# Captain Bildad — Moby-Dick character guide

> Captain Bildad in Moby-Dick by Herman Melville.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Bildad, worthy Captain Bildad, the pious Bildad, old Bildad, Lank Bildad

**First appearance:** 0019-xvi-the-ship

## Who they are

A devout Quaker and retired sea captain, part-owner of the Pequod who haggles over Ishmael's lay.

## Relationships

### [Captain Peleg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/captain_peleg)

_professional_

Bildad and Peleg are retired sea captains and co-owners of the Pequod who work together to outfit the ship and hire the crew.

### [Ishmael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/ishmael)

_professional_

Bildad is a part-owner of the Pequod who interviews and hires Ishmael as a sailor for the voyage.

### [Captain Peleg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/captain_peleg)

_professional_

Bildad and Peleg are retired sea captains and co-owners of the Pequod who work together to outfit the ship and hire the crew.

### [Captain Peleg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/captain_peleg)

_professional_

Bildad and Peleg are retired sea captains and co-owners of the Pequod who work together to outfit the ship and hire the crew.

### [Ishmael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/ishmael)

_professional_

Bildad is a part-owner of the Pequod who interviews and hires Ishmael as a sailor for the voyage.

## In the story

### [XIV: Nantucket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xiv-nantucket)

Associated with Nantucket as a principal owner of the Pequod; the ship's arrival is at his home port.

### [The Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xvi-the-ship)

Mentioned as the other principal owner and co-agent of the Pequod, seated in the cabin during Ishmael's visit.

### [His Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xviii-his-mark)

Pious and stern. Questions Queequeg's soul, demands proof of conversion, and gives him a religious tract. Debates Peleg on the role of fear in whaling.

### [All Astir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xx-all-astir)

Handles purchasing and provisioning, meticulously checking items off a long list of needed articles.

### [Merry Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xxii-merry-christmas)

Serves as pilot, singing dismal psalmody; is deeply loath to leave the ship, giving a long, anxious, and pious farewell full of practical and spiritual advice.

### [The Advocate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xxiv-the-advocate)

Implied as part of the Nantucket whaling tradition and its economic foundation.

### [XLV: The Affidavit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/xlv-the-affidavit)

Mentioned indirectly as part of the Nantucket whaling community context for the affidavits and stories.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters/captain_bildad
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/characters