# Father Mapple — Moby-Dick character guide

> Father Mapple in Moby-Dick by Herman Melville.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0010-vii-the-chapel

## Who they are

A former harpooner turned preacher in New Bedford, who delivers a powerful sermon on Jonah and disobedience.

## In the story

### [VIII: The Pulpit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/viii-the-pulpit)

The venerable chaplain, a former sailor, arrives in storm-soaked gear. He climbs into the pulpit using a ship's ladder and pulls it up behind him, symbolizing a retreat from the worldly to deliver his sermon.

### [The Sermon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/moby_dick_se/chapters/ix-the-sermon)

Delivers the central sermon with powerful oratory, using the story of Jonah to preach on sin, repentance, and divine duty.

## Links

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