Moby-Dick
Study Guide for Herman Melville's Epic Tale of Obsession
One of the greatest works of American Literature - an epic tale of obsession, revenge, and man versus nature
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851) by Herman Melville is one of the best works of American Literature. This epic novel follows Ishmael as he joins the crew of the Pequod, a whaling ship commanded by the monomaniacal Captain Ahab, who is obsessed with hunting down the great white whale that maimed him.
This comprehensive guide helps teachers and students understand the story's historical context, explore its rich Biblical and mythological allusions, and discover what makes it an enduring masterpiece of dark romanticism.
About the Novel
Author: Herman Melville
Published: 1851
→ Read Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
Originally published in 1851 to mixed reviews, Moby-Dick is now considered one of the Great American Novels. Melville drew on his own experiences as a sailor and his extensive research into whaling to craft this multilayered tale that operates as adventure story, philosophical meditation, and profound exploration of obsession and fate.
Character Analysis
Major Characters
Moby-Dick - The white bull sperm whale who is the object of all of Captain Ahab's wrath, the main antagonist in the novel. More than just an animal, Moby-Dick represents nature's indifference, the unknowable, and perhaps evil itself—or perhaps he is simply a whale defending himself against hunters.
Ishmael - A crew member of the Pequod and narrator of the story. His name is a Biblical allusion to the exiled son of Abraham who became an outstanding Talmudic teacher. Ishmael serves as the philosophical lens through which we experience the voyage.
Captain Ahab - The tyrannical captain of the Pequod, obsessed with killing Moby-Dick at all costs. His monomaniacal pursuit of the whale that took his leg drives the tragic plot and represents the dangers of allowing vengeance to consume one's soul.
Queequeg - The harpooner of the Pequod, a non-Christian from the fictional island of Rokovoko in the South Seas. Despite initial fears, Ishmael forms a deep friendship with Queequeg, whose nobility challenges Western prejudices. Melville offers his biography in Chapter 12.
Starbuck - The young chief mate of the Pequod, a Quaker from Nantucket. He represents reason and morality aboard the ship, often questioning Ahab's obsessive quest but ultimately unable to prevent the tragedy.
Father Mapple - A preacher in the New Bedford Whaleman's Chapel, and a former whaler. His sermon on Jonah foreshadows the novel's themes of defiance, divine will, and the consequences of challenging forces beyond human control.
Elijah - A character who remains ashore, his name is a Biblical reference to the prophet Elijah. He is surprised that Ishmael and Queequeg have signed onto Ahab's ship and asks a foreboding question about their souls, serving as a prophetic warning.
Captain Bildad and Captain Peleg - Wealthy Quakers and principal owners of the Pequod. They represent the commercial interests behind whaling, contrasting with Ahab's personal vendetta.
Further Reading: Analysis of Moby-Dick characters (Wikipedia)
Plot Summary
Ishmael, who narrates the story, becomes friends with Queequeg, a harpooner, and then signs up to serve aboard the Pequod, a whaling ship sailing out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is under the command of the monomaniacal Captain Ahab, though Ishmael doesn't know this at the time of signing.
We learn that Ishmael is knowledgeable about a broad variety of whales, but this is no "normal" whaling voyage. Ahab announces to the crew that their sole mission is to pursue one particular great white bull sperm whale who attacked Ahab during an earlier voyage, taking his leg. The captain nails a gold doubloon to the mast as reward for whoever first sights the white whale.
Whalers are typically out for years, so the story tells of their voyage going all over the world in pursuit of this one whale. Captain Ahab has complete tunnel vision in his pursuit, refusing to assist other vessels in distress and ignoring all warnings. Their boat sustains damage during a bad storm, but Ahab presses on.
When they finally find the great whale, they attempt to harpoon it, but Moby-Dick smashes the boat and escapes. They try again over three days of chase; they lose crew members, and Ahab injures the whale. But in the end, Ahab's own harpoon rope catches him around the neck and drags him to his death. The enraged whale then rams and sinks the Pequod itself.
Ishmael is the sole survivor, rescued by another whaling ship, the Rachel, which had been searching for its own lost crew members.
