Ishmael travels from Manhattan to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to join a whaling voyage. He shares a bed with Queequeg, a tattooed harpooneer. They attend a sermon and Ishmael signs up for the whaling ship Pequod, captained by Ahab, who seeks revenge on Moby Dick, the white whale that harmed him. Ahab announces his quest and promises a doubloon to the first person who spots the whale. In the end, Moby Dick destroys the Pequod, and Ishmael survives by floating on Queequeg's coffin until rescued by the Rachel.
