Why does the crew join ahab

Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home What does Captain Ahab symbolize? Ben Davis May 17, What does Captain Ahab symbolize? Why is Captain Ahab obsessed? What does Ahab obsession reveal about his character? What does Captain Ahab fear? Is Ahab a hero? Why does Ahab want to kill the white whale? What is the white whale a metaphor for? Why does Starbuck accuse Ahab of blasphemy? Does Ahab ever catch the whale?

What does Ahab believe exists? What happens to the boat carrying Ahab? What is Ishmael trying to say about the sea? What does Ahab say is his real purpose for making the voyage? What finally happens to Captain Ahab? What does Ahab offer as a reward? What does Ahab tell Starbuck just before? What is Starbucks objection to the pursuit of the white whale?

Why did Ishmael go to sea? What words would you use to describe Captain Ahab? Is it the whale or a power he sees behind the whale? These are questions to consider as the novel progresses. A convincing argument can be made that Ahab wants to be God and is offended that he should have to bear the insult of any authority beyond himself. The "inscrutable thing" dares to limit Ahab's role in the world. Ahab thinks that he is filled with a superhuman power, an interior electricity that would kill mere mortals.

As he offers wine to the three harpooners, ceremonially celebrating a commitment to a unified cause, the scene has the impact of a diabolical black mass. Ahab is a powerful man, charismatic, obsessed, even mad, and he has all but one of the crew under his control. Previous Chapters Next Chapters Removing book from your Reading List will also remove any bookmarked pages associated with this title. Are you sure you want to remove bookConfirmation and any corresponding bookmarks? My Preferences My Reading List.

Ahab, however, desires gams only with ships whose captains have information about Moby Dick. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Themes Motifs Symbols. Important Quotes Explained.

Summary Chapters 48— Page 1 Page 2. Chapter The Hyena Ishmael laughs at the absurdity of the situation in which he finds himself: he has never been on a whaling voyage before, and he is surprised at the danger that attends even an ordinary whale hunt. Chapter The Spirit-Spout Looking down from the masthead one night, Fedallah thinks that he sees a whale spouting.