NCHS AP English Language

Hannah Robinson and Alyssa Berger - Ahab's speech to Starbuck

Througout Chapter 132 Ahab reminisices on his life and the choices he has made in the past. Ahab talks to Starbuck of memories of the past years of his life and how more than forty of them Ahab has spent away from his home; wife and child. Ahab thinks back and wishes that he would have made better choices and that he would have spent more time at home with his family. His wife really is a "widow" because Ahab is never home. Starbuck after hearing Ahab's confession about the thoughts of the past trys to persuade Ahab to turn the boat around and head back to Nantucket; there they could spend the rest of their lives with their wives and children. Starbuck talks of how he wants to be able to see his wife again and plans on returning back alive and all in one piece. Ahab responds by saying that he has lost control of his mind. Ahab breathes, eats, sleeps revenge of Moby Dick. Ahab thinks he has no control over his choices he will always attempt to capture and kill Moby Dick, even if it means death for Ahab. I believe that Melville decides to reveal this incite into his character to show that Ahab has been overcome by the want of revenge on Moby Dick and nothing, not even the thought of never seeing his family again, can take away the want of revenge.

Hannah Robinson
Alyssa Berger

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 11:46 AM