Helena Frye
In *Moby-Dick*, Ishmael wants to go on a voyage on the Pequod, a whaling vessel. He first travels from Manhattan Island to New Bedford, where he meets Queequeg, a harpooneer whom he assumes to be a cannibal. Queequeg tells Ishmael that his little wooden god, Yojo, has told him that Ishmael is to select the sailing vessel on which they will voyage. Ishmael isolates three possibilities: the Devil-dam, the Tit-bit, and the Pequod, and he ultimately chooses the Pequod.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pequod |
| Named after | An "extinct tribe of Massachusetts Indians" |
| Appearance | Old and beautiful, adorned with carvings and a dark stain of paint |
| Owner | Peleg |
| Former Captain | Peleg |
| Other owner | Bildad |
| Captain | Ahab |
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What You'll Learn
Ishmael's three boat options
Ishmael has three boat options: the Devil-dam, the Tit-bit, and the Pequod. Ishmael's wooden god, Yojo, has told him that he must choose the boat himself, according to his own free will and inclination. Ishmael is respectful of his friend Queequeg's wishes, so he agrees to go off alone to make his choice.
Ishmael's inclinations guide him to the Pequod, an old and beautiful ship adorned with carvings and a dark stain of paint, indicating its many voyages around the world. Ishmael goes up to the decks and sees a teepee-like structure pitched there. Going inside, he finds an old sailor and asks if that man is the captain of the boat, and announces that he, Ishmael, would very much like to serve as a sailor on the Pequod.
Ishmael signs up for a voyage on the whaler Pequod, under Captain Ahab. Ahab is obsessed with the white whale, Moby Dick, who on a previous voyage had severed his leg. In his quest for revenge, Ahab has lost all sense of responsibility, and when the whale sinks the ship and destroys the whaleboats, all crew members drown with the exception of Ishmael.
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Why Ishmael chooses the Pequod
Ishmael chooses the Pequod because he finds it to be an old and beautiful ship, adorned with a great deal of carving and a dark stain of paint—all of which indicate its many voyages around the world. He is also told by his friend Queequeg's wooden god, Yojo, that he should choose the ship according to his own free will and inclination. When he goes to look at the ship, he finds an old sailor and asks if that man is the captain of the boat, and announces that he, Ishmael, would very much like to serve as a sailor on the Pequod.
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The Pequod's appearance
Ishmael wants to go on the Pequod, a whaling vessel. He finds it to be an old and beautiful ship, adorned with a great deal of carving and a dark stain of paint—all of which indicate its many voyages around the world. The ship is named after an 'extinct tribe of Massachusetts Indians'. Ishmael goes up to the decks and sees a teepee-like structure pitched there. Going inside, he finds an old sailor and asks if that man is the captain of the boat, and announces that he, Ishmael, would very much like to serve as a sailor on the Pequod. The sailor, Peleg, part owner of the boat, asks whether Ishmael has any experience on boats. When Ishmael says he has been on merchant ships, Peleg becomes enraged, saying that sailing on a whaling vessel is different, and far more difficult, than sailing on a merchant ship. Peleg then asks if Ishmael is trustworthy, and tells him to look at Captain Ahab before he decides to sail on the Pequod.
Ishmael is surprised, thinking that Peleg is the captain of the boat. The ship is described as having three masts, with a black hull and a 'peaked prow', and is said to be 'well-nigh as much of a rarity as a white whale'. It is also said to be 'well-nigh as old as the century' and to have been built in the Netherlands. The ship is said to have a 'peculiarity' in that it has a 'double row of teeth', with a row of spring-vane poles along each side of the quarter-deck. The ship is also said to have a 'peculiar' figurehead, which is described as a 'full-sized negro head' with a 'minutely curling and frizzling hair'. The figurehead is said to have been carved by a 'devilish-looking craft', and is said to have a 'wild gleam' in its eyes. The ship is also said to have a 'peculiar' smell, which is described as a 'peculiar' mixture of 'tar, pitch, and oakum'.
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The Pequod's owners
Ishmael wants to go on the Pequod, a whaling vessel owned by Peleg and Bildad. The ship is old and beautiful, adorned by its former captain, Peleg, with a great deal of carving and a dark stain of paint, indicating its many voyages around the world. Ishmael is surprised to find out that the old sailor he meets on the ship is not the captain, but Peleg, one of the owners. Peleg asks Ishmael if he has any experience on boats, and when Ishmael says he has only been on merchant ships, Peleg becomes enraged, saying that sailing on a whaling vessel is far more difficult. Peleg then asks if Ishmael is trustworthy and tells him to look at Captain Ahab before he decides to sail on the Pequod.
Ishmael's decision to go on the Pequod is guided by his inclinations and is also seen as a test of his powers of discernment. He is respectful of Queequeg's wishes and agrees to go off alone to choose the ship.
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The Pequod's captain
Ishmael wants to go on the Pequod, a whaling vessel. He chooses the ship himself, according to his own free will and inclination, after his companion Queequeg tells him that his little wooden god, Yojo, has instructed him to let Ishmael choose. Ishmael looks over the Pequod and finds it to be an old and beautiful ship, adorned with a great deal of carving and a dark stain of paint, indicating its many voyages around the world. He goes up to the decks and sees a teepee-like structure pitched there. Going inside, he finds an old sailor and asks if that man is the captain of the boat, and announces that he, Ishmael, would very much like to serve as a sailor on the Pequod. The old sailor asks whether Ishmael has any experience on boats, and when Ishmael says he has only been on merchant ships, the old man becomes enraged, saying that sailing on a whaling vessel is far more difficult. The old sailor then asks if Ishmael is trustworthy, and tells him to look at Captain Ahab before he decides to sail on the Pequod. Ishmael is surprised, thinking that the old man is the captain of the boat, but the man introduces himself as Peleg, part owner of the boat along with another man named Bildad.
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Frequently asked questions
Ishmael wants to go on the Pequod.
Ishmael's inclinations guide him to the Pequod, and he finds it to be an old and beautiful ship.
Queequeg, a harpooneer whom Ishmael assumes to be a cannibal, wants Ishmael to go on the Pequod.
The Pequod is owned by Peleg and Bildad.
The captain of the Pequod is Captain Ahab.
