spiritual self or experiences at sea.The central character in Moby Dick is Ishmael, a Christian, schoolteacher, and part-time sailor. Ishmael’s role in Moby Dick is to interpret the happenings about the Pequod and its crew. He discusses his reasons for going to sea and interprets and looks for understanding a number of reasons for any specific action where other characters only understand one reason. Ishmael befriends another Pequod crew member, Queequeg, who is a cannibal. Even though Queequeg is physically very ugly and cannibalistic, Ishmael sees that Queequeg has an honest heart, great honor, and is courageous. This friendship had a positive influence on Ishmael’s behavior, it taught him not to judge others on outward appearances; although, to some effect, Ishmael had pre-judgments about Captain Ahab. Representation of the common man was portrayed through Ishmael. He was not wholly corrupt and faced with many struggles brought about by the sea.Another symbolic relationship, which was very short, was between Ishmael and the Pequod’s Captain, Ahab. For the first few days aboard the Pequod Ishmael only saw Ahab in the shadows. When Ishmael finally saw Ahab in full light shivers ran through his body. Ishmael could sense Ahab’s attitude of determination, dedication and hatred towards Moby Dick. This relationship impacted Ishmael in a negative way, Ishmael feared Ahab and did not want to befriend such an evil person. Ishmael was good-natured and did not want to be corrupted by Ahab’s evil. To stay from being corrupted Ishmael keeps himself from being near Ahab. The following passage from Moby Dick shows Captain Ahab as similar to the devil, controlling the crew of the Pequod and forcing actions upon them to attain his one insane task.As they narrated to each other their unholy adventures, their tales of terror told in words of mirth; as their uncivilized laughter forked upwards out of them, like flame fr...
