Domestic Ahab

It seems that in Naslund's novel Ahab's Wife, destructive Ahab and domestic Ahab can coexist. I find this to be interesting, as we recurrently see Ahab's lack of humanity in Moby Dick; in the article we read by Olsen, he stated that Ahab's humanity had been set aside in his hate for the white whale. Naslund puts a certain twist on Ahab' character by exposing him in his vulnerability, thus adding a humane aspect that is not shown in Moby Dick.

We see here Ahab devoid of his phallic power; "we are imperfect in strength and power", he says. And in a different place, referring directly to his impotence, he says: "dismasted, I am. Unmanned. I leave ye…with an empty womb". These statements do not carry his typical tone of rage, rather we sense in him a tender somberness. Apparently, Ahab's unmanning by Moby Dick has not affected his ability to show love and affection towards Una and his son; he jokes around with Justice, inviting him to sit on his lap while reminding him he has only one knee to offer. Also, in between his declarations of vengeance, we see him touch Una fondly and gaze at her with passion in his eyes.

Even when Ahab is aboard the Peqoud, he does not forget his role as father and husband; this is evident in the letter he sends home. He begins it by saying "dearest wife, my one" (we would think that at this point, the whale would be the only "one" in his life). The letter's aim, he says, is to comfort and reassure Una. Later on he addresses his son and paints a pastoral picture of his situation, using words and images Justice could relate to.

While this works to somewhat deflate Ahab's monomaniacal madness, it adds an interesting, refreshing aspect to his character.