Fate and Free Will in Moby Dick
The Tragedy of Fate
Moby Dick is a story that is teeming with fate. Whether it’s the people they meet or the places they end up, the characters head down the road of fate. In the story the character’s path is already planned out, and God has already paved the way for everything that will happen in their lives. It is fate that Ishmael misses the ferry and has to stay in New Bedford. It is fate that Ishmael and Queequeg, two polar opposite people, become very close friends. Anyway one looks at it, it is impossible that all these things could work out with out having a greater plan already mapped out for them. Once the men sign up to join the Pequod as shipmates, they fall captive to the tragic destiny that awaits Ahab. Ishmael, one of the major characters, is an excellent example of the fate in Moby Dick. It is not by chance that he misses the ferry and ends up on the Pequod. It is not by chance that Ishmael and Queequeg become close friends, which is unlikely because they are so different in appearance and personality. It is not by chance that they are forced to room together because the inn is full and doesn’t have any open rooms. God has their whole lives planned out; fate is shown by the fact that they will meet by such a slim chance, become friends, and eventually become shipmates. The two men were confronted by Elijah, a prophet, who warns them that they are doomed if they board ship. Elijah says, “Ye’ve shipped, have ye? Names down on the papers? Well, well, what’s signed, is signed; and what’s to be, will be; and then again perhaps it won’t be, after all. Anyhow, it’s all fixed and arranged a’read; and some sailors or other must go with him, I suppose; as well these as any other men, God pity ‘em! Morning to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye; I’m sorry I stopped ye” (Melville 126). This is a very haunting warning, but Queequeg and Ishmael think the man is crazy and ignore his warning. It is not by chance that this man can call the
Moby Dick is a story that is teeming with fate. Whether it’s the people they meet or the places they end up, the characters head down the road of fate. In the story the character’s path is already planned out, and God has already paved the way for everything that will happen in their lives. It is fate that Ishmael misses the ferry and has to stay in New Bedford. It is fate that Ishmael and Queequeg, two polar opposite people, become very close friends. Anyway one looks at it, it is impossible that all these things could work out with out having a greater plan already mapped out for them. Once the men sign up to join the Pequod as shipmates, they fall captive to the tragic destiny that awaits Ahab. Ishmael, one of the major characters, is an excellent example of the fate in Moby Dick. It is not by chance that he misses the ferry and ends up on the Pequod. It is not by chance that Ishmael and Queequeg become close friends, which is unlikely because they are so different in appearance and personality. It is not by chance that they are forced to room together because the inn is full and doesn’t have any open rooms. God has their whole lives planned out; fate is shown by the fact that they will meet by such a slim chance, become friends, and eventually become shipmates. The two men were confronted by Elijah, a prophet, who warns them that they are doomed if they board ship. Elijah says, “Ye’ve shipped, have ye? Names down on the papers? Well, well, what’s signed, is signed; and what’s to be, will be; and then again perhaps it won’t be, after all. Anyhow, it’s all fixed and arranged a’read; and some sailors or other must go with him, I suppose; as well these as any other men, God pity ‘em! Morning to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye; I’m sorry I stopped ye” (Melville 126). This is a very haunting warning, but Queequeg and Ishmael think the man is crazy and ignore his warning. It is not by chance that this man can call the