In Moby Dick, Ishmael tells the story of Captain Ahab and the white whale. Ahab, the grizzled captain of the whaling boat the Pequod, has become obsessed with the white whale that eludes him. Ahab's relentless pursuit of the whale results in tragedy. In a deadly confrontation, the entire crew of the Pequod is killed except for Ishmael, who lives to tell this story.