Summary
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville is a sweeping and deeply symbolic tale of obsession, fate, and humanity’s struggle against nature.
Narrated by the reflective and enigmatic Ishmael, the novel recounts his voyage aboard the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by the intense and monomaniacal Captain Ahab.
Ahab's true purpose soon becomes clear: he is hunting Moby Dick, a massive white sperm whale that once maimed him and now represents a personal and almost cosmic enemy.
As the Pequod sails across the globe, the story unfolds through vivid encounters, philosophical meditations, and richly detailed depictions of whaling life.
More than a seafaring adventure, Moby-Dick explores profound themes—revenge, madness, free will, the limits of knowledge, and the sublime power of nature.
Melville blends Biblical allusion, metaphysical inquiry, and encyclopedic detail into a novel that challenges traditional storytelling and remains a towering achievement of American literature.