the rage of ahab...

   As Peleg's description of Ahab as the ungodly and godlike, his first encounter was a perfect example of Ahab's unwillingness to accept his own mortality.  Ahab's experiences and actions prior to his amputation rendered him as a great respected captain, as well as an accomplished, educated man.  According to Bettina Knap, "The break of the promethean character requires one to develop his own potential," indicating one's refusal to confine himself to the abilities of others that surround them.  Ahab's perception of his capabilities were unrealistic, fueled by the legends that developed his confidence into an immortal hubris.  His futile effort in murdering a famed immortal beast nearly sixty feet in length was with a six inch blade.  Peleg mentioned that Ahab was never a happy man, however since the amputation, Ahab arose with a new sort of rage with a directed target. 

    According to Joseph Adamson's psychoanalytical interpretation of Ahab's amputation, "The sense of unconquerable power derives from the grandiose self" (p 138).  He goes on to say concerning the narcissistically injured, "do not  seem subject to guilt, but in their archaic experience of reality, feel that the world has done them some grievous and unforgivable injury in depriving them of a perfectly controlled narcissistic reality, 'having first, as if to tease them, given them a taste of security and delights" (p 140).  Although Peleg mentioned that Ahab was never a happy man, as the story progresses we see that Ahab is reluctant to take pleasure in anything to disrupt his mission, even brief moments of tranquility found in pipe smoking are instantly discarded at the crack of a smile on his face. 

    Perhaps, based on Peleg's coercion of Ahab's past success, Ahab does not know how to accept defeat.  Moby Dick's initial omission to Ahab's mortality was not taken as an eye opening experience, but much rather a challenge and impediment furnishing his refusal to end his legendary reign in defeat.  It is a wonder to consider Ahab's potential if his initial encounter with Moby Dick never happened.  Although his amputation is a source of rage to him, it seems more of a transcendent target of Ahab's monomaniac mind.  The true source of his pain seems to stem from his realization of the futility of humanity, or the limits of his capabilities.  His amputation serves as a continuing source of anguish.  It remains a constant reminder to all who gaze upon Ahab that he was the legend who had failed, and fulfilled his prophecy of failure.  To Ahab, it was the transcendent symbolization that mankind was not in complete control of nature; the only way mankind was to advance was to destroy the only organic creature that stood within their grasps.