Characters in Moby-Dick or, The Whale

Ishmael

The sailor who narrates the book, signing on to a whaling voyage out of Nantucket in search of something to cure his gloom.

Captain Ahab

Captain of the whaler Pequod, driven by a single-minded determination to hunt the white whale that took his leg.

Moby Dick

The huge white sperm whale Ahab hunts across the oceans, notorious among whalemen for its size and ferocity.

Starbuck

The Pequod's chief mate, a practical Nantucket Quaker who questions Ahab's obsession.

Elijah

Stubb

The Pequod's cheerful second mate, from Cape Cod, who takes the voyage in easy good humour.

Tashtego

One of the Pequod's three harpooneers, serving in Stubb's boat.

Dough-boy

Flask

The Pequod's third mate, a short, combative whaleman who commands one of the ship's boats.

Daggoo

Fedallah

A mysterious figure who leads the secret boat crew Ahab brings aboard the Pequod.

Pippin ("Pip")

Mapple Priest

Peleg

A Quaker co-owner of the Pequod who hires Ishmael and Queequeg for the voyage.

Bildad

Fleece

Perth

Peter Coffin

Aunt Charity

Mrs Hussey

Queequeg

A tattooed Polynesian harpooneer who becomes Ishmael's close friend and bedfellow ashore.