In the preface, Nathanial Philbrick, states that the point where Herman Melville's Moby Dick ends--with the sinking of the ship--is merely the starting point for the story of the real-life Esssex tragedy. Much of the guts of Philbrick's research is based upon a firsthand account penned by Thomas Nickerson, a cabin boy who was 14 at the time of the disaster. Nickerson actually stood at the helm when the ship was rammed and survived a harrowing ordeal.
I hope you enjoy this real-life tale of Nantucket whalers, who not only battled the "savage sea," but also their own humanity in order to survive.

In a thoughtful paragraph, please respond to the following:

1. In 1820, Nantucket was a Quaker town. What are the basic tenets of the Quaker faith? What are your opinions about a Quaker community embracing an occupation such as whaling? (please proofread before posting--see rubric for guidelines)