Question
Think about the way Ahab dies in Moby-Dick. In what way is his death symbolic?
A.
He literally becomes tied up with the same whale with which he has been obsessed.
B.
He drowns before he can see his crew capture Moby-Dick.
C.
He is stabbed through the heart with the very lance that he intended to use on Moby-Dick.
D.
He lives long enough to watch his ship and crew sink to the bottom of the ocean.
A.
He literally becomes tied up with the same whale with which he has been obsessed.
B.
He drowns before he can see his crew capture Moby-Dick.
C.
He is stabbed through the heart with the very lance that he intended to use on Moby-Dick.
D.
He lives long enough to watch his ship and crew sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Ahab's death in "Moby-Dick" is most symbolic in the way that **A. He literally becomes tied up with the same whale with which he has been obsessed.** This symbolizes his complete entrapment by his obsession and vengeance. Ahab's relentless pursuit of Moby Dick ultimately leads to his destruction, as his fixation on the whale consumes him and connects his fate directly to the creature he sought to conquer. This intertwining reflects the themes of obsession, fate, and the destructive nature of vengeance, emphasizing how Ahab's identity becomes inseparable from the very force he aimed to dominate.