NCHS AP English Language

Pip and Ahab- Shimarah Mehrotra

According to the heirarchy of the characters in Moby Dick, Pip and Ahab are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum of power on the Pequod. Ahab is the powerful (yet insane) captain of the ship, while Pip is merely the black servant. They are seemingly antitheses of each other- one with all of the power and the other with absolutely none.
However, their similarities do not lay in their positions of power, but rather their "insane" natures.
In chapter 129, as Ahab walks the decks in search of Moby Dick, Pip follows Ahab and says that he will never abandon him as Starbuck once did to Pip. Pip offers himself as a compensation for Ahab's missing leg, saying "Ye have not a whole body, sir; do ye but use poor me for your one lost leg; only tread upon me, sir; I ask no more, so I remain a part of ye." With this quote it appears that Pip never wants to leave Ahab and Ahab should rely on him for the support that he had lost when he lost his leg- which literally supported him.
Ahab does not want such a devoted follower because of his "malady", which is his "most desired health".
Pip and Ahab are also similar in their monomaniacal personalities. Ahab devotes all of his time to capturing Moby Dick while Pip devotes his time to not only befriending Ahab, but becoming Ahab's support system.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 10:12 PM