The Persistent Whaleman: An Analysis on the Heroism of Capitan Ahab

Abstract

Herman Melville is one of the most influential figures in the literature history of the world. He creates an overwhelming novel The Whaling or Moby Dick, which is considered as a bright pearl in the literary treasury of the world. He shapes a group of tragic heroes who dare to challenge and conquer nature. The novel Moby Dick tells a story of a whaling ship named Pequod and its impious, godlike man. Captain Ahab, whose obsessive search for the white whale Moby-Dick leads the ship Pequod and its crew to destruction. This piece of work, a realistic adventure novel, includes a chain of thinkings on the man’s living condition. Realistic recordations and descriptions of white whale and the whaling industry cast the book. The novel Moby Dick displays the author’s special knowledge, skills and rich experience. This paper focuses on the analysis of the main characters – Captain Ahab’s madness, cruelty and heroism, which finally led to his tragic fate. In this process, the theme is revealed: human beings should be in harmony with nature.The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the author’s descriptions of the contents and actions, appreciate the characteristics and fates of the main character, tap into the hidden significance, reflect the work’s artistic value, explore its great realistic meaning, and reveal Melville’s opinion on man and nature – they must be kept in harmony.