Ahab as a Tragic Hero

Ahab, one of the key characters in the novel, can be viewed as the protagonist, one who causes the actions that occur and who brings the story to its tragic conclusion. He is seen as the tragic hero. He is a man distinguished by courage and ability, who is admired for his qualities and achievements. The antagonist to Ahab is Moby Dick, the white hale whom Ahab pursues, leading to the death of himself and his crew. He could be viewed as a crazy lunatic. Though crazy as he is, he clearly knows what he wants to do and has a clear plan to do it and carries to out to the end. …