Themes & Genre
Genre: Dark Romanticism
Moby-Dick is considered in the genre of "dark romanticism"—literature with horrific themes, creepy symbols, and the psychological effects of guilt and sin. Edgar Allan Poe is perhaps the best known author of this genre, also known as "gothic literature." "Romanticism" in this context isn't about love—it means belief and emotions are more important than logic or facts; the individual comes first, and can involve the worship of nature (or a whale?).
Major Themes
Man vs. Nature / Man vs. Mortal Enemy - Melville's obsessive focus is on "man versus whale" or more accurately, "man versus mortal enemy"—an enduring literary theme through the ages, both in (the movie "Jaws") and out ("David and Goliath") of the water. The whale represents nature's power and indifference to human desires.
The Dual Nature of the Ocean - The ocean is both a calming source of life and the body which harbors destruction and death. How can it be both at the same time? Melville explores this duality as a metaphor for the human soul itself.
Emotion Over Rationality - This story epitomizes "Dark Romanticism" in its portrayal of a blinding, passionate mission to achieve a goal that defies all logic and sanity. Ahab's obsession overrides all reason, dragging his entire crew to destruction.
Religion and Biblical Allusions - Almost all the characters act true to their Biblical namesakes' behavior. Melville's many allusions center on themes such as judgment, redemption, eternal life, guilt, sin, souls, the end of the world, eternity, and good versus evil.
The Food Chain / Cannibalism - "Eat or be eaten"—whether by your own kind (like a mutiny at sea) or by a whale whose rage is as blinding as the insane man in wild pursuit. Melville questions who the real "cannibal" is in a world where humans hunt whales to near extinction.
Obsession and Monomania - Captain Ahab's single-minded pursuit of vengeance destroys not only himself but everyone around him. The novel asks: what happens when a man allows one idea to consume his entire being?
Important Quotes & Analysis
Explain what the following quotes mean and how they relate to the story:
"Ignorance is the parent of fear."
Chapter 3 — This quote speaks to how fear often stems from not understanding something. Ishmael initially fears Queequeg because he doesn't know him; knowledge dispels that fear.
"I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing."
Chapter 39 — Stubb's philosophy of facing the unknown with humor and acceptance, contrasting with Ahab's grim determination.
"There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own."
Chapter 49 — Ishmael's philosophical meditation on life's absurdity and the human tendency to find dark humor in fate.
"For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men."
Chapter 87 — A devastating commentary on human nature, suggesting that human madness (like Ahab's) far exceeds any animal's instinctual behavior.
"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."
Chapter 1 — Ishmael's explanation for why he goes to sea, expressing the romantic desire to explore the unknown and escape ordinary life.
"Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it."
Chapter 114 — A profound meditation on the mystery of existence and the unknowable nature of our origins and purpose.
"See how elastic our prejudices grow when once love comes to bend them."
Chapter 11 — Ishmael reflects on how his initial prejudice against Queequeg dissolved through genuine friendship, a powerful statement on overcoming bigotry.
Discussion Questions
"Call me Ishmael." Explain the effect of Melville's opening line to hook his readers. Why is this one of the most famous opening lines in literature?
Provide evidence that Captain Ahab is "monomaniacal" in his fixation to kill Moby-Dick. How does this obsession affect his crew and his judgment as a captain?
An "allusion" is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work. Melville's opening line is an allusion to the Bible: Ishmael was a son of Abraham and Hagar (his servant), who was denied in favor of Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah. After this, "Ishmael" became a symbol of a castaway or pariah. Explain how Melville's character Ishmael relates to this allusion.
What do the white whale and Captain Ahab symbolize in the novel? What about the ocean, which supports both life and death?
The names of the characters in Moby-Dick are similar to names in the Bible, and their outcomes are often the same. Pick one character and explain the origin of their name and whether their outcome parallels their Biblical namesake.
What does Elijah mean about souls being "a fifth wheel to a wagon" when he asks Ishmael and Queequeg: "Anything down there about your souls?" and then says "A soul's a sort of a fifth wheel to a wagon." (Chapter 19)
Explain the significance of Melville's simile: "Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them; the secret of our paternity lies in their grave." (Chapter 114)
Melville uses numerous Biblical and mythical allusions throughout the novel. Pick one of the following and describe their story and how it relates to events in Moby-Dick:
Biblical: Jonah (Ch. 3), Ishmael (Ch. 1), Gabriel (Ch. 71), Lazarus (Ch. 2), King Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings), Job (Ch. 24), Elijah (Ch. 19)
Mythical: Jove/Jupiter (Ch. 10, 32), Narcissus (Ch. 1), the Fates, Loom of Time (Ch. 47)
Melville also uses literary allusions. In Chapter 1, "Cato" is a Shakespeare character from Julius Caesar who committed suicide by falling on his sword. Another literary allusion is Aladdin's Lamp (Chapter 97). Explain how one of these relates to the novel and specifically to which character(s).
Melville uses an historical allusion to Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President (Chapter 26). Jackson was the first poor man to rise to become President, known as the "people's President." How does this relate to the novel?
Pequod was an American Indian tribe which was destroyed by the Puritans (Chapter 7). What does the whaling ship "Pequod" represent? What does its fate suggest?
Why do you think Ishmael is the sole survivor at the end of Moby-Dick? What is significant about his survival?
Explain the parallels between the rise and fall of the U.S. whaling industry and the rise and fall of plot turns in the story. How does the novel serve as both a chronicle and critique of this industry?
Paired Reading Recommendations
Compare the themes and literary techniques in Moby-Dick with these other powerful works:
Dark Romanticism Study Guide - Learn more about the literary movement that includes Melville, Poe, and Hawthorne. Understand the genre's themes of guilt, sin, and the psychological darkness of human nature.
Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville - Another exploration of obsession and withdrawal from society. Compare Bartleby's passive resistance with Ahab's aggressive pursuit.
Benito Cereno by Herman Melville - A tale of slavery, deception, and moral blindness. Compare Melville's treatment of race and prejudice with the Ishmael-Queequeg friendship.
Studies in Classic American Literature by D.H. Lawrence - Lawrence's provocative analysis of Moby-Dick offers a critical perspective that can enrich classroom discussion.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym by Edgar Allan Poe - Poe's only complete novel shares nautical themes and dark romanticism with Moby-Dick. Both explore the terrors of the sea.
Useful Links & Resources
Author & Novel Resources
- Biography and Works by Herman Melville
- Read Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
- Analysis of Moby-Dick characters (Wikipedia)
Historical Context
- The Spectacular Rise and Fall of U.S. Whaling (The Atlantic)
- National Geographic's History of Whaling
Literary Analysis
- How to Read Moby-Dick - A Guide for First-Time Readers
- Moby-Dick Allusion Search Tool (Princeton)
- Lesson Plan: Narrative Voice in Moby-Dick (NEH)
Biblical References
Related American Literature Resources
Etymology & Extracts
Understanding Melville's Opening
First, read and discuss the book's opening chapter titled Etymology, which explores the origins of words and how their meaning changed through history. It explains the origin of the word "whale," which is key to understanding the significance of Melville's many allusions, genre, and themes.
The Importance of the Extracts
Melville's "Extracts"—a far-ranging collection of quotes glorifying whales and whaling—help readers understand the important impact whaling had on human society. Whaling was an economic driver that fueled global economies with invaluable resources and employment.
"In the year 1690 some persons were on a high hill observing the whales spouting and sporting with each other, when one observed; there—pointing to the sea—is a green pasture where our children's grand-children will go for bread."
— Obed Macy's History of Nantucket
Melville uses his "Extracts" to show how important whaling is to society, and perhaps, how important this work of fiction is to American literature, with its universal themes of man versus nature, and emotion over rationality.
Historical Context: American Whaling
As you take in Melville's etymology and extracts, it's helpful to have background on the history of the American whaling industry, which peaked in the 1850s and practically died off completely by 1901. The industry offers interesting lessons for modern economies—with innovative technologies, are declining industries worth saving or not?
Further Reading: The Importance of Extracts in Moby-Dick
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