Transcendentalism is a philosophy that emphasizes conditions of knowledge through experience; also the philosophy of truth and respect for nature and the inner spirit. Thoreau and Emerson are the two most influential writers of transcendentalist movement. Anti-transcendentalism is transposed in Ahab of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick. Ahab is an extremely obsessive person. He is obsessive about his own power and supremacy over both mankind and nature.
             Ahab displays overzealous obsession when he says: "... Aye, Aye! And I'll chase him round Good hope, and round the horn, and round the Norway maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up..." (Page 317). This direct quote exhibits Ahab's obsession for capturing Moby-Dick, which often overwhelms his rationalizing thought process. His ideals of right vs. wrong and good vs. evil become secondary to the capture and slaughter of his "Great White Whale." He interprets the great white whale's purpose of existence to be a pathway to glory through the slaughter of it. This ideal is contrary to God's purpose of creating Moby-Dick. He intended the great white whale to be a symbol of his and nature's power, majesty, supremacy, and unconquerability. God and nature's power is a supernatural force whereas God gave Moby-Dick physical power and therefore supremacy over the seas. Many transcendentalists, romanticists and intellectuals have already recognized, analyzed, and have been inspired by many of the characteristics of God and nature would find the same glory in Moby-Dick God's "Great White Whale."
             Aha also obsesses over the display of his power and supremacy over his crew. He says "... Who's over me? Truth hath no confines. Take off thine eye ... my heat has melted thee to anger..." (Page 317). Ahab's innate reaction to Starbuck's verbal
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