Starbuck understands two things about Ahab's quest that
lead him to protest. He sees that Ahab is bent on overthrowing the natural order (and
defying God in the process) and he recognizes the extreme danger that this pursuit will
bring to the crew.
Starbuck is the most devout member of
the crew and also the senior officer. It falls to him to bring the challenge to Ahab,
which he does on these grounds.
Starbuck's protests are
overwhelmed by the maniacal Ahab in the end.
In the soliloquy, “Dusk,” Chapter 38, Starbuck
explains to himself that Ahab has “drilled deep down, and blasted all my reason out of
me! I think I see his impious end; but feel that I must help him to
it.”
Though Starbuck feels
that it is illogical to take revenge on an unthinking animal that acted on "blindest
instinct", he is not able to convince Captain Ahab of this perspective. He is also not
able to match or truly challenge Ahab's dedication and resolve.
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