Herman Melville's Moby-Dick

The two symbols from the Herman Melville’s novel, Moby-Dick persists of the sharks following the whale like Captains Ahab’s crew and the whale and Ahab possessing “dents.” While the Pequod ship remains on the sea trying to kill Moby-Dick they see sharks. Since the crew last seen the sharks it was also with the white whale, and this astonished them. The sharks were following the whale, and protecting him from the harpooners trying to kill him. “.. And whether it was Ahab’s crew were all such tiger-yellow barbarians, and therefore their flesh more musky to the senses of the sharks- a matter sometimes well known to affect them- however it was, they seemed to follow that one boat without molesting the others,” (348). By following one boat it
Symbolizing Ahab’s crew the sharks following their “captain,” Moby-Dick. Ahab states, “Drink and pass!’ he cried, handling the heavy charged flagon to the nearest seamen. ‘The crew alone now drink. Round with it, round!” (342). His crew strongly disagrees with his choices of wanting to kill the whale, but proceeds to do so. Ahab’s crew resembles the sharks following the whale because they both don’t want to get killed, but since they’re loyal they will do whatever needs to be done. Not only do the sharks loyalty to helping the whale similar to Captain Ahab’s crew, but also how they have “dents.” Dents in this context shows emotional instability from everything that occurred during this time. “Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented..” (337). Last time Captain Ahab saw Moby-Dick happened to be when the whale bit off his leg. This event made him unstable because he’s consumed on getting revenge and didn’t think about anything/anyone else. The whale also received dents, and not just Ahab. “I am game for his crooked jaw, and for the jaws of death too..”
Ever since Moby-Dick bit his leg off Ahab dwelled on it every day after it happened instead of forgetting about it. “The harpoon was darted; the stricken whale flew forward; with igniting velocity the line ran through the groove;-ran foul. Ahab stooped to clear it; he did clear it; but the flying turn caught him round the neck,” (354). Ahab died from attempting to kill Moby-Dick from his obsession. He spent months out on sea searching for the whale and not once did he ever give up the search. He kept looking and when they finally found the whale he ended up killing himself. The persistence he showed not only killed him but also his crew. Ahab was very selfish when it came to listening to what others had to say. Families that crew members remain on land didn’t matter to him. “Their hands met; their eyes fastened; Starbuck’s tears the glue. ‘Oh my captain, my captain! -noble heart-go not-go not!-see, it’s brave man that weeps; how great the agony of persuasion then! ‘Lower away!’ -cried Ahab, tossing the mate’s arm from him.” (347). This is the second time Starbuck has asked Ahab to turn back and that it’s not too late to give up, but he won’t listen to him. Ahab doesn’t care if the crew wants to hunt the whale because he wants them to do it. This is selfish since no matter what the crew does or thinks he won’t even see their opinion out. Since Ahab acquired this compulsion to capture, and