Starbuck Character Analysis in Moby-Dick

Ahab’s first mate, Starbuck is loyal, practical, ethical, and cautious, perhaps overly so. He does not want Ahab to attack Moby Dick, and recognized both the physical and moral danger of Ahab’s obsession, but he also lacks the passion and conviction to stand up to Ahab. Starbuck notably passes up a chance to kill Ahab, deciding that to do so would be wrong, even if it were to save the rest of the crew.

Starbuck Character Timeline in Moby-Dick

The timeline below shows where the character Starbuck appears in Moby-Dick. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Pequod. They say they will, and they go up above-decks with the rigger, hearing that Starbuck, the ship’s chief mate, is there, and that Ahab is still secluded in his cabin... (full context)

...while the Pequod heads out into the open Atlantic. Ishmael hears tell of, and sees, Starbuck, the first mate, Stubb, the second, and Flask, the third, and he bustles along with... (full context)

Ishmael takes a moment to introduce the leadership of the Pequod. Starbuck, the first mate, is a Nantucketer and a Quaker, and Ishmael describes him as a... (full context)

Ishmael goes on to qualify the exact nature of Starbuck’s bravery and personal courage, which, he indicates, the later narrative will reveal. Starbuck, he says,... (full context)

Ishmael names Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask the three “knights” of the Pequod, under the command of Ahab, and... (full context)

...at an ivory (whalebone) table over which Ahab presides, like the head of a family. Starbuck gets the largest portion of the three mates, then Stubb, then Flask, and Flask must... (full context)

...days around the quarterdeck, and appearing as though he has something on his mind, tells Starbuck one day to rouse the enter crew aft (or behind the quarterdeck), as Ahab would... (full context)

Starbuck alone protests to Ahab, saying that he and others shipped not for “vengeance” on one... (full context)

...internal monologue, and has him sitting alone in his cabin, reciting to himself that, although Starbuck appears worried about the Pequod’s new mission, Ahab will exact revenge against Moby Dick, and... (full context)

Starbuck has his own internal monologue, in which he says to himself that Ahab is a... (full context)

...in hindsight, there was no mate or harpooneer on the vessel strong enough to stop Ahab—Starbuck was too morally week, Stubb too enthusiastic for the fight, and Flask too “mediocre.” But... (full context)

...which Ahab will ride in search of the sperm whales. The other three boats—led by Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask—are also lowered into the water. Stubb exhorts his men to row, using... (full context)

...whales as Stubb calmly smokes his pipe in the second boat. Ishmael is seated on Starbuck’s boat, near Queequeg, and after rowing out in pursuit of three whales for a long... (full context)

...them, to see if they have survived pursuit of the whale. The Pequod nearly hits Starbuck’s boat as it comes around, and the crew of the whale-boat jumps out of the... (full context)

Stubb, Flask, and Starbuck, in command of the three whaleboats, become angry when they realize that the Virgin is... (full context)

...signs—marks of the devil and of Ahab himself—Ahab sees himself in all things around him. Starbuck sees the doubloon as a sign of cosmic goodness and of God’s mercy; Stubb reads... (full context)

Starbuck discovers, while rinsing the decks of the Pequod, that some of the oil casks in... (full context)

...local whaling boats go after smaller prey. Ishmael notes that all on the ship, including Starbuck, Stubb, and even Ahab himself, appear touched by the “golden” light and glow of the... (full context)

...any instrument or “toy.” Ahab smashes the quadrant against the deck of the ship, and Starbuck, observing this from the deck, wonders if Ahab won’t “burn himself to ashes” in his... (full context)

...to hunt the white whale with him, and that no man can turn back now. Starbuck believes that Ahab and the vessel are “ill-omened,” and that they should sail out of... (full context)

Starbuck asks, in the night, if the anchors shouldn’t be further fixed, in order to keep... (full context)

Starbuck and Stubb manage to retie and hoist some of the sails, and the ship begins... (full context)

Starbuck orders that the carpenter use Queequeg's coffin as the new life buoy, covering over its... (full context)

Ahab, high on his watch, turns to Starbuck after many hours, and begins a long harangue that appears, at first, to indicate that... (full context)

...so, he will give ten times that money to all the crew. Ahab also sees Starbuck worrying about the whale, and Stubb laughing about Moby Dick, and condemns both, saying they... (full context)

...call is raised aboard the decks—many crew-members at once—that Moby Dick is straight ahead, and Starbuck is once again left in command of the Pequod, as Ahab, Stubb, and Flask lower... (full context)

...friend and comrade in battle, and wonders if this doesn’t spell doom for his mission. Starbuck, once Ahab is back on board, pleads with his captain to abandon the chase, saying... (full context)

...few minutes, Ahab himself finds the whale, and the boats are lowered once again, with Starbuck manning the Pequod for the third time. Ahab says goodbye to the ship and shakes... (full context)

...hard at work preparing the whale-boats once more for battle—will go down with the ship. Starbuck, Flask, and Stubb each see Moby Dick approaching to ram them—and Starbuck prays for forgiveness... (full context)