Question

Herman Melville’s Moby-wingspan is an American classic filled with symbolic meaning. One of the most important symbols in the story is the white whale Moby wingspan. There are various interpretations of what the whale represents. Based on the following excerpt, what is one interpretation of Moby wingspan as a symbol in the novel?

And now, while both elastic gunwales were springing in and out, as the whale dallied with the doomed craft in this devilish way; and from his body being submerged beneath the boat, he could not be darted at from the bows, for the bows were almost inside of him, as it were;