“There is one God that is Lord over the earth, and one Captain that is lord over the Pequod."
Ahab directs this line at Starbuck. He also directs his gun at Starbuck. Starbuck confronts Ahab and ends up retreating. Later, Ahab reflects on the situation by saying that Starbuck is "but too good a fellow." Blind obedience to God, the law, family, society is questioned throughout the book. And yet, Starbuck still got a coffee house to honor him.