Which best explains the symbolism behind Melville’s use of the word “brand” to describe the scar on Ahab’s body in Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick ?

A brand is a mark used to show ownership. By describing Ahab’s scar as a “brand,” Melville suggests that the whale that wounded him has marked and claimed him, making Ahab seem possessed by his enemy and his quest for revenge. This fits the idea that the source of Ahab’s scar now owns him.

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