Hello Readers!
Welcome to my blog. Now I'm going to write about the character of Ahab in the adventures novel Moby Dick written by Herman Melville. Let's we look in detail.
Introduction
"Moby Dick" presents a different world before the reader.Most of part of the story is developed in voyage. So, it is naturally the story has given a chance to the reader to peep into the life of the sailors. All the characters directly or indirectly present the life of a sea like Ishmael, Captain Ahab , Queequeg etc. The writer has described the life of sailors on the ship very minorly. According to the writer the sea life is full of hardships, troubles and risks. The sailors don't know weather they will return or not.
Character Studies of Captain Ahab
Among many characters Ahab is the most important character in 'Moby-Dick written by Herman Melville. In this novel only the white whale is as important as captain Ahab. All the character had good opinion about Ahab. According to peleq,
"Ahab as a good man, not
a pious good man but a
swearing good man"
Ishmael and Queequeg said that as his name suggests Ahab will meet sad end.
Let's evaluate Ahab with the reference to 'Moby-Dick'
Ahab's oath to his crew
We come to know Ahab's character much better when he took oath to hunt a white whale known as Moby-Dick. This is the whale which had snatched away Ahab's legs. Therefore he decided to take revenge upon that monster. So, the basic purpose of this voyage was to kill white whale.
In the connection of his oath, he does so as if he were performing a religious ceremony. He serves alcohol to all the sailors and asks them to drink it and then hunt white whale . Ahab become angrey when some one have good opinion about white whale. Once Ahab said to Starbuck,
"Talk not to me of blasphemy man;
I'd strike the sun if it insulted me."
Moby-Dick As an Evil world for Ahab
Here, Moby-Dick symbolised as Evil in the world especially for captain Ahab. Ahab himself believed that all the world's Evil is Moby-Dick and that is attack on him. The white whale swims before him as monomaniac incarnation. Ahab also takes this task upon him to attack on this evil and decided to end.
Ahab a man of Egotism
One of the most important factor about Ahab's character is his egotism. He thinks himself to be supremely important. He gives promises to give it as a reward to the sailor who first sees Moby-Dick. One day while gazing at this doubloon, he described his own personality. In sort, what he decides he can do it.
A man of action, Fearless and Daring
Apart from all, Ahab is really a fearless and daring man. He is a man of action. He is a dynamic person who never hesitates in his purpose. He does work hard to achieve his goal on various occasions he himself gets into his boat and chases whales which have sighted.
No one cans see Moby-Dick so, he himself begins to keep a water for it. For three days the chase of Moby-Dick continue sh Ahab was playing leading role to take revenge. His effort to kill the monster by any efforts he always thinks about his purpose not for others.
His Humanity
Although Ahab possessed passion for revenge and his determination to hunt down the white whale, yet he has humanity in inner side. It is true that his fixed purpose has crushed everybody's feelings. At that time he sent his wife and son back home.He also takes the mad negro boy under his personal care. Talking to startbuck, he makes a sentimental review of his past life during which he has continuously chasing whales.
He shows his humanity not on his sympathy for pip but also asking Satarbuck not to join in the chase of Moby-Dick and he go with his wife and son even if Ahab gets killed by the white whale. This actions show that Ahab is not any egotism person but also humanity-an person.
His Symbolic significance
Ahab dies a martyr which may be described as most super human symbolically , Ahab is seeker after truth be the mystery which lies at the heart while the white whale represent mystery and truth. Ahab is represents Satan who revolt against God, who is represented by the white whale from all the point of view ,Ahab symbolised a tragic figure even if Ahab's motive be regarded as evil, we have to admit that he is a Titanic figure.
Conclusion
In "Moby-Dick", Melville's portrayal of Ahab is one of the author's great triumphs in the field of characterisation. Indeed, Ahab is memorable character in the whole range of american literature. We get the feeling that we have actually seen the man and came into close contact with him. He is a superman who meets a sad fate. He is undoubtedly a hero who is vanished by a terrible sea monster. In spite of the fact that there is much evil in this man, he succeeds in emerging as the tragic hero of the book.
In short , the portrayal of Ahab is one of the most convincing portrayals in fiction memo in "moby-Dick".
Thank you!
Here, Moby-Dick symbolised as Evil in the world especially for captain Ahab. Ahab himself believed that all the world's Evil is Moby-Dick and that is attack on him. The white whale swims before him as monomaniac incarnation. Ahab also takes this task upon him to attack on this evil and decided to end.
Ahab a man of Egotism
One of the most important factor about Ahab's character is his egotism. He thinks himself to be supremely important. He gives promises to give it as a reward to the sailor who first sees Moby-Dick. One day while gazing at this doubloon, he described his own personality. In sort, what he decides he can do it.
A man of action, Fearless and Daring
Apart from all, Ahab is really a fearless and daring man. He is a man of action. He is a dynamic person who never hesitates in his purpose. He does work hard to achieve his goal on various occasions he himself gets into his boat and chases whales which have sighted.
No one cans see Moby-Dick so, he himself begins to keep a water for it. For three days the chase of Moby-Dick continue sh Ahab was playing leading role to take revenge. His effort to kill the monster by any efforts he always thinks about his purpose not for others.
His Humanity
Although Ahab possessed passion for revenge and his determination to hunt down the white whale, yet he has humanity in inner side. It is true that his fixed purpose has crushed everybody's feelings. At that time he sent his wife and son back home.He also takes the mad negro boy under his personal care. Talking to startbuck, he makes a sentimental review of his past life during which he has continuously chasing whales.
He shows his humanity not on his sympathy for pip but also asking Satarbuck not to join in the chase of Moby-Dick and he go with his wife and son even if Ahab gets killed by the white whale. This actions show that Ahab is not any egotism person but also humanity-an person.
His Symbolic significance
Ahab dies a martyr which may be described as most super human symbolically , Ahab is seeker after truth be the mystery which lies at the heart while the white whale represent mystery and truth. Ahab is represents Satan who revolt against God, who is represented by the white whale from all the point of view ,Ahab symbolised a tragic figure even if Ahab's motive be regarded as evil, we have to admit that he is a Titanic figure.
Conclusion
In "Moby-Dick", Melville's portrayal of Ahab is one of the author's great triumphs in the field of characterisation. Indeed, Ahab is memorable character in the whole range of american literature. We get the feeling that we have actually seen the man and came into close contact with him. He is a superman who meets a sad fate. He is undoubtedly a hero who is vanished by a terrible sea monster. In spite of the fact that there is much evil in this man, he succeeds in emerging as the tragic hero of the book.
In short , the portrayal of Ahab is one of the most convincing portrayals in fiction memo in "moby-Dick".
Thank you!
