crew. The ship responds positively to Ahab; despite having skepticism for the loftiness of the goal, most could not help but admire his charisma and pious hunt. Starbuck, the first mate as well as one of the more conservative members, cant help but sympathize with his captain, exclaiming, ye revelers, and set the watch! Oh, Life! tis is an hour like this, with soul beat down and held to knowledge,-- and wild, untutored things are forced to feedOh, life! tis now that I do feel the latent horror in thee yet will I try to fight ye, ye grim, phantom futures! (144). One main characteristic of someone who is insane is their innate compelling to perform anything necessary for success and never look back. Captain Ahab does indeed risk the lives of his crew, and abandons all life from America, including his wife and child, in pursuit of Moby Dick. Nevertheless, Ahab does not only question some of his actions from the past but even regrets his choices to some extent, specifically with his family: (QUOTE MENTIONING HIS FAMILY UNABLE TO FIND). The ability to regret highlights a humans uncertainty on the present, and the realization that everything they do is not infallible. The definition of insanity, as provided by Merriam-Webster, is such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding. With Captain Ahab at least able to recognize past errors in his life automatically removes him from complete insanity. However, it does shine on another possibility, one less severe yet still not pure insanity. Monomania is the incessant obsession and madness for a single object, and Melville throughout the novel provides a description of Ahab and Moby Dick with this in mind. Melville extends it to include insanity though, instead of only the obsession of one object. Captain Ahab in well in his 60s by the time of Moby Dick, and had spent the past 40 years on the sea. His entire

life was devoted to whaling, and his philosophy was grounded on the fact that he killed the whales, with the whales being unable to retaliate. Ahabs entire perception of the world is then changed with Moby Dicks attack: Id strike the sun if it insulted me. for could the sun do that, then could I do the other; since there is ever a sort of fair play herein, jealousy presiding over all creations. But not my master, man, is even that fair play. Whos over me? (140). Captain Ahab symbolizes Moby Dick as all thing evil not as a tool of his insanity, but from his necessity to deal with the fate and suffering of life. Captain Ahabs zealous race to find and eradicate the great white whale from Earth ended up being his downfall. Ahabs death was fitting for his relationship with Moby Dick, as their reliance on one another couldnt continue with only one. Ahabs pursuit of Moby Dick was not insanity but his success in portraying an inspiring leader, as well as showing his admits to flaws, but never forgetting his destiny. Ahabs story parallels that of the Manifest Destiny. Created to justify continental expansion, the document states Americas apparent fate to settle the vast new continent, while spreading democracy and eliminating injustice of the colonial powers. Melville not only mirrors this idea, but provides other comparisons to the early republic, attempting to create a true American Epic.