The novel opens as Ishmael, a depressed young man from Manhattan struggling with intense feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, decides to remedy his feelings by setting out to sea. In a flurry of frantic energy, he gathers a change or two of clothing and leaves his home in Manhattan behind. 

Ishmael explains that bodies of water have a restorative power which is akin to “magic,” observing that many people seek solace on the wharfs of Manhattan, seeing water as a temporary means of escaping the mundane drudgery of their daily routines, and he intends to do the same.

However, Ishmael’s options are limited. He cannot afford to sail as a passenger, and he lacks the experience to work as an officer, so he determines to sign on as a basic sailor and use the opportunity to earn money and stay active while working to mend his mental health. His desire to explore the wonders of the ocean is innocent and heart-felt, and Ishmael imagines his time on the sea will prove fruitful and spiritually beneficial.