Saturday, December 16, 2023

Moby Dick

 

Moby Dick

By Herman Melville

 

Does Ahab Die?

I finished it Moby Dick.  A book that accompanied me on my October Pacific Ocean sailing adventure. 624 pages of poetic prose, detailing everything about the 19th century whaling trade.  I know its myth as well I know how to skin a whale and harvest its oil.  I know Ahab, and the idiosyncrasies of his crew.  It’s not until page 595, after colorful scene and character setting, does the duel between Moby Dick and Ahab unfold.  In Melville’s colorful and poetic that rivals Homer, I ask this question:  Does Ahab die?  Or for those scathing at my question, describe it literally for me, if you can.

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