15 All Time Great Novels Series -8 'Moby-Dick' is a novel by | MukeshRishit's English Lit & Language

15 All Time Great Novels Series -8

"Moby-Dick" is a novel by Herman Melville, published in 1851. It tells the story of Ishmael, a sailor who signs up for a whaling voyage as a way to escape the land and his own inner turmoil. The ship, the Pequod, is commanded by Captain Ahab, a monomaniacal figure who is obsessed with hunting down a massive white whale named Moby Dick.

As the voyage begins, Ishmael becomes friends with the ship's charismatic and diverse crew, including the harpooneer Queequeg, the cabin boy Pip, and the ship's cook, Daggoo. However, Ahab's obsession with the whale soon takes over the voyage, driving the crew to the brink of destruction as they hunt Moby Dick across the vast ocean.

Ishmael narrates the story, providing insight into the inner workings of the ship and the personalities of its crew. He also reflects on the nature of the whale and its place in the natural world.

As the hunt for Moby Dick intensifies, the ship and its crew face deadly challenges, including storms, starvation, and encounters with other fearsome whales. In the end, Ahab's obsession leads to tragedy as the ship is destroyed and most of the crew is killed, including Ahab himself. Ishmael is the sole survivor, and he returns to land with a new perspective on life and the ocean.