Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Interesting Facts

• Captain Ahab, the main antagonist of the book, is obsessed with avenging the white whale named Moby Dick, which bit off his leg.
• The story is narrated by Ishmael, who is the sole survivor of the encounter with Moby Dick.
• The book contains numerous digressions and detailed descriptions related to whaling, marine biology, and philosophy.
• Moby Dick is based on real events, including the attack of a sperm whale on the whaling ship Essex in 1820.
• The novel features many biblical and mythological allusions, adding depth and symbolism.
• The book was poorly received by contemporaries and only gained popularity after the author's death.
• The character Queequeg, a harpooner and Ishmael's friend, is one of the first positive depictions of indigenous peoples in American literature.
• The name of the ship, Pequod, refers to an extinct Native American tribe, symbolizing the doomed fate of the crew.