Moby Dick features several characters who seem insane. How does insanity relate to this story?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In a very old but still relevant article titled, "A Theory of Moby Dick," author William S. Gleim argues that for Ahab, "the only escape from the torture of consciousness, as he felt it, was through  either faith or insanity. He was the victim of his own cogitations concerning the unknowable; yet he could not resist the urge of inquiry as he confesses: "I love to sail forbidden seas and land on barbarous coasts." This is a typical line with a double meaning, for literally it describes his personal experience; but figuratively, it reveals his passion for speculating on the mysteries of the infinite."

Citation:

"A Theory of Moby Dick"

William S. Gleim The New England Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 3. (Jul., 1929), pp. 402-419.

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial Team