Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The novel Moby Dick written by Herman Melville. published in London in October 1851 as The Whale and a month later in New York as Moby Dick or The Whale It is dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Moby Dick is generally regarded as Melville’s magnum opus and one of the greatest American novels.

It is an epic tale of voyage of whaling ship Pequod and its captain, Ahab, who pursues the great Whale during a journey. The story is told by a sailor named Ishmael, and Ismael explains that he goes to sea whenever he feels down.The narrator begins, "Call me Ishmael," it is one of the most recognisable opening lines. He first introduces to Queequeg, who has been out selling shrunken heads. Queequeg soon becomes Ishmael’s bosom friend and decided to sail together from the historical port of Nantucket.

In the port, they sign on with the Pequod, Queequeg is more attractive employee because he has an excellence with the harpoon. Whereas Ismael does not shown ambitious, he is lacking something and remains as a common sailor.

When Ishmael sees Ahab fir the first time, he gets creeped out. Ishmael describes all the different sorts of whales.

Ahab tells the crew that the whole reason they are there is to find this one whale, the Great White Whale (Moby Dick) and kill it. Moby Dick is an evil huge whale that acts up when he’s attacked.

The search goes on for the whale. All over the world, Ahab and his crew go looking for Moby. They run into other whaling ships and men who have seen the whale.

In a big storm, the Pequod suffers some damage. Ahab grows more and more focused and nutty about finding the whale. He ignores other boats that need his help and just moves on in his search.

Finally, Ahab sees the big whale. The crew tries to harpoon Moby, but the whale smashes the boats and gets away. The next day, they try again. They loose a crew member. The next day, Moby Dick is sighted again, and Moby Dick again attacks Ahab’s boat. On the third day, the boats are once again sent after Moby Dick, who once again attacks them. Moby Dick kills many sailors and sinks the piquod. Ahab is then caught in a harpoon line and hurled out of his harpoon boat to his death. The other boats, in trouble, go back to the main ship. Ahab stays to fight the whale. Moby is pissed and wrecks the Pequod. Ahab tries again but his own harpoon rope kills him and the Pequod sinks. Ishmael is the only one who gets out alive. He is rescued by another boat, the Rachel.

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