Obsession in Politics: Lessons from 'Moby Dick'

The article opens by commemorating the birth of Herman Melville 207 years prior, reflecting on the delayed recognition of his masterpiece, "Moby Dick." The narrative centers on Captain Ahab's all-consuming obsession with hunting the white whale, a quest that transforms from a personal vendetta into a shared fate for his entire crew. The author posits that this Ahab-like fixation is a recurring phenomenon in politics, where leaders can become so engrossed in pursuing a single rival or objective that they overlook critical national challenges such as the economy, education, justice, and the climate crisis.

The author notes that while the "white whale" may change with the times, Ahab's spirit persists in the political arena. The piece finds a moment of warmth in the news that comedian Deniz Göktaş, currently imprisoned, plans to read "Moby Dick." This act resonates with the author, who shares a connection with Göktaş through their shared values from METU (Middle East Technical University). The article suggests that sometimes a book calls to a person, while other times, the circumstances of the nation place a particular book before them.

Drawing from personal experience, the author discusses the profound joy of writing from perspectives beyond their own identity, citing examples from their book "Hayal Sigortacısı" (Dream Insurer) where they adopted a female narrator's voice. This ability to authentically convey other voices is presented as a significant achievement for a writer, akin to Flaubert's "Madame Bovary" becoming more famous than the author himself. Ultimately, the article uses "Moby Dick" as a metaphor to critique political myopia, emphasizing that Ahab's true tragedy was not failing to catch the whale, but becoming so consumed by the pursuit that nothing else mattered. This obsession, the author warns, is a dangerous trait in politics.