Moby Dick

"Call me Ishmael," Moby Dick begins, in one of the most recognizable opening lines in Western literature. The name has come to symbolize orphans, exiles, and social outcasts-- in the opening paragraph of Moby Dick, Ishmael tells the reader that he has turned to the sea out of a feeling of alienation from human society. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out a specific whale-- Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale.… (more)

"Call me Ishmael," Moby Dick begins, in one of the most recognizable opening lines in Western literature. The name has come to symbolize orphans, exiles, and social outcasts-- in the opening paragraph of Moby Dick, Ishmael tells the reader that he has turned to the sea out of a feeling of alienation from human society. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out a specific whale-- Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab's boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge.