Moby Dick - Ahabs Pride, His Evil Vehicle to the World...

Ahabs Pride: His Evil Vehicle to the World Below In Herman Melvilles Moby Dick the reader embarks on a journey narrated by a man in search of his soul and led by a man in search of the destruction of evil. Captain Ahab of the whaling ship the Pequod is a man whose heart is driven by revenge and a monomania that brings on the destruction of the Pequod and all but one member of her crew. He is looking to destroy the abominable White Whale, the Evil of the Earth, Moby Dick. This drive, in which Ahab believes he is doing good to the world by ridding it of this devilish creature, truly brings Ahab to commit the ultimate sin, pride, and become the evil of Christianity, he turns his back on God and follows in the footsteps of†¦show more content†¦And Ill chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perditions flames before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out. What say ye, men, will ye splice hands on it, now? I think you do look brave (Melville 166). In this motivational speech to the crew Ahab tells them of their mission: to find and kill Moby Dick. To make him spout black blood, evil blood, the blood which enables this whale to live, to breath, to move, to hunt, to kill, is evil, the root of his entire existence is black with death and destruction. The organ of goodness and love, the heart in this creature, pumps evil through his veins. Moby Dicks evil, alluded to in this passage is of less importance than the formation of a monomaniac from this obsessed person. What Ive dared, Ive willed; and what Ive willed, Ill do! They think me mad- Starbuck does; but Im demoniac, I am madness maddened! That wild madness thats only calm to comprehend itself! The prophecy was that I should be dismembered; and- Aye! I lost this leg. I now prophesy that I will dismember my dismemberer. Now, then, be the prophet and the fulfiller one. T hats more than ye, ye great gods, ever were,