Moby Dick By Herman Melville

Main Characters

Ishmael - The narrator, and a young member of the crew of the Pequod  Ishmael – “God Will Hear” (Origin: Hebrew)

Queequeg - “Starbuck’s skilled harpooner and Ishmael’s best friend. Queequeg was once a prince from a South Sea island who stowed away on a whaling ship in search of adventure. He is a composite of elements of African, Polynesian, Islamic, Christian, and Native American cultures” (excerpted from sparknotes.com). Main Characters

Mr. Starbuck - The first mate of the Pequod. Main Characters

Captain Ahab - The captain of the Pequod. Ahab lost his leg to Moby Dick. Main Characters

Moby Dick - The great white whale  Major symbol of the story Main Characters

Secondary Characters

Mr. Stubb - The second mate of the Pequod.

Secondary Characters Tashtego - Stubb’s harpooner.

Secondary Characters Mr. Flask - The third mate of the Pequod.

Secondary Characters Pip - A young slave boy belonging to Ahab who fills the role of a cabin boy on the Pequod.

Fedallah - A strange “oriental”…whom Ahab has brought on board the Pequod in secret for the sole purpose of killing the white whale.  Fedallah is “an almost supernaturally skilled hunter and also serves as a prophet to Ahab.” (excerpted from sparknotes.com). Secondary Characters

Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad —The principal owners of the Pequad  They hire Ishmael and Queequeg.  Retired whale ship captains Secondary Characters

Father Mapple - A former whaleman and now the preacher in the New Bedford Whaleman’s Chapel Secondary Characters