Moby Dick

Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby Dick, contains plenty of symbolism. Almost

everything in the novel symbolizes something else. Perhaps the most important and most

obvious symbol is the great white whale, Moby Dick. Moby Dick symbolizes tremendous

and furious power. Along with this strength, comes the sailors intention to defeat it.

This whale has immeasurable strength. His power is expressed in the many

encounters he has with the ships and the crew. A quotation from Moby Dick says, “It was

hardly to be doubted, that several vessels reported to have encountered, at such or such a

time, or on such or such meridian, a sperm whale of uncommon magnitude and malignity,

which whale, after doing great mischief to his assailants, had completely escaped them.”

Another quote says, “therefore it was, that those that by accident ignorantly gave battle to

Moby Dick; such hunters, perhaps, for the most part, were content to ascribe the peculiar

terror he bred…” This proves that Moby Dick’s power is terrifying, yet very thrilling for

those who are brave enough to confront him. Moby Dick has the ability to destroy large

vessels and to leave the men dead or with serious injuries.

Moby Dick is an incredible character in the novel. He is feared and hated by

practically all the sailors. Moby Dick becomes Captain Ahab’s worst enemy as well as his

Obsession. Captain Ahab says, “the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me.” Moby

Dick is a wall that Captain Ahab is exasperatingly trying to demolish, but he also says

that he believes that beyond that wall there is nothing more. Therefore, Captain Ahab has

become so focused on defeating the white whale, that his whole life revolves on this sole

purpose.