The Real People Who Inspired Timeless Fictional Characters

The Story of Moby Dick Wasn’t Fiction After All

Photo Credits: Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Images

For the most part, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is based on fact, regarding the nature of the whaling industry during the 19th century. However, the part about Captain Ahab and his battle with the white whale Moby Dick can be seen as just a fictional motif.

Yet, that wasn’t necessarily the case. Melville based his whale on a white whale called Mocha Dick. That whale was also a fighter and was unusually large and aggressive. It’s assumed that this whale was Melville’s inspiration for his story Moby Dick. Supposedly, Mocha Dick was killed in 1838, although there were still sightings reported in the following years.

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