History's Mysteries Season 2 Episode 10 The Essex: The True Story of Moby Dick

The nineteenth-century whaling industry was a dangerous and grueling profession, and very often sailors would face life-threatening situations out at sea. One of the most infamous incidents in whaling history is that of the Essex. The Essex was a 238-ton whaling ship that met a shockingly gruesome fate in 1820 after being attacked by a giant sperm whale. But what really happened to the crew of the Essex, and how much of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick was inspired by this true event?

In this episode of History's Mysteries, titled The Essex: The True Story of Moby Dick, experts explore the many mysteries and complexities surrounding the tragic incident of the Essex. They analyze various theories about what exactly happened, supported by historical evidence and modern understanding of marine biology.

To start off, the narrator takes viewers back to the early 1800s, explaining the context of the whaling industry and the culture around it. The Essex was captained by George Pollard Jr., a young man only in his twenties at the time, and his vice-captain was 29-year-old Owen Chase. The crew members were also relatively young, with some being teenagers and others in their early twenties. The Essex set off from Nantucket in 1819, and after months of sailing, found itself in the Pacific Ocean, where they encountered their fateful nemesis.

One of the main questions that experts try to answer in this episode is why the whale attacked the Essex in the first place. They explore the possibility that it was a retaliatory act, with the whale trying to defend itself or its family from the crew, who had already killed some of its kin. Another theory is that the whale may have attacked the ship simply out of curiosity or territoriality. Scientists weigh in on the behavior and biology of sperm whales to provide more context on what could have driven the attack.

The episode also delves into the aftermath of the Essex's sinking, detailing the harrowing journey of the surviving crew members. This part of the story is especially interesting because it sheds light on how the experiences of the sailors influenced Melville's Moby-Dick. The narrator describes how Melville took inspiration from the crew's struggles and turned it into a classic tale of obsession, revenge, and the battle between man and nature. The experts debate how much of Moby-Dick was based on fact and how much was fiction, and offer some surprising insights into Melville's creative process.

Another aspect of the story that the show explores is the cultural legacy of the Essex. The disaster and the survival of some of its crew members were widely publicized in the media of the time, and the incident became the subject of several books and stories. The Essex thus became a symbolic representation of both the dangers and the glory of the whaling industry, and even today, it remains a fascination for historians, literary scholars, and enthusiasts of nautical lore.

Overall, The Essex: The True Story of Moby Dick is a fascinating and well-researched episode of History's Mysteries that sheds light on one of the most intriguing maritime events in history. Through a combination of historical records, scientific knowledge, and literary analysis, the experts paint a vivid picture of the Essex's doomed journey and its aftermath. This episode will surely appeal to anyone interested in whaling, maritime history, or the cultural impact of literature.