Comparing Chillingworth And Moby Dick
“I have left thee to the scarlet letter… If that have not avenged me, I can do no more!” Vengeance, a clear goal of Roger Chillingworth from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, is one of the key factors in the story full of sin, sorrow, and hope taking place in the mid 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony. Another novel sharing the key factor of vengeance would be Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, the story of a crazed captain’s mad chase of a murderous, great white whale, which puts not only him but his whole crew at stake. Roger Chillingworth and Captain Ahab, are both evil, torturous, and insane but with many contrasting qualities such as what sparked their desire for revenge, how they threaten people, and how they chase their victim.
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We hear that he rarely even sees the owners of the boat to which he is the captain, giving the impression that he is a somewhat isolated man. Another thing we hear of Captain Ahab is about his peg leg. During a celebration between the crew, they discuss how Captain Ahab lost his leg to “the great white whale,” nicknamed Moby Dick. Having lost his leg to Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is determined to get revenge. This crazed desire for revenge is what puts him and his crew in threatening situations. Captain Ahab has no regard for the health of his crew, the boat, or even himself due to his chase after Moby Dick. Though not purposely this chase of Moby Dick causes Captain Ahab to put his crew’s life and potential money at risk frequently. He steers them off track, makes them sail for months longer than expected, use their harvested oil, whale at night, and even pull the boat through icy waters simply to chase after Moby Dick. Slowly the crew sailing with him begin to go insane, a few even decide that making an escape with little chance of survival opposed to staying on the boat with Captain Ahab. However, Captain Ahab refuses to return to land until Moby Dick has been killed, unknowingly causing his crew incredible pain and suffering. The chase for Moby Dick was not an easy one. The crew and Captain Ahab rarely spotted the great white whale and were usually being directed into a direction by another boat. This initial chase
We hear that he rarely even sees the owners of the boat to which he is the captain, giving the impression that he is a somewhat isolated man. Another thing we hear of Captain Ahab is about his peg leg. During a celebration between the crew, they discuss how Captain Ahab lost his leg to “the great white whale,” nicknamed Moby Dick. Having lost his leg to Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is determined to get revenge. This crazed desire for revenge is what puts him and his crew in threatening situations. Captain Ahab has no regard for the health of his crew, the boat, or even himself due to his chase after Moby Dick. Though not purposely this chase of Moby Dick causes Captain Ahab to put his crew’s life and potential money at risk frequently. He steers them off track, makes them sail for months longer than expected, use their harvested oil, whale at night, and even pull the boat through icy waters simply to chase after Moby Dick. Slowly the crew sailing with him begin to go insane, a few even decide that making an escape with little chance of survival opposed to staying on the boat with Captain Ahab. However, Captain Ahab refuses to return to land until Moby Dick has been killed, unknowingly causing his crew incredible pain and suffering. The chase for Moby Dick was not an easy one. The crew and Captain Ahab rarely spotted the great white whale and were usually being directed into a direction by another boat. This initial chase