Character Relationship Map: Moby Dick

Characters

• Captain Ahab (played by Gregory Peck) — protagonist

  Captain of the whaling ship Pequod, haunted by a vengeful obsession to hunt Moby Dick, the white whale that severed his left leg. He drives the crew on a dangerous, single-minded pursuit, ignoring saf...

• Ishmael (played by Richard Basehart) — protagonist

  A sailor who signs on to the Pequod and befriends the harpooner Queequeg. He stands up to defend Queequeg from a cruel crew member. As the sole survivor of the Pequod's destruction, he clings to Queeq...

• Starbuck (played by Leo Genn) — supporting

  The chief mate of the Pequod who is deeply troubled by Captain Ahab's destructive obsession with Moby Dick. He attempts to persuade fellow officers to take command and even considers a mutiny, but ult...

• Stubb (played by Harry Andrews) — supporting

  An officer on the Pequod who, along with Flask, refuses Starbuck's proposal to overthrow Captain Ahab and take command of the ship.

• Elijah (played by Royal Dano) — minor
• Flask (played by Seamus Kelly) — minor

Key Relationships

• Elijah → Ishmael (Social Voyage Companions)
• Ishmael → Starbuck (Social Crewmates)
• Elijah → Captain Ahab (Narrative Ominous Prophet)
• Flask → Captain Ahab (Professional Officer/Captain)
• Stubb → Captain Ahab (Professional Officer/Captain)
• Stubb → Flask (Alliance Fellow Officers)
• Starbuck → Flask (Alliance Fellow Officers)
• Starbuck → Stubb (Alliance Fellow Officers)
• Starbuck → Captain Ahab (Professional Chief Mate/Captain)
• Ishmael → Captain Ahab (Professional Crewman/Captain)

Story Analysis

A monomaniacal captain's obsessive hunt for a white whale leads to catastrophic destruction and the loss of his entire crew.

Plot Progression

1. The Ominous Departure
2. The Relentless Pursuit
3. Fate and Tempest
4. The Final Reckoning