In 1851, Moby Dick was written by a novelist named Herman Melville. The novel is about the adventures of Ishmael, a wandering sailor, who joined the voyage of the Pequod, a whaling ship under the command of Captain Ahab. Ishmael later discovered that his captain is obsessed with getting revenge on Moby Dick, a giant sperm whale that had caused the loss of the boat and the captain’s leg.
Here is the list of Moby-Dick characters:
1. Captain Ahab
He is the domineering captain of the whaling ship, Pequod. He has an obsession with killing the great sperm whale known as Moby Dick. It is Moby Dick that caused him to lose one of his legs. Ahab claims that he is the ruling god of the Pequod, but his character casts a more devilish figure due to his unholy goal of capturing Moby Dick.
2. Ishmael
He is the narrator of the novel. Ishmael is a Pequod sailor and sails the sea for his love for him. His main role is to be an observer of the things around him, especially the conflicts in the Pequod. He develops a close friendship with Queequeg. Also, he is the only survivor of the Pequod because he is on a whaling ship when Moby Dick destroys the Pequod and is rescued by another ship. Thus, Ishmael lives to tell the story of Moby Dick.
3. cake
He is a heathen harpooner from the land of New Zealand. He is the king’s son but renounces his throne in order to travel the world and understand Christianity. He chooses to join the voyages of the whaling ships.
4. The three companions
a.starbucks
He is the first mate of the Pequod. He is from Nantucket and Quaker. He has a slender build and displays a practical sense. In the novel, he is presented as an advocate of human imperfections and that such imperfections can be controlled. Starbuck has the ability to show opposition against Captain Ahab, especially in the captain’s mission to get revenge on the sperm whale.
b. heel
He is the second mate of the Pequod. He is from Cape Cod and a calm character. He manages to sound hilarious even when he’s speaking in front of the sinister captain, Ahab. Although he is always full of humor, he is a talented whaler. Stubb is the man who kills the first whale during the Pequod’s voyage.
against flask
He is the third officer of the Pequod. He is from Martha’s Vineyard and has a less important role than the other two roommates. Flask is a man who is never satisfied. The more he fills up on food, the hungrier he gets.
5. pippin
Replaces a Stubb rower. Pippin is young and black. He nearly goes mad when he still fails to face a whale a second time and realizing that his crew will let him die for his cowardice.
6.Fedallah
He is the mysterious member of Ahab’s whaling crew. He sometimes believes that he is a demon in disguise who wishes to trap Ahab. He dies on the second day of chasing Moby Dick because he got caught in the whale’s bait.
7. Peter’s coffin
He is the innkeeper at the Spouter Inn, where Ishmael has stayed when he went to Nantucket.
8. Father Mapple
He gave up sailing to join the ministry. He is a famous preacher. In one of his sermons that Ishmael attended, he uses the story of Jonah and the whale
9. Hosea Hussey
She owns the Try Pots Inn, where Ishmael and Queequeg stayed on Nantucket. She is Pedro’s cousin.
10. Peleg
He is retired and was captain of the Pequod. He and Bildad own Pequod. He is the first person to speak of the darkness within Ahab comparing him to the well-known vile king of the same name.
11. Bildad
He is one of the owners of the Pequod. He reproached Pequod’s crew for blasphemy and is sorry for leaving Pequod on his long and uncertain voyage.
12. Elijah
Ishmael and Queequeg have met him on Nantucket. He asks if they have met Captain Ahab yet and sold their souls to the devil by joining the crew of the Pequod.
13.Bulkington
A Pequod sailor who loves danger and the sea so much that he immediately joins another voyage, even if he has just finished his four-year maritime adventure.
14. Tashtego
It’s Stubb’s Indian harpooner from Martha’s Vineyard.
15. Dagooo
It is the giant Flask harpooner from Africa.
16. Dough Boy
He is the Pequod’s steward and cooks dinner for the crew. He feels nervous when he is around Tashtego and Queequeg.
17.Perth
He is the blacksmith from Pequod who created Ahab’s harpoon.
18. Captain Mayhew
He is the captain of a Nantucket ship, Jeroboam, who became the prey of an agitator’s mutiny.
19.Gabriel
He is Jeroboam’s agitator who calls himself the archangel Gabriel and causes the riot.
20.Macey
He is a member of Jeroboam’s crew who was killed by the great Moby Dick.
21. Derick Deer
He is the captain of the Jungfrau, a German ship. He pleads with the crew of the Pequod for oil, but later competes with them over hunting sperm whales.
22.Dr Bunger
He is the doctor and surgeon of the British ship Samuel Enderby. He warns Captain Ahab to forget about his pursuit of Moby Dick.
23. Captain Gardiner
He is Rachel’s captain who pleads for Captain Ahab’s help to find one of his missing ships that has his son on it. He gives Captain Ahab important information about the Moby Dick sighting. It is Raquel, her ship, who saves Ishmael.
Critics have described the characters in Moby Dick as having their own universe. Each Moby Dick character best portrays human behaviors and habits. Some of the characters are also inspired by characters from the Bible.