AHAB in moby dick Essay - 969 Words

Although Ahab’s insanity appears to be what shuts him off from humanity, in reality it is what makes him human. Ahab desperately wants to be freed from his obsession – to not have to rely upon it to feel. It is because Ahab is no longer in control of his obsession that the reader eventually discovers that besides what the book originally seems to insinuate, Ahab is only human. The first few times that Ahab is introduced to the reader and to his crew, he appears to be inhuman. Even his description when he first appears on deck states that he â€Å"seemed made of solid bronze† (Melville 117). To compare him to a statue is to distance him from humanity – he is not a breathing, emotional being. However, as the book continues, it becomes blatantly†¦show more content†¦How he acts towards his crew, for example, appears to be out of a jealously – they are whole and he is not. For this reason, he feels that he must make up for it by being stronger and more powerful than they are. He tries to control the men, for if he can control them then he is greater than they are, though they are complete and he is not. Although Ahab may overpower the men, he cannot overpower the universe, a fact which deeply perturbs him. He refuses to accept the infinite, instead choosing to challenge it. â€Å"I’d strike the sun if it insulted me† (Melville 157). He refuses to admit that he is below anyone, or anything, because to do so would only validate the fact that he is not in control. Not only does Ahab lash out against universal objects, he is completely blasphemous. Elijah tells of how Ahab had desecrated a church and spit in some sort of sacred object, but it is through Ahab’s own words that his complete disregard towards God is shown. This blasphemous behavior is definitely a major aspect of Ahab’s insanity and it also connects him to his biblical counterpart, King Ahab. King Ahab worshipped strange gods and always made sure to go against the God of Israel. It seems as though Ahab mirrors this behavior in the book, saying, â€Å"Who’s over me? Truth has no confines† (Melville 157). In the eyes of the deeply religious Starbuck, this blatant disregard for God demonstrates how insane Ahab is, for no man would dare to threatenShow MoreRelated Captain Ahab and Moby Dick Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pages Captain Ahab and Moby Dick: Literary critics point to a variety of themes and juxtapositions when analyzing Herman Melvilles â€Å"Moby Dick†. Some see the land opposed to the sea or Fate opposed to free will. Most mention man versus nature or good versus evil. A perspective that seems overlooked though is the perspective of the self and the other. 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In Fedallah’s case, he represents the pure, demonic evil that exists in Ahab. At times he seems to be supernatural and a literal extension of Ahab’s innermost being. In Chapter 73, while observing the right whales head, Fedallah’s shadow seems to blend in with Ahab’s, as if they are a single being (Melville 261). Read MorePerspectives of the Beast820 Words   |  4 PagesIn Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea we are introduced to two individuals who share different opinions on nature and the marvelous creatures that make up the world around them. In this paper, I will explore the di fferences between Captain Ahab and Santiago. 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The novel’s incorporation of Romanticism and the American Renaissance recognizes it as an exceptionally renowned work of American literature. To create this epic tale, Melville uses the encounters that the Pequod has with other whaling ships, known as gams, combined with symbols and omens. Melville, who uses many chapters in the novel to provide information about whaling, designates the entirety