Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale Summary

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville is an 1851 novel that narrates the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, who seeks vengeance against Moby Dick, a giant white sperm whale responsible for severing his leg. The story is told through the eyes of Ishmael, a sailor aboard Ahab's whaling ship, the Pequod, and explores themes of obsession, revenge, and humanity's struggle against nature.

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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale Excerpt

Short Summary: Ishmael, a sailor seeking adventure, joins the whaling ship Pequod under the command of the enigmatic Captain Ahab. Ahab's monomaniacal pursuit of the elusive white whale, Moby Dick, leads the crew on a perilous journey across the seas, culminating in a tragic confrontation that explores themes of obsession, fate, and the limits of human knowledge.

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship."

This opening passage introduces Ishmael's contemplative nature and sets the tone for the epic voyage that follows. His introspective musings reflect the novel's exploration of existence, purpose, and the human condition against the backdrop of the vast and unpredictable sea."