Sena Jeter Naslund’s novel “Ahab’s Wife” is an imaginative and lyrical retelling of the classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This book takes the character of Captain Ahab’s wife, a minor character in the original, and gives her a life and voice of her own as she tells her story of rebellion, growth, and redemption. Naslund creates a multi-layered and compelling narrative which makes her work stand apart from Melville’s original.
The novel is told from the perspective of Una, Captain Ahab’s wife. Una is an imaginative and idealistic young woman who seeks a more adventurous life after being orphaned as a child. When she is reunited with Ahab, she is presented with a new, but also dangerous, path that leads her to the whaling ship known as the Pequod.
On the Pequod, Una is tested in ways she never thought possible. She is pitted against the others aboard the ship and struggles with her feelings for Ahab, whose increasingly extreme behavior becomes harder for her to contend with. Although the crew of the Pequod and the men on shore view Una as Ahab’s property and not a person, she finds within herself a strength and capacity to survive and even thrive during her journey.
As Una’s journey continues, she is given chances to learn and grow as a person, but she must also face the reality of how little control she has over her life. The relationship between Una and Ahab is a complex one, and it serves to emphasize the power dynamics between the genders in that era. As Una experiences the dangers of Ahab’s ambition and the power of the whale, which has become synonymous with male domination, she also finds ways to use her own power and authority to survive.
The relationship between the two protagonists is deepened by Una’s interactions with other characters, such as the quaker woman, Hat, and Una’s young seaman admirer, Cal. These interactions help Una to understand herself and gain a greater understanding of Ahab in the process. In her interactions with these characters, Una discovers her strength and capability to choose her own fate.
The end of the novel comes full circle as Una ultimately chooses to break from Ahab and her past to become her own person. This decision is a powerful and significant commentary on the role of women in that era, which still resonates today.
Naslund’s writing is both vivid and poetic, creating a captivating and mesmerizing story. The characters are brought to life with intriguing detail, while the narrative also carries a strong sense of understanding and empathy.
“Ahab’s Wife” is an extremely insightful and masterfully written retelling of a classic novel. Through it we learn more about Una’s story and the power dynamics between the genders of that era, but we also experience an emotionally gripping narrative about redemption and growth. Naslund’s work is a remarkable achievement and definitely worth a read.
