Perspectives of the BeastIn Moby Dick by Herman Melville and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway we are introduced to two individuals who share different opinions on nature and the wonderful creatures that make up the world around them. In this article I will explore the differences between Captain Ahab and Santiago. In Moby Dick, we are introduced to Captain Ahab and his personal quest to avenge the personal loss he suffered due to what he deemed “evil,” as Ishmael recounts “Ahab fell not, and worshiped him not as they; but deliriously transferring the idea to the hated white whale, he opposed it, completely mutilated. Everything that drives you mad and torments you the most; everything that stirs up the dregs of things; the whole truth with malice in it; everything that breaks the nerves and hardens the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, for the mad Ahab, was visibly personified and made practically attackable in Moby Dick” (Melville page 156). In this, he describes how Ahab's previous encounter with the whale tainted his opinion of the traditional values ​​of "white" representing purity. and righteousness and replaced it with the idea of ​​the color representing evil and cruelty, as if Ahab believed that Moby Dick had a personal vendetta against him instead of nature merely protecting itself from a great threat. Throughout the story, Ahab did not maintain his ideals and opinions. to himself going so far as to place a bounty of $16.00 in gold on Moby Dick's head while giving a grand speech in hopes of recruiting the men to participate in his act of vengeance as he encourages them to chant "death to Moby Dick " !" (Melville page 142.) In a drunken celebration as the celebration ends on these who...... middle of paper ......here there was no ax and therefore there was no knife, but if I had it, and could have attached it to the butt of an oar, what a weapon. Then we could have fought them together (Hemingway page 115.) This passage shows the respect Santiago feels not only towards the marlin, but also towards nature. He considers himself equal to all things unlike Captain Ahab in Moby Dick. Melville and Hemingway describe their characters as opposites from each other. While Captain Ahab is a cold and often cruel manipulator whose obsessive ways lead to the deaths of himself and most of his crew, while Santiago is seen as a kind-hearted old man who sets off on one last great adventure to change his fortunes and relive the glory it had. had years before. Both excellently portray both sides of the spectrum between selfish obsession and the need for one last great adventure felt by every character in the novels..