Moby Dick - Characters of Captain Ahab and Ishmael :: Moby Dick Essays

The characters of captain Ahab and Ishmael argon al close opposites. About the only things the dickens share in common are that they are some(prenominal) seamen and they both are on a hunt for a whale. Ishmael is a pleasing character, who plays the role of the main character as well as narrator. He is a common man who has a love for the sea, and goes to it to sink his mind whenever he feels down or feels that it is a damp, drizzly November in his soul. As for his physical appearance, he doesnt really specify. However, one aptitude assume that he is a middle-aged man and probably holds the characteristics of the stereotypical seaman. But, what the character lacks in physical description, he makes up for with a full constitution that his described extensively throughout the book. Ishmael is a man who seeks what is best described as inner peace. He is very content with himself when on the water, and has a great love for creation a seaman. He joins the crew of the Pequod to sati sfy his longing to be abide on the ocean, but as it turns out, the particular voyage he is to qualify out on is not what he had suspected. For this ship would be commanded by a half-crazed captain in a desperate calculate for a viscous white whale. Over all, Ishmael is definitely the most civilized and wise man in the story. Captain Ahab is an overwhelmingly affright character in the story, and can probably be considered the most crazed of them all. His radical obsession with finding and killing the white whale cognise as Moby-Dick causes Ishmael and others of the crew to become frightened at his aberrant behavior. Ahabs physical appearance is best described as presentiment and evil. He is a tall man with gray hair, and is missing a degree due to a death-defying confrontation with Moby-Dick himself. His new artificial leg is made from the bone of whale and once again adds to his intimidating form. His personality is also quite mad. He has a maniacal presence almost him and would risk his life and the lives of his crewmen just to fulfill his mission of demented revenge. Melville does a fine job describing this particular character with the utmost extremeness. The characters of Ishmael and Ahab are two that have a great and critical impact on the book.