Introduction Moby Dick, written by Herman Melville, based on his own experiences, is considered to be one of the greatest American novels. It tells the story of outcast Ishmael’s voyage on Pequod, a whaling ship commanded by Captain Ahab. On the previous voyage, Moby Dick destroyed Ahab’s boat and bit off his leg, which later drives Captain Ahab to seek out the snow-white sperm whale and take revenge. Cunning and stubborn, however, the whale carries the Pequod along with it to the doom. Finally, the ship sank and almost everybody in the boat died for this fierce confrontation. With the help of Queequeg’s coffin, Ishmael is rescued by a passing whaler, being the sole survivor to tell this story. Although the plot is quite simple, yet the meaning behind it is far-reaching. By using symbolism, the author describes a hostile relationship between men and nature, good and evil, spotlighted by the conflict between Captain Ahab and Moby Dick. Also in terms of the comparison between Captain Ahab and Ishmael, the author reveals the defects in Ahab’s characters, which implies his tragic predestination of being against the power of the wildness because of his destructive obsession and monomania whereby arousing the restoration of human nature intensely. Analysis of the Symbolism in Moby Dick 1. Moby Dick Moby Dick, also referred to as the White Whale, possesses various symbolic meanings for different individuals: since infamous and dangerous for seamen, the whale is considered as the incarnation of evil by Ahab. In addition to his personal enmities to the whale, they become fated enemies. While for Ishmael, the White Whale is the image of purity and peace, also the death. It represents those mysteries in the world, such as supernatural power of God, which gives Ishmael an enlightenment---not simply to destroy, but to improve and pursue the understanding of truth continuously, just the opposite to Ahab. Besides that, Moby Dick has a symbol