TRUE STORY OF MOBY DICK

 

The true story which eventually inspired the author Herman Melville to write the Moby Dick is incredible.

August 12, 1819 a ship called the ‘Essex' left the New England port, Nantucket. They planned on a two-and-half years’ journey.

Their intention was to catch whales off the South American coast. It has to be mentioned to brave the ocean in those kinds of ships at that time was very incredible and to attempt to catch whales was courageous, to say the least.  Unfortunately the disaster struck and the Essex got into trouble.

On November 20, 1820 the ship was attacked by a giant 100ft whale and the ship sank quickly.  

The crew Captain George Polland, First Mat Owen Chase, sailor Mathew Joy and the youngest of the altogether 20 men crew was a 14 year old boy Thomas Nickerson.  They abandon the Essex quickly and had to risk their lives in three small boats on the open ocean.  

They were about 200 miles from land and their food supply lasted nearly a fortnight.

When starvation set in, live saving decisions had to be made.  It must have been the hardest moments there could be. 

After 95 days the Essex crew were found by the passing-by ship. From the 20 crew only eight men survived.

The author Herman Melville found the account written by First Mate Owen Chase of the ordeal and thought it was an incredible story.  It inspires him to write Moby Dick.  The book was published in 1851.

The original story has now been written by screenwriter Terry Cafolla titled “The Whale”. A film had been made as epic and dramatic as the voyage. In the film young Thomas tells the story. It show no matter how hard the challenge is, it can be overcome with human’s will and determination, an amazing will to survive at all cost.

Because it is based on a true story it was even more astonishing.

Gregory Peck acted as captain and gave an outstanding performance.  Although it was a Hollywood version the drama and horror of the powerful ocean and the great fish was fully played out and very realistic

Hollywood  version (1956) was about a ship Pequod in the 19th century leaving New England. Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck) went back to find the big White for revenge because he was almost killed at the previous encounter. When he saw the great White Whale he could not turn back and led himself and his crew into death. Only one survivor who told the tale.