that cannot be proved scientifically. Mysterious entities like ghosts, angels, spirits, gods, demons, witches, and non-material beings in literature qualify as supernatural. Preternatural is more unnatural, extreme, and abnormal. The term is derived from the Latinpraeter naturam meaning something beyond nature. Generally, preternatural describes something emanating from an unknown force. The term implies some force so far outside of the norms of nature so as to be a force human beings do not understand.

Moby Dick contains numerous images, symbols, and elements that can aptly be described as preternatural. For example, Melville intentionally draws the reader’s attention to the concept of “whiteness” as something going beyond the normal observation as simply color or the symbolic reference to purity. The author leaves the reader guessing as to the nature of “white” things being either good or evil. White-capped waves breaking along the coastline might spell treachery and danger to sailors. Captain Ahab is convinced that the white whale represents evil. Ishmael sees the whiteness in the giant creature as simply a benign quality of the species. Regardless of which character’s observations might be correct, readers understand there is a special unknown force behind the concept of white objects that must be confronted.

The Pequod itself might be considered a preternatural force. Its outer appearance is one of doom and gloom, dark and black, with painted whale bones and teeth that seem to indicate the vessel is bound by an unknown force to meet a violent end.

Moby Dick is intended by Melville to be the embodiment of evil, at least in the minds of the evildoers bent on destroying nature. The white whale is a force of nature, but appears to possess powers far beyond the human expectations attributed to its species, especially to whaling men. Ahab seeks revenge for his lost leg after a previous confrontation with Moby Dick:

He piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.

Instead of seeing the creature as a gigantic sperm whale, Ahab envisions him to be the ultimate symbol of evil and unrealistically believes he can rid the universe of all malevolence. Realistically, Ahab must fail in his vengeful quest. He has pitted himself against elements he does not understand. Ahab has no faith in a Supreme Being, but arrogantly sees himself as immortal and somewhat of a god as he pursues the beast. The white whale is a preternatural being and an unknown force (perhaps God) that will deny Ahab his revenge. Consumed by revenge, Ahab destroys himself, the lives around him, and the Pequod.