As whalers have more and more encounters with Moby Dick, the stories about him become more exaggerated. Some believe that he is everywhere and can be in two locations at the same time. Others think that he is indestructible. Many people attribute a sinister level of intelligence to the whale.

Ishmael gains further insight into Ahab's encounter with Moby Dick. With his three boats destroyed and the crew of his main ship caught in torrential currents dragging them to and fro, Ahab refused to give up on his quarry. Rather than let Moby Dick go free, he chose to attack the whale with a six-inch blade. His efforts proved fruitless, and in response, Moby Dick clamped onto Ahab’s leg with his massive, twisted jaw, tearing it from Ahab’s body.

During Ahab's return journey, insanity took hold. He spent several months confined to his hammock, his physical and emotional wounds driving him slowly mad. However, he soon learned to conceal his madness, convincing the people of Nantucket that returning to the sea was the best remedy for him.

Ishmael ponders Ahab’s rage toward the whale, then assesses his feelings about Moby Dick. According to Ishmael, Ahab associates all the anger and hatred of his entire lineage—starting from Adam—to the white hump of the whale. Ahab perceives Moby Dick as the personification of wickedness.

On the other hand, Ishmael's feelings towards the whale stem from its color. While whiteness may symbolize beauty and purity, it also represents the color of Death's horse and the appearance of a dead body. What frightens Ishmael even more is the fact that whiteness represents emptiness and blankness. The legendary leviathan terrifies Ishmael, but in much the same way it does Ahab, it also attracts him